Beirut Port Sees Container Traffic Surge to Highest Monthly Level in More than 5 Years

Beirut Port has recorded its highest monthly container traffic since 2019, signaling a notable rebound in Lebanon’s maritime trade activity after years of stagnation and crisis.

According to a statement issued Friday by the Port of Beirut’s Management and Investment Authority, container throughput in July reached approximately 100,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 39% increase compared to the same month in 2024, when the figure stood at 72,000 TEUs.

The authority credited the surge to improvements in operational infrastructure, streamlined logistics services, and the renewed confidence of global shipping lines. The port’s container terminal is operated by CMA CGM, a leading French container transportation and shipping company.

“This level marks the highest container activity at the port since 2019, reaffirming Beirut’s position as a key maritime hub in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the statement said.

The increase in activity follows a turbulent period for Beirut Port, which was devastated by a massive explosion in August 2020 that killed over 200 people and destroyed large parts of the surrounding area. Recovery efforts in the years since have been slow, hampered by Lebanon’s ongoing economic and political instability.

However, port officials say a combination of strategic reforms, improved operational flow, and international partnerships have led to a renewed sense of optimism. Shipping companies have begun to reintroduce Beirut into their regular routes,  a vote of confidence in the port’s ability to handle cargo efficiently and securely.

“The port is working to further enhance the working environment and upgrade services to ensure this positive momentum continues,” the statement added.

Beirut Port, alongside Rafic Hariri International Airport, remains one of Lebanon’s most vital trade and logistics gateways. The new figures come as a welcome sign of economic resilience amid a broader national crisis.