The facade of the Banque du Liban on August 22, 2025. (Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Lebanon’s monetary stability, maintained since 2023 despite an unresolved financial crisis and two wars, is once again under strain, as worrying signs emerge of a drain on foreign currency reserves. According to Banque du Liban (central Bank, BDL) data, the central bank’s foreign-currency assets fell by $642 million between Feb. 15 and the end of April, with nearly 70% of that decline recorded after the war erupted in Lebanon and the wider region in late February.The drop reflects both a weakening of key foreign-exchange inflows and persistently high outflows.Foreign currency inflows decline sharplyThe first channel to come under strain has been the remittances from expatriates. According to informed sources at the Ministry of Finance, these inflows have been disrupted by the wartime environment. While the ministry does not have final...
Lebanon’s monetary stability, maintained since 2023 despite an unresolved financial crisis and two wars, is once again under strain, as worrying signs emerge of a drain on foreign currency reserves. According to Banque du Liban (central Bank, BDL) data, the central bank’s foreign-currency assets fell by $642 million between Feb. 15 and the end of April, with nearly 70% of that decline recorded after the war erupted in Lebanon and the wider region in late February.The drop reflects both a weakening of key foreign-exchange inflows and persistently high outflows.Foreign currency inflows decline sharplyThe first channel to come under strain has been the remittances from expatriates. According to informed sources at the Ministry of Finance, these inflows have been disrupted by the wartime environment. While the ministry does not have...
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