Figures released by the Ministry of Finance show that public expenditures reached LBP345,000bn in 2024, or the equivalent of $3.85bn, while revenues stood at LBP348,233bn or $3.9bn on a cash basis in 2024. As such, the fiscal balance posted a surplus of LBP3,233bn, or of $36.1m and was equivalent to 0.9% of total budget and Treasury expenditures in 2024. Also, the primary budget balance posted a surplus of LBP99,751bn ($1.1bn) in 2024, equivalent to 41.3% of budgetary expenditures, while the overall primary balance registered a surplus of LBP38,327bn ($428.2m), or 11.1% of public spending last year. In comparison, the draft budget for 2024 projected public expenditures and revenues at LBP299,674bn each, or $3.35bn each.  On the expenditures side, total budgetary spending, which includes general expenditures and debt servicing, reached LBP241,377bn ($2.7bn) in 2024, relative to a forecast of LBP295,113bn ($3.3bn) in the draft budget for 2024. General spending stood at LBP206,283bn ($2.3bn) in 2024, and included LBP10,078bn ($112.6m) in outlays from previous years. Further, debt servicing totaled LBP35,094bn  ($392.1m) in 2024, with interest payments on Lebanese pound-denominated debt reaching LBP5,103bn ($57m) and debt servicing on foreign currency debt at LBP11,842bn ($132.3m) in 2024. In addition, Treasury expenditures, excluding transfers to EdL, totaled LBP103,623bn ($1.2bn) in 2024, or 30% of budget and Treasury expenditures.  On the revenues side, budget revenues totaled LBP306,034bn ($3.42bn) and accounted for 87.9% of public receipts in 2024, and Treasury receipts stood at LBP42,199bn ($471.5m) and represented the balance of 12.1%. In comparison the draft budget for 2024 forecast budget  revenues of LBP295,113bn ($3.3bn) and Treasury receipts of LBP4,561bn ($51m) for the corresponding year. Also, tax receipts stood at LBP253,636bn ($2.8bn) in 2024, with receipts from the value-added tax (VAT) reaching LBP120,187bn ($1.3bn) or 47% of the total;  and from real estate registration fees amounting to LBP9,991bn ($111.6m). In comparison, the draft budget projected tax receipts at LBP229,767bn ($2.6bn) for 2024.Also, tax receipts accounted for 82.9% of budgetary revenues and for 72.8% of Treasury and budgetary income in 2024. Further, the distribution of other tax receipts shows that customs receipts reached LBP45,897bn ($512.8m), or 18.1% of total tax revenues. Further, non-tax budgetary receipts stood at LBP52,398bn ($585.5m) in 2024 and accounted for 17.1% of budget revenues, relative to a forecast of LBP65,346bn ($730.1m) in the draft budget for 2024. In addition, receipts from telecommunication services reached LBP19,843bn ($221.7m) in 2024 and accounted for 37.9% of non-tax budgetary revenues last year. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Byblos Bank, September 8 - 13, 2025