BEIRUT - According to Bank Byblos’ Lebanon This Week, figures released by the Higher Customs Council show that customs revenues reached $539m in the first 7 months of 2008, up 5,7% from the same period last year. Customs revenues totalled $90m in July 2008, compared to $86m in June 2008 and $71m in July 2007.

The Port of Beirut continues to be the main point of customs revenues, accounting for 87,4% of the total, and was followed by the Hariri International Airport with 9,3%, the Masnaa crossing point with 2,1% and the Port of Tripoli with 1,2%. Overall customs receipts reached $207m in July 2008 when including revenues from the value-added tax that totalled $117m.