The Minister of Economy and Trade, Amer Al-Bassat, confirmed to Lebanese citizens that the situation of the country’s ration stock is reassuring, noting that the wheat stock is sufficient for normal consumption for a period ranging between 40 and 45 days, while bakeries have quantities sufficient for more than 50 days.
In an interview with Al-Diyar newspaper, Al-Bassat explained that the ministry is following a proactive plan to increase the stock, and pointed out that a ship carrying 6,000 tons of wheat is currently in Turkish waters and will arrive in Lebanon within days, which is a sufficient quantity for a week, and will be followed by the arrival of another ship carrying 2,500 tons in the coming weeks.
He explained that the Ministry is constantly working to increase the stock by communicating with Ukrainian companies to secure wheat shipments at a faster pace, with the aim of strengthening the country’s strategic reserve.
Al-Bassat confirmed that the Ministry’s teams monitor on a daily basis the mechanism of distributing wheat between mills and bakeries to ensure the continued production of bread and its availability in the markets, pointing out that there are difficulties in mills in the south due to the security conditions, and that work is underway in coordination with the competent authorities to ensure that wheat and flour reach citizens.
He also pointed out that the Ministry pays special attention to providing diesel to vital institutions, such as hospitals, bakeries, mills, and supermarkets, to ensure their continued operation, especially those that rely on refrigeration to preserve foodstuffs.
Regarding food commodities, Al-Bassat confirmed that the markets are witnessing a comfortable abundance of basic products, explaining that supermarkets have enough stock for about one month, while warehouses contain quantities sufficient for about four months.
He pointed out that citizens’ demand for purchases in the first days of the crisis led to an increase in demand, before the situation returned to normal, especially with the transfer of demand between regions as a result of the displacement movement.
As for fuel, the minister explained that the quantities available in the tanks are sufficient for a period ranging between two and two and a half weeks, with new shipments continuing to arrive, pointing out that a fuel ship is currently being unloaded, while another ship is expected to arrive within days.
He added that demand rose by between 130 and 140 percent above the normal rate due to storage, which led to pressure on gas stations, but he stressed that supplies are continuing and that the market is witnessing a gradual return to normal.
Regarding price monitoring, Al-Bassat confirmed that the ministry follows up on complaints related to high prices and monopoly, especially in light of the exceptional circumstances that the country is going through, explaining that the monitoring teams are working on the ground despite the limited number of observers, which does not exceed 70 observers.
He pointed out that the Ministry will issue a new circular related to price control and anti-monopoly, stressing that the concerned authorities will not tolerate violations.
This clarification comes in light of the military escalation that Lebanon is witnessing, with the continuation of Israeli raids on various areas in the south, the Bekaa, and the southern suburbs of Beirut, and the accompanying massive waves of displacement.
These developments have raised concerns among citizens about the possibility of a shortage of food or fuel, especially in light of previous experiences that witnessed disruptions in supply chains.
In this context, the Ministry of Economy seeks to reassure markets and enhance food stocks, in parallel with tightening price controls and preventing monopoly, to ensure market stability and secure the basic needs of citizens during this critical period.
