Lebanon bans Syrian ferrous scrap imports to crack down on illicit trade

Lebanon has banned the import and re-export of Syrian ferrous scrap effective 12 Dec’25 until further notice, with the restriction applying indefinitely. The move targets illicit trade, money laundering, and black-economy financing. Around 100 scrap trucks per month reportedly entered Lebanon, while over 2 mnt were shipped to Turkiye since 2013. Syrian scrap prices rose from about $40/t to $100/t since 2020, and Lebanon exports 25,000-30,000 t a month.