Shippers Complain of Delays and High Costs at Beirut Port

Published August 23rd, 2000 - 03:00 GMT

Delays and costs at Lebanese ports are two problems that the country's shipping community and its importers and exporters hope will improve with a new government, said Daily Star.

According to the daily, it takes an average of a week to clear goods at the Port of Beirut; compare this with two days at the Port of Dubai, and just a few hours at larger European ports such as Rotterdam and Felixstowe, it added.

Ninety-two percent of goods imported into Lebanon are brought in by sea, said the report, with the Port of Beirut handling the vast majority of this trade.

A new $200-million container terminal is scheduled to open next year and be operated by the Dubai Ports Authority, said Daily Star – Albawaba.com