Market Trend and Outlook

The Lebanese vehicle market in September 2023 grows for the 7th month this year, reporting 2,018 new registrations (+1.0%). YTD figures at 19,113 are up 32.2% from the previous year.

Looking at cumulative data up to September 2023 brand-wise, the leader Toyota sold 6,464 vehicles (+63.4%) with market share at 33.8%.

Nissan jumps 4 spots into in second place with 2,249 sales (+210.6%) and Mitsubishi in third with 1,504 (-26.3%).

In fourth place Renault with 1,366 (+57.0%), followed by Kia at 114 (+17.6%), Mercedes at 1,110 (+26.7%), Lexus at 940 (+66.4%), Volkswagen at 813 (+40.2%), BMW at 494 (+82.3%) and in 10th place MG at 442 (+30.4%).

Looking at cumulative data the Nissan Sunny becomes new the best selling model rising 729.7% in year-on-year sales and 7 spots in the rankings. The Toyota Hilux makes it into 2nd rising 1 spot (+41.2%)

Medium-Term Market Trend

The car market was stable in the range of 35K to 45K, apart the peak achieved in 2017 when the all time record was established at 52,916.

In the following two years, the hard economic difficulties due to the reduced price of oil and the huge number of refugee from Syria, reduced the industry at 34,258 (2019) which was the lowest in 10 years.

The covid 19 spread severely hit the market in 2020 with a huge 62.2% fall, one of the sharpest in the World, to only 12,934 units and even today the market is not recovering.

Indeed, in 2021 the increase was at mere 2% and this year the trend is only moderately positive, while annual volumes are at the lowest in the last 30 years.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 10 Brands and the Top 10 Models

Market Trend and Outlook

Following the sharp fall reported in 2020 and the shy +2% scored in 2021, the light vehicles market is finally showing a robust recovery. In fact, 2022 it totaled 23,867 new sales, an 82.8% increase from the prior year. December grew for the 11th consecutive month, reporting 3,819 new vehicle registrations (+250.4%).

Looking at cumulative data from 2022 brand-wise, the leader Toyota sold 5,576 vehicles (+25.5%) with market share at 23.4%.

The strong fuel to the market recovery is represented by the main followers, with Mitsubishi in second place with 2,639 sales (+138.6%) and Mercedes in third with 2,447 (+324.8%).

In fourth place Volkswagen with 1,709 (+439.1%) followed by Kia (+108.5%), Renault (+168.0%), Audi (+270.5%), Nissan (-6.4%), Suzuki (+8.2%) and in 10th place Lexus (-7.9%).

Medium-Term Market Trend

The car market was stable in the range of 35K to 45K, apart the peak achieved in 2017 when the all time record was established at 52,916.

In the following two years, the hard economic difficulties due to the reduced price of oil and the huge number of refugee from Syria, reduced the industry at 34,258 (2019) which was the lowest in 10 years.

The covid 19 spread severely hit the market in 2020 with a huge 62.2% fall, one of the sharpest in the World, to only 12,934 units and even today the market is not recovering.

Indeed, in 2021 the increase was at mere 2% and this year the trend is only moderately positive, while annual volumes are at the lowest in the last 30 years.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 10 Brands and the Top 10 Models

Market Trend

The Lebanese car market this year attempted to recover from the pandemic crash of 2020 and started the year negatively, but recovered effectively in the second half of the year.

The market used to be stable despite tensions within the region and was sustained by a resilient economy. Indeed between 2012 and 2016 sales were between 32,000 and 38,000 units, before finding new propellent in 2017, when demand for light commercial vehicles was strong, to jump up. Indeed, in 2017 light vehicle sales have been 52,120.

In 2018 the light vehicles market went down. Sales were declining since the start, keeping a negative tone for the entire year, except in the third quarter. However, after the strong jump of the previous year, the market fell down 18%, with sales at 39,074.

In 2019, according to data released by the local Association of Car Manufacturers, the market kept decreasing at high speed. Indeed, Full-year sales in 2019 were 33,747 (-13.6%), registering the lowest volume of the entire decade.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic sales have plummeted in  2020. In fact, sales have been 12.925, reporting a fall of 61.7% compared to 2019.

In 2021 the year started very negatively for the Lebanese market, in fact, in Q1 2,967 units have been sold, reporting a 26.2% decrease in sales compared to Q1 2020, and in Q2 sales remained significantly down, reporting a 19.8% decrease in sales with 3,023 units sold.

In Q3 the market started growing very quickly again, rising 47.9% with 3,601 units, while in Q4 3,604 units were reported, gaining 33%.

Indeed, Full-Year sales for 2021 have been 13,195, reporting a 2% increase compared to 2020.

Brand-wise, this year the leader Toyota (+74.6%) gained 14% market share, followed by Nissan (-36.7%), which on the other hand lost 5.7% share and reported the worst performance on the leaderboard. Mitsubishi (+13.1%) reaching 3rd place and gained 0.8% market share. Suzuki rose to 4th place and gained 33.4%, followed by Lexus which rose 5 spots by gaining 95.8%.

Kia fell in 6th place and lost 32.6%, followed by Mercedes (-10.6%) -down 1 spot- and Renault (-9%). Closing the leaderboard we have Hyundai -up 3 spots- gaining 6.3% this year and Volkswagen entering the leaderboard despite falling 10.5%.

The most sold vehicle this year is the Toyota Hilux (+434.4%) -up 8 spots- with 1,507 units sold, followed by the Toyota Land Cruiser (+88.8%) registering 1,365 new sales this year. The Nissan Sunny (+556.5%) closes the podium by jumping 22 spots and reports 709 new units sold.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 10 Brands.

Market Trend

The Lebanese car market has been severely hit in 2020 by the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic and by social and political instability within the country.

The market used to be stable despite tensions within the region and was sustained by a resilient economy. Indeed between 2012 and 2016 sales were between 32.000 and 38.000 units, before finding new propellent in 2017, when demand for light commercial vehicles was strong, to jump up. Indeed, in 2017 light vehicle sales have been 52.120.

In 2018 the light vehicles market went down. Sales were declining since the start, keeping a negative tone for the entire year, except in the third quarter. However, after the strong jump of the previous year, the market fell down 18%, with sales at 39.074.

In 2019, according to data released by the local Association of Car Manufacturers, the market kept decreasing at high speed. Indeed, Full-year sales in 2019 were 33.747 (-13.6%), registering the lowest volume of the entire decade.

After starting the year very negatively (-44.9%), the market quickly collapsed even further in March (-67.5%) as the virus struck. The entire year has been extremely negative, with the sharpest drops in April (-72.3%) and August (-79%). The best performing month of the year has been November, which was down 44.2%.

Indeed, Full-Year sales for 2020 have been 12.925, reporting an incredible decline of 61.7% compared to 2019.

Brand-wise, this year the leader Toyota (-78%) lost 14.2% market share, followed by Nissan (-59.9%), which on the other hand gained 0.9% share. Kia (-70.4%) remained third and lost 2.2% market share. Mitsubishi reached 4th place by jumping 6 spots and registered the best performance in the leaderboard by gaining 44.9%, followed by Suzuki which lost 52.6%.

Mercedes reached 6th place and lost 0.2%, followed by BMW (-3.4%) -up 5 spots- and Renault (-56.6%) which fell 2 spots. Closing the leaderboard we have Audi -up 6 spots- gaining 6.8% this year and Lexus falling in last place -down 2 spots- losing 55.5%.

The most sold vehicle this year is the Nissan Patrol (-56.6%) -up 2 spots- with 799 units sold, overtaking the Toyota Land Cruiser (-84.5%) registering 723 new sales this year. The Mitsubishi L200 (+158.3%) closes the podium by jumping 37 spots and reports 403 new units sold.

Economic Environment

The private-sector PMI plummeted to an all-time low in November and remained well within contractionary territory in December amid lower output, new orders and employment. October figures for economic activity, cement deliveries and construction permits were also depressed, while a dollar shortage is crippling local businesses. Compounding matters, Fitch downgraded Lebanon’s credit rating further in December, arguing a debt default or restructuring was now likely.

Market Trend

Lebanese vehicles market in recent years has been stable despite tensions within the region and was sustained by a resilient economy. Indeed between 2012 and 2016 sales were between 32.000 and 38.000 units, before to find new propellent in 2017, when demand for light commercial vehicles was strong, to jump up. Indeed, in 2017 light vehicles sales have been 52.120.

In 2018 the light vehicles market went down. Sales were declining since the start, keeping a negative tone for the entire year, except in the third quarter. However, after the strong jump of the previous year, the market fell down 18%, with sales at 39.074.

In 2019, according to data released by the local Association of Car Manufacturers, the market kept decreasing at high speed. Indeed, Full-year sales in 2019 were 31.997 (-17.6%), registering the lowest volume of the entire decade.

Brand-wise, Toyota in 2019 reached 33.7% of market share, running against the market trend and surging at near 50%. Behind, all top followers registered awful performances, with Nissan and Kia holding respectively 13.7% and 10.4%. Lexus landed in 8th place.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top Brands

Economic Environment

As anxiety spikes over Lebanon’s economic and financial situation, both Moody’s and Fitch Ratings downgraded the country’s outlook to negative in December. Recent data remains underwhelming amid prolonged political impasse.

Seven months after the general elections, cabinet posts remain unfilled and a swift resolution to the stalemate is necessary to kickstart the economy and unlock donor funds, especially pertinent given the high public debt and large twin deficits.

Large twin deficits, a large public debt burden, a possible slowdown in the construction sector and delays in forming a new government all cloud the outlook.

Market Trend

Lebanese vehicles market in recent years has been stable despite tensions within the region and was sustained by a resilient economy. Indeed between 2012 and 2016 sales were between 32.000 and 38.000 units, before to find new propellent in the 2017, when demand for light commercial vehicles was strong, to jump up. Indeed, according to data release by the local Association of Car Manufacturers, in the 2017 light vehicles sales have been 52.120.

In the 2018 the light vehicles market went down. Sales were declining since the start, keeping a negative tone for the entire year, except in the third quarter. However, after the strong jump of the previous year, the market fell down 18%, with sales at 39.074.

Brand-wise, the 2018 market leader was Toyota with 7.292 sales (-44.1%) with 18.7% of market share, followed by Nissan with 6.746 (+36.8%),  Kia with 5.698 units (-18.9%) and Hyundai with 2.973 (-38.6%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top Brands

In September, the Constitutional Council rescinded a new tax law that was meant to finance the recently approved public sector pay rise. The move risks endangering already weak government finances as officials claimed that greater taxation is the only way to finance the wage hike.

On 4 November, Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, plunging Lebanon into political uncertainty and sparking concerns that he was being forced to resign by the kingdom amid escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and regional rival Iran. By 22 November, after returning to Beirut, Hariri had put his resignation on hold and implied that he would withdraw it altogether if Hezbollah would commit to staying out of the region’s conflicts.

Tensions with Saudi Arabia are high, and Lebanon remains vulnerable. As many as 400,000 nationals work in the Gulf and send home remittances. Moreover, Saudi Arabia holds considerable deposits at Lebanon’s Central Bank. Domestically, October’s PMI hit a one-year low as output sharply declined.

Lebanese vehicles market in recent years has been stable despite tensions within the the region and was sustained by a resilient economy. Indeed between 2012 and 2016 sales were between 32.000 and 38.000 units, before to find new propellent in the 2017, when demand for light commercial vehicles was strong, to jump up. Indeed, according to data release by the local Association of Car Manufacturers, in the 2017 light vehicles sales have been 52.120 (+

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top Brands

The economy continues to benefit from upbeat sentiment on the political front. Business operating conditions have improved in light of the formation of a new government, with the PMI recording the best reading in a year in January.

The Central Bank’s economic coincident indicator, which is meant to emulate GDP growth in the absence of timely national account data, has outperformed its recent historical standards, growing 6.2% in annual terms in November.

Although the gradual end of the political impasse will support domestic demand, neighboring conflict in Syria and sizeable structural deficiencies will continue to drag on the economy.

The vehicles market confirmed in the 2016 its stability while all others markets in the region had performed down. Indeed, as reported by the AIA, total sales had been 38.647, down 1.8% from the record established in the previous year.

Car passenger’s sales had been 36.323 while LCVs 2.324.

Kia was again market leader with 7.081 sales ahead of Hyundai with 5.565 (-8.3%) and Toyota with 4.626 (-32.9%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top Brands