Lebanon is unlikely to face food shortages or unusual price hikes during the holiday season, the president of the food importers’ union, Hani Bohsali, assured in a press release. His statement comes as a cease-fire in Lebanon, which began on Nov. 27, continues to hold, with parts of the Lebanese diaspora already planning to spend the holidays in the country.

“Food stocks were not affected by the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, which lasted about two and a half months. This applies to all foodstuffs without exception,” Bohsali said, noting that Lebanon still has "three months’ worth of reserves," comparable to the situation at the end of summer when cross-border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah escalated into full-scale war against Lebanon. He attributed the stability to the fact that Lebanon’s major ports and Beirut’s international airport have remained operational and that no naval blockade has been imposed.

However, when contacted, Bohsali acknowledged that he did not have updated data to compare food import trends ahead of the festive season with those of previous years.

On pricing, he expressed optimism: “Prices will remain stable for the foreseeable future, as no factors are currently pushing them up. Competition among merchants and sales centers is very strong, with varied and significant offers.”