Tripoli and near ports getting ready to start imports in wake of Beirut blast

Raoul Nehme told Reuters a day after Tuesday’s devastating explosion that Lebanon needed reserves for at least three months to ensure food security and was looking at other storage areas.
The explosion was the most powerful ever to rip through Beirut, a city torn apart by civil war three decades ago. The economy was already in meltdown before the blast, slowing grain imports as the nation struggled to find hard currency for purchases.
“There is no bread or flour crisis,” the minister said. “We have enough inventory and boats on their way to cover the needs of Lebanon on the long term.”
He said grain reserves in Lebanon’s remaining silos stood at “a bit less than a month” but said the destroyed silos had only held 15,000 tonnes of the grain at the time, much less than capacity which one official put at 120,000 tonnes.
Beirut’s port district was a mangled wreck, disabling the main entry point for imports to feed a nation of more than 6 million people.
Two Killed on Orient Queen Cruise Ship Docked Near Explosion, Ship Sinks
Ahmed Tamer, the director of Tripoli port, Lebanon’s second biggest facility, said his port did not have grain storage but cargoes could be taken to warehouses 2 km (about one mile) away.
Alongside Tripoli, the ports of Saida, Selaata and Jiyeh were also equipped to handle grain, the economy minister said.
“We fear there will be a huge supply chain problem, unless there is an international consensus to save us,” said Hani Bohsali, head of the importers’ syndicate.
U.N. agencies are meeting on Wednesday to coordinate relief efforts for Beirut, Tamara al-Rifai, a spokeswoman for the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, told Reuters from Amman.
“People are extremely poor, it’s increasingly difficult for anyone to buy food and the fact that Beirut is the largest port in Lebanon makes it a very bad situation,” she said. “We are looking at Tripoli, but it is a much smaller port.”
Beirut Blast Blamed on Chemical Cargo Removed From Ship in 2014
Reserves of flour were sufficient to cover market needs for a month and a half and there were four ships carrying 28,000 tonnes of wheat heading to Lebanon, Ahmed Hattit, the head of the wheat importers union, told Al-Akhbar newspaper.
Lebanon is trying to transfer immediately four vessels carrying 25,000 tonnes of flour to the port in Tripoli, one official told LBCI news channel.
Related News.
October 16, 2026
Navigating the Multi-Orbit Era: In Conversation with Intellian’s Jon Harrison at SMM 2026
At SMM 2026 in Hamburg, the rapid evolution of maritime satellite communications took centre stage. Across the exhibition halls, discussions among…
October 16, 2026
Cyprus ports need joint energy and investment strategy, shipping agents chief says
Cyprus needs a coordinated strategy for shipping, energy and environmental protection to support port investment and modernisation, Cyprus shipping…
October 16, 2026
MASO Public Affairs introduces MASO Regulatory Intelligence
A new subscription service helping businesses understand what is changing and what it means for them MASO Public Affairs introduces MASO Regulatory…
October 16, 2026
Anglo-Eastern helps turn CMBTECH’s ammonia ambition into an operational reality
From early feasibility study and risk-based design to newbuilding supervision, crew readiness and technical management, Anglo-Eastern drew on its…
October 16, 2026
Escalation of attacks threatens to derail recovery in Middle East oil exports
World oil demand is forecast to fall by 2.5 mb/d y-o-y in 4Q26 and 2.6 mb/d on average in 2026. As the Iran war manifests itself through restricted…
October 16, 2026
New study finds shipping pays twice its share to EU ETS earmarked revenues should triple to help build market for sustainable fuels and technologies
Shipping is responsible for around 10% of EU ETS emissions but pays almost 20% of the ETS bill. Unlike other sectors, it has never received free…
October 16, 2026
MSARC strengthens maritime mass rescue readiness through training and national live exercise off Dakar, Senegal
Joint MSARC–FHAS programme combines three days of SAR training with a national multi-agency live exercise The Maritime Search and Rescue Council ,…
October 16, 2026
Sogese report deliveries are still being delayed as container freight rates fluctuate
FOR IMPORTERS Spot rates into the Mediterranean are back at January levels, Far East to Europe reliability sits at pandemic lows, and nearly…
October 16, 2026
Glencore begins trading on Australian Securities Exchange
Glencore has begun trading on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ASX code GLC. Gary Nagle, Glencore’s CEO, said it was an exciting day for…
October 16, 2026
BIMCO Shipping Number of the Week
Suez Canal container ship transits exceed 50% of pre-disruption levels "During the first two weeks of October, weekly container ship capacity…
Subscribe to our newsletter!
if you dont want to swim alone in the ocean of news, sign up for the newsletter, and you will receive daily all the important news of world shipping!
Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER
© 2026 Cyprus Shipping News. All rights reserved
Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER
© 2026 Cyprus Shipping News. All rights reserved























