LEBANON (2 June)
The output of the 2003 wheat and barley, now being harvested, is expected to be about 84 000 tonnes, slightly lower than last year. The country depends heavily on imports (around 90 percent) to meet demand for rice, sugar and milk powder.
Imports of cereals, mainly wheat, in 2002/03 (July/June) are forecast at some 0.76 million tonnes, slightly higher than the previous year.