Traffic through the Egyptian-Libyan border at Msaad has been disrupted following the closure of the crossing during the celebrations for the second anniversary of the 2011 uprising.

The value of bilateral goods trade between the two countries surpassed 2010 levels last year as Libya's economy recovered from the 2011 conflict.

Libya's borders with Tunisia and Egypt, which the government had decided to close ahead of celebrations to mark the second anniversary of the 2011 uprising, are scheduled to reopen at midnight on 18/19 February.

Zafer Caglayan, who was recently in Tripoli with a delegation of Turkish businesspeople, says the total value of trade between Libya and Turkey could reach $5bn (LD6.3bn) in 2013.

Libya's land crossings with neighbouring Egypt and Tunisia are to be closed from 14-18 February as the government plans various precautionary measures ahead of the second anniversary of the 2011 uprising.

The Turkish Minister of Economy, Zafer Caglayan, is due to visit Tripoli on 12 February to hold talks with various ministers in a bid to resolve issues of outstanding payments and discuss closer trade cooperation.

The value of UK exports to Libya more than doubled in 2012 compared to a year earlier, but still remains far below pre-conflict levels.

Turkish exports to Libya topped the $2bn (LD2.5bn) mark for the first time in 2012, suggesting the country is one of the main commercial beneficiaries of Libya's post-conflict recovery.

Mohamed Morsi, the Egyptian president, says that trade and investment levels between the two countries are below potential.

The interior ministry has announced that the Msaad border post between Libya and Egypt will be open only to Egyptians, with other nationalities required to enter Libya by air.

The Dubai Chamber, which represents private-sector companies based in the emirate, says trade with Libya jumped sharply in 2012.

The Ministry of Economy has added kerosene to a list of goods which can only be imported through state-owned oil companies.

Libya imported some $1.3bn (LD1.6bn) of goods and services from Egypt in 2012, making it the second biggest export destination for the Arab world's most populous country.

Indian exports to Libya in April-November 2012 were up more than seven-fold on the same period in 2011, which was severely affected by the conflict, though bilateral trade volumes remain relatively weak.

The main border crossing between Tunisia and Libya has reopened to goods traffic, according to reports, after being blocked for weeks.