commodities

 Byblos ships carried to and from Egypt and the others countries on the Mediterranean iron and silver from Anatolia for the fabrication of silverware and ornaments, copper from Cyprus, resin of coniferous trees from the mountains of Byblos used for the mummification, bitumen for the embalming of the dead, local agricultural products such as wine and olive oil transported in the trade mark jars used for long distance transport, grains of wheat, barly and lentils, flint produced locally for the fabrication of tools like choppers, knives, saws and scrappers, textile fabrics from Mesopotamia, prestige stone vessels from Anatolia such as Obsidian, Travertine, Porphyria for making columns for temples and houses.

The Phoenicians of Byblos were trading resins and spices at the ports across the mediterranean since the third millennium. The testimony of the archives of Knossos in Crete attests to the  use of the resin in the Aegean. Archaeometric studies show that incense resins of the Pistacia tree is found in Egyptian cups of the New Kingdom era and were imported from Levant and most probably Byblos. Fragrant oils,  ointments, drinks and incense were manufactured in the palatial centers and circulated across the Mediterranean through the merchants of Byblos. Laboratory investigations into the identification of resin found in amphorae found on the sunken Phoenician Ulurburun ship showed that it is resin from trees such as Pistacia terebinthus and Pistacia atlantica that grow on the levantine coast, where in some amphorae the resin contained leaves and fruits from these  trees. Also according to the Greek Athenius Myrrh was included in appetizers and drinks with peppers and cypress. Myrrh has a heavy smell and a bitter and pungent taste. As a raw material resins found various applications in perfumery. Other aromatic substances like balsam and the frankincense were in use. Egypt seems to have been one of the main recipients of Phoenician resins and luxurious scented oils. In the years of Pharaoh Thutmose III more than 9000 liters of resin were imported annually from the Phoenician region and Byblos was a main center at that time for commercial dispatching. In 1300 BCE a sunken merchant ship the Ulurburun was loaded with 150 amphorae some containing resins. Turpentine and myrrh reached the Aegean during the 2nd millennium BC through the trade networks of Levantine merchants.  Aromatics reached the whole mediterranean. For the Minoans and Mycenaeans of Crete the resin would have to come in a semi-liquid form or in tears. Unprocessed tears were used as incense or combined with aromatic fruits such as coriander and juniper seeds.

Phoenicians traded largely olive oil and aromatic oil especially for gifting to Royal palaces and for religious rituals in temples. One can compare the importance of oils particularly aromatic oils with that of silver and gold. For example in late second millennium a small amount of scented oil contained in a small bottle would cost two shekels of silver. Messengers transporting aromatic oils were usually welcomed by kings to their courts. Olive oil and aromatic oils were highly desirable goods. May be the Phoenicians particularly Byblos were the likely conductors of much of the olive oil trade. 

 Grain prices such as barley surge during the year of political disorder or bad climate conditions when people were hungry. The prices were low during a period of good reign. Low prices of barley and other goods reflect the forces of supply and demand not price control. Governments engaged in massive programs of storage and redistribution of staples. Large private hierarchically organized firms for trading with grains existed. Private merchants stored grain in granaries. Texts of the third millennium record grain loans. The temple and the King palace were the main providers of harvest credit though private persons loaned out barley. 

The Phoenicians had a great reputation as being highly skilled metalworkers and their skills are mentioned in both the Old Testament and the Homeric poems. The best-attested objects of the Phoenician metalworking tradition were ornate bowls. The metal bowls are classified in categories according to their shape, the method of manufacture, motifs and stylistic influences. The vast majority of Phoenician bowls were created by hammering a thin sheet of metal over a curved anvil.

Phoenician were very skilled with ivory work and employed a wide range of effects and art techniques. 

Phoenicians were the first to discover glass. The molten paste could be poured into molds. The natural color of glass produced was mostly blue or bluish-green color. The Phoenicians also made extensive use of faience.

Large quantities of pottery were produced. Pottery was produced either in molds or on the wheel. Some ceramic figurines were created using a mold and with the back trimmed. Pottery was cooked in an oval oven chamber. Amphorae were used for maritime shipping and were sealed using a pinewood disk plug and a sealant made from a mixture of resin and clay. The decoration on early ceramic vessels was mainly made of simple patterns such as monochrome concentric circles or spirals, simple geometric designs like undulating or straight lines, six or eight point stars, criss-crossed banding, triangles and vertical lozenges.

Phoenicians made high quality and brightly colored fabrics. Phoenicians typically wore ankle-length loose fitting with sleeves could be long short or elbow length. Clothes were adorned with embroidered designs and had fringed hems.

Jewelry were of Gold and silver and crafted using technical sophistication and artistic ability. Multitude of methods and techniques were used to manufacture of Phoenician jewelry. Phoenician jewelry makers often embellished their work with colored glass and semi-precious stones.