2004 - Exports to Arab countries up 48%

Report issued last week by the Manufacturers Association showed that Israeli exports to Arab countries rose in 2004 by 48% to $180 million.
 
The report also indicated that exports to the Palestinian Authority rose 9% to $1.6 billion. The report said that most of the increase in exports to Arab countries could be attributed to larger volume of trade with Jordan and Egypt.
 
Exports to Jordan were increased by the qualified industrial zones (QIZ) program with Jordan.
The Manufacturers Association said that exports to Jordan rose last year by 55% to $134 million, comprising mainly textiles and clothing, leather products, wood and furniture, and paper and printing.
 
Exports to Egypt rose last year by 11% to $29.2 million.
 
Exports to Iraq rose to $5 million, comprising mostly of goods sold to the US military, including defense products, consumer products, transportation equipment, rubber and plastics products.
Exports to the Gulf states rose last year by over 110% to $1.9 million.
 
The Manufacturers Association emphasized in the report that industrial exports to the Palestinian Authority included electronic and communications equipment, food, plastics and rubber products, chemicals and chemical products, metal products, machinery and equipment as well as raw materials for the construction industry.
 
The Manufacturers Association noted, however, that despite the increase in exports in 2004, exports to the Palestinian Authority were still 35% less than the record export in 1999, before the outbreak of the hostilities.