Chamber of commerce: Israel's foreign trade increased 13% in January-August to $41.2b

The Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce published last week data about Israel's foreign trade for the first eight months of 2005. according to the chamber Israeli foreign trade, excluding diamonds, totaled $41.2 billion in January-August, 13%, or $4.7 billion higher, than during the corresponding period in 2004.
 
Imports, excluding diamonds, grew by 15%,( $3 billion), to $23.7 billion. Exports, excluding diamonds, grew by 1%, or $1.7 billion, to $17.5 billion.
 
The chamber pointed out that Israeli foreign trade with the US and China, excluding diamonds, had the fastest growth in January-August 2005.
 
Israeli exports to the US were up by 12%, or $531 million, in January-August to $4.83 billion. exports to other destinations were also up in January-August: exports to Belgium rose by 31%, or $134 million; exports to the UK rose by 15%, or $120 million, exports to Cyprus rose by 48%, or $113 million, exports to Spain rose by 3%, or $113 million, to Turkey rose by 19%, or $98 million, to France rose by $20%, or $96 million, exports to Holland rose by 10%, or $77 million, to India by 34%, or $72 millions, Russia rose by 37%, or $69 million; exports to Germany rose by 8%, or $67 million, and exports to Canada rose by 27%, or $59 million.
 
Israeli Imports from China in January-August increased by 36%, or $319 million, to $1.19 billion. Imports from other destinations were as follows: imports from the Netherlands increased by 23%, or $208 million, imports from Belgium rose by 31%, or $189 million; imports from Italy rose by 17%, or $178 million, imports from South Korea were up by 19%, or $92 million, imports from Canada rose by 62%, or $86 million, imports from Japan rose by 11%, or $85 million, imports from the UK were up by 8%, or $82 million, from India up by 41%, or $82 million and Turkey up by 10%, or $75 million.