Israel Tax Authority reported last week that imports to Israel were up 36% in July compared to the same month last year, totaling $2.9 billion.
The Tax Authority pointed out that the increase was largely due to a jump of 32% in car imports. (14,044 vehicles were imported in July 2005 compared to 10,630 in July 2004). The authority added that for the first seven months of 2005, imports of cars and spare parts totaled $1.345 billion, 13.2% increase from the same period in 2004.
In revenue terms these imports produced tax revenues of NIS 3.887 billion, up 9.8% over the same period last year.
The imported value of imports of vehicles and spare parts in July totaled $212 million, up 28.3 percent over July 2004 but down 3.4 percent in comparison to June 2005.
The Tax Authority noted that imports of household appliances such as washing machines, electric ovens, cloth driers and refrigerators was up 16.4 % in July over a year ago, to $20 million.
Imports of entertainment appliances ; televisions, DVD players was up 27.7% to $27 million. In the seven months period January July imports of household appliances rose 15.4%, to $164 million.Entertainment appliances were up 22.4% in January-July, at $196 million.
Cigarette imports for the first seven months of the year was $66.1 million, up 5.3% over the same period of 2004. However, tax revenues from imported cigarettes and tobacco was up12.7% due to an increase in duties on cigarettes.
