Israel's import and export totaled NIS25.1 billion in August

According to data released by CBS, the trade defecit in January-August totaled NIS6.7 billion
 
Data released last week by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) show that in August 2012, import of goods totaled NIS 25.1 billion, export of goods totaled NIS 16.2 billion and the trade deficit of goods totaled NIS 8.9 billion.
 
Export of goods as percentage of imports (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) constituted in January-August only 67.7%. In January-August 2012 the monthly average trade deficit totaled NIS 6.7 billion that represent an annual deficit of NIS 79.9 billion (NIS 52.2 billion in 2011 and NIS 29.0 billion in 2010).
 The trend data calculated by the CBS, seasonally adjusted and adjusted for irregular elements, in imports of goods (excluding ship, aircraft, diamonds and fuels) rise 5.0% at an annual rate, during June-August 2012 continuing an increase of 4.0% in March-May 2012.
 
Export of goods (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) rise 8.0% at an annual rate, during June-August 2012 continuing an increase of 8.8% in March-May 2012. Import of Goods - Import of goods, in current prices in New Israel Shekels (NIS), totaled NIS 25.1B.
 
A breakdown of the data of import by use indicates that in August 2012, 37% of total imports were import of raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels); 14% were machinery, equipment and land vehicles for investment; 14% were consumer goods; and the rest diamonds, fuels, ships and aircraft.
 
Trend data of imported raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels) rose 13.9%, in June-August 2012, at an annual rate continuing an increase of 18.5% in March-May 2012. A breakdown by groups of import of raw materials, in the last three months, shows that imports of iron and steel rose 31.4% in an annual rate.
 
Trend data of import of consumer goods rose 2.9%, in the last three months, at an annual rate, continuing a rise of 1.6% in March-May 2012. Import of non-durable goods rose, by an annual rate of 13.5% during the last three months. Most of the rise was recorded in import of medicines (23.0% at an annual rate) and imports of food and beverages category (18.2%). Import of durable goods, fall in the same period 8.9% by an annual rate. Most of the fall was recorded in import of transport equipment.
 
Trend data of Import of investment goods (excluding ships and aircraft) fall 12.8%, by an annual rate, in June-August 2012 continuing a decrease of 24.3% in March-May. A breakdown by groups points that import of machinery and equipment (74% of investment imports) fall 10.1% in the last three months. Imports of vehicles for investment fall 9.6%, at an annual rate, during the same period.
 
Import of diamonds (rough and polished) in January-August 2012 totaled NIS 19.2B. During the same months in 2011 the import of diamonds totaled NIS24.9B. Import of fuels (crude oil, distillates and coal) in January-August 2012 totaled NIS 44.8B a rise of 44.5% compared to the same months of the previous year.
 
Export of Goods - in current prices in New Israel Shekels (NIS), totaled in August 2012 NIS 16.2B. In August 2012, manufacturing exports (excluding diamonds) constituted 86% of all export of goods. Export of diamonds constituted 12%, and the remaining 2% was agricultural exports.
 
Trend data of manufacturing exports rose 6.5%, at an annual rate, in June-August 2012, continuing an increase of 8.4% in March-May 2012. Trend data of exports by high technology industries (50% of total manufacture exports) rose 21.1%, at an annual rate, in June-August 2012 continuing an increase of 10.6% in March-May 2012. Breakdown by economic activity shows that exports of electronic components rose 14.2% and exports of pharmaceutical products rose 45.9%.
 
Trend data of exports by medium-high technology industries (29% of total manufacture exports) rose 2.0%, at an annual rate, in June-August 2012 continuing a decrease of 11.2% during March-May.
 
Trend data of exports by medium-low technology industries (16% of total manufacture exports) fall 5.0%, at an annual rate, in the last three months following an increase of 7.1% in March-May 2012. Breakdown by economic activity shows that exports of basic metal products fall 20.9%.
 
Trend data of exports by low technology industries (5% of total manufacture exports) fall 8.4% at an annual rate, in June-August 2012 continuing a decrease of 1.4% in March-May 2012. Breakdown by economic activity shows that exports of food and beverages fall 5.1% in the same period.
 
Export of diamonds (net, polished and rough), in January-August 2012, totaled NIS 22.3B (NIS 28.3B in January -August 2011).
Agricultural exports in January -August 2012 totaled NIS 3.6B (temporary data), a rise of 4.9% compared to the same period in 2011. Export of citrus fruit rose 38.7% and export of cotton and other field crops rose 64.2%. Exports of flowers fall 10.7% during the same period