January-September : Exports to Arab states up 53% - $135m

Export Institute director General Yechiel Assia said last week that Israeli exports to Iraq totaled $3 million in January-September 2004, mostly consumer goods and defense products for the US military.
 
Assia added that Israel's total exports to Arab countries in January-September rose by 53% to $135 million, while imports rose by 28% to $62.5 million. These figures do not include $9 million in indirect exports through third countries, carried out by joint ventures of Israeli and Arab countries.
 
The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute reported last week that most of the increase was due to an 8% increase in exports to Egypt and 63% increase in exports to Jordan.
 
During the nine months period exports to Jordan totaled $100.7 million, mainly textiles, clothing, wood and furniture, paper and printing products. The large increase of exports to Jordan, was mainly due to the expansion of the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ) that export joint Israeli-Jordanian made products to the US, duty free. Imports from Jordan rose by 27% in January-September to $39 million. Exports to Egypt totaled in January-September $22 million. Exports were mostly made of textiles and clothing, chemicals and refined oil products, and. Imports from Egypt during the nine months period rose by 29% to $22.4 million.
 
According to figures released by the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute Exports to Tunisia in January-September, totaled $700,000, mostly chemicals and refined oil products. Exports to Lebanon totaled a negligible $100,000, mostly medical and surgical equipment and chemicals products.
 
Exports to the Gulf states rose in January-September by 143% to $1.7 million, mostly machinery and telecommunications equipment. Exports to Morocco in January-September, rose by 5% to $6.7 million, mostly chemicals and refined oil products. Imports from Morocco rose by 20% to $1.2 million