MAI: Industrial exports fell 4% in October-November 2008

Exports of pharmaceuticals fell by 22%, exports of avionics fell by 7%, and exports of communications, scientific, monitoring, and supervision equipment fell by 6%
 
The Manufacturers Association of Israel (MAI) reported last week that industrial exports fell 4% in October-November 2008 to US$5.8 billion, compared with monthly average in the third quarter.
 
Manufacturers Association Economics Division director, Ruby Ginel, said in a press release that exports of pharmaceuticals fell by 22%, exports of avionics fell by 7%, and exports of communications, scientific, monitoring, and supervision equipment fell by 6%.
 
Ginel noted, however, that the electronics components sector saw an unexpected  increase in exports, which rose by 20%.
 
Ginel also noted that were it not for this increase, industrial exports would have fallen 10%, a decline not seen since the second quarter of 2003, over five years ago.
 
In a detailed account the Economics Division presented a  breakdown of the decline in exports in October - November by sector was as follows: Mixed high-tech industry (chemicals, refined oil products, machinery, and electrical equipment) exports fell 6%; Mixed-low technology industry (metals, mining, quarrying, plastics, etc.) exports fell 14%.
 
Two weeks ago, the Central Bureau of Statistics released similar data on industrial exports, which account for 45% of Israel's total exports.