The Israel Central Bureau of Statistics reported that in October 2014, import of goods totaled NIS 20.8 billion, export of goods totaled NIS 17.1 billion and the trade deficit in goods totaled NIS 3.7 billion.
In the period January- October 2014, Export of goods as percent of imports (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) constituted 75.8% compared to 75.0% at the same period in 2013.
Trade deficit (goods only) in the first ten months of the year totaled NIS 4.1 billion per month, NIS 49.1 billion in annual terms (NIS 51.3 billion in 2013 and NIS 70.4 billion in 2012).
Import of goods (excluding ship, aircraft, diamonds and fuels) decreased by 5.7% at an annual rate in August-October 2014, according to trend data, continuing a decrease of 7.5% in May-July 2014.
Export of goods (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) increased by 15.1% at an annual rate according to trend data, after a decrease of 2.2% in May- July 2014. Trade in goods in October 2014 was influenced by changes in the value of the NIS against other currencies in which import and export transactions are conducted.
Import of goods, in October 2014, totaled NIS 20.8 billion. 40% of total imports were import of raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels); 18% were consumer goods; 12% were machinery, equipment and land vehicles for investment; and 30% diamonds, fuels, ships and aircraft. Trend data of imported raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels) decreased by 4.7%, in August- October 2014, at an annual rate continuing a decrease of 6.7% in May- July 2014.
A breakdown by groups of import of raw materials shows that import of iron and steel products decreased by 25.8% at an annual rate (-2.5% monthly average), import of food products decreased by 15.4% at an annual rate and import of rubber and plastic products decreased by 8.6% at an annual rate.
In contrast, import of inputs for machine and electronics manufacturing increased by 8.1% at an annual rate. Trend data of import of investment goods (excluding ships and aircraft) decreased by 15.5%, at an annual rate, in August-October 2014 continuing a decrease of 20.8% in May-July 2014.
A breakdown by groups points that import of machinery and equipment (62% of investment imports) point to a decrease of 9.8% at an annual rate.
Import of vehicles for investment point to a decrease of 13.0%, at an annual rate. Trend data of import of consumer goods increased by 3.7% at an annual rate in August-October 2014, continuing an increase of 2.1% in May- July 2014.
Import of durable goods (furniture, electrical equipment and transport equipment) increased by 8.9%, at an annual rate, in August-October 2014. Import of non-durable goods (medicines, food and beverages, and clothing and footwear) increased by 0.2% at an annual rate, in the last three months. Most of the increase was recorded in import of clothing and footwear category that increased by 8.1% at an annual rate.
Import of diamonds (net, rough and polished) in January-October 2014 totaled NIS 24.3 billion compared to NIS 24.2 billion in the same period of 2013. Import of fuels (crude oil, distillates and coal) in January-October 2014 totaled NIS 39.4 billion, a decrease of 13.4% compared to the same months of the previous year.
Export of goods totaled in October 2014, NIS 17.1 billion. Manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports (excluding diamonds) constituted 81% of all export of goods. Export of diamonds constituted 17%, and the remaining were agriculture, forestry and fishing exports.
Trend data of manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports point to an increase of 14.1%, at an annual rate, in August - October 2014, after a decrease of 2.3% in May-July 2014.
Trend data of manufacture exports, by technological intensity: Trend data of exports by high technology industries (42% of total manufacture exports) increased by 5.1%, at an annual rate, in August- October 2014, after a decrease of 7.9% in May-July 2014.
Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of electronic components and boards increased by 10.7%. Trend data of exports by medium-high technology industries (38% of total manufacture exports) increased by 17.5%, at an annual rate, in August- October 2014, continuing an increase of 7.4% in May- July 2014.
Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of electrical equipment (excl. domestic appliances) point an increase of 12.0% at an annual rate.
Trend data of exports by medium-low technology industries (13% of total manufacture exports) point to an increase of 13.3% at an annual rate, in the last three months continuing an increase of 6.3%, in May-July 2014.
Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of basic metals increased by 14.8% at an annual rate.
Trend data of exports by low technology industries (7% of total manufacture exports) increased by 3.4% at an annual rate, in August-October 2014 after a decrease of 4.5% in May-July 2014.
Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of textile, wearing apparel, leather and related products increased by 9.0% at an annual rate. Export of diamonds (net, polished and rough), in January- October 2014, totaled NIS 28.8 billion. Agricultural, forestry and fishing exports in January-October 2014 totaled NIS 4.0 billion (original data) a decrease of 9.7% compared to the same period in 2013. Export of fruits (excluding citrus) decreased by 17.0% in the same period.
