Figures published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Research, Economy, and Strategy Division show that Israel's fresh produce exports totaled US$1.37 billion in 2014, down 8%, compared with 2013.

Agricultural exports accounted for 3.5% of all Israeli exports last year. The fall in agricultural exports last year is attributable to the crisis in Russia during the second half of the year.

At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development made it clear that because the ruble crisis began only in mid-2014, its effect on export figures for the year was limited.

The continuation of this situation is detracting from export proceeds, and will also affect this year's agricultural exports. Israel exported 633,000 tons of fresh vegetables, 128,000 tons of fresh fruit, and 156,000 tons of citrus in 2014. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development figures for the agricultural produce prices show that prices dipped 0.8% in 2014, a decline that was particularly prominent, given the 0.5% rise in fresh agricultural produce prices in 2013.