In January 2014, import of goods totaled NIS 18.4 billion, export of goods totaled NIS 19.5 billion and the trade surplus in goods totaled NIS 1.1billion.
Export of goods as percent of imports (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) constituted 90.0% compared to 72.3% at the same period in 2014.
Trade surplus (goods only) in the first month of the year totaled NIS 1.1 billion compared to NIS 3.6 billion deficit in January 2014.
Import of goods (excluding ship, aircraft, diamonds and fuels) increased by 24.8% at an annual rate (1.9% monthly average) in November 2014-January 2015, according to trend data, continuing an increase of 14.6% in August-October 2014.
Export of goods (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) increased by 22.9% at an annual rate (1.7% monthly average), according to trend data, continuing a increase of 24.4% in August-October 2014 (1.8% monthly average).
Trade in goods in January 2015 was influenced by changes in the value of the NIS against other currencies in which import and export transactions are conducted.
In January 2015, the NIS continued to weak in compared the US Dollar by 0.3%. Compared to the Swiss Franc weakened by 4.3% and compared to the Japanese Yen the NIS weakened by 1.1%. Compared to the Euro the NIS strengthened by 5.8% and compared to the Sterling Pound strengthened by 2.9%
Import of goods, in January 2015, totaled NIS 18.4 billion. 46% of total imports were import of raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels); 19% were consumer goods; 14% were machinery, equipment and land vehicles for investment; and 21% diamonds, fuels, ships and aircraft.
Trend data of imported raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels) increased by 26.0%, in November 2014-January 2015 (1.9% monthly average), at an annual rate continuing an increase of 15.3% in August –October 2014. A breakdown by groups points that import of iron and steel products increased by 69.1% in, at an annual rate (4.5% monthly average).
Import of inputs for machine and electronic manufacturing increased by 31.3% in at an annual rate (2.3% monthly average), and import of fabrics and yarn increased by 19.8% at an annual rate.
Trend data of import of investment goods (excluding ships and aircraft) increased by 28.4%, at an annual rate, in November 2014-January 2015 (2.1% monthly average) continuing an increase of 7.5% in August-October 2014.
A breakdown by groups points that import of machinery and equipment (72% of investment imports) point to an increase of 25.4% at an annual rate (1.9% monthly average). Imports of vehicles for investment point to an increase of 28.6%, at an annual rate (2.1% monthly average).
Trend data of import of consumer goods increased by 17.9% at an annual rate in November 2014- January 2015, continuing an increase of 16.6% in August -October 2014. Import of durable goods (furniture, electrical equipment and transport equipment) increased by 24.3%, at an annual rate, in November 2014-January 2015 (2.1% monthly average).
Import of non-durable goods (medicines, food and beverages, and clothing and footwear) increased by 10.3% at an annual rate, in the last three months.
Import of diamonds (net, rough and polished) in January 2015 totaled NIS 1.4 billion compared to NIS 2.1 billion in the same period of 2014.
Import of fuels (crude oil, distillates and coal) in January 2015 totaled NIS 2.5 billion, a decrease of 49.2% compared to the same month of the previous year.
Export of goods totaled NIS 19.5 billion in January 2015. Manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports (excluding diamonds) constituted 76% of all export of goods. Export of diamonds constituted 21%, and the remaining 3% were agriculture, forestry and fishing exports.
Trend data of manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports point to an increase of 24.9%, at an annual rate, in November 2014-January 2015 (1.9% monthly average), continuing an increase of 24.3% in August –October 2014 (1.8% monthly average).
Trend data of exports by high technology industries (51% of total manufacture exports) increased by 58.6%, at an annual rate, in November 2014-January 2015 (3.9% monthly average), continuing an increase of 33.7% in August-October 2014 (2.3% monthly average).
Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of electronic components and boards increased sharply.
Trend data of exports by medium-high technology industries (32% of total manufacture exports) increased by 6.0%, at an annual rate, in November 2014-January 2015, continuing an increase of 18.9% in August-October 2014. Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of electrical equipment increased by 30.4% at an annual rate (2.2% monthly average).
Trend data of exports by medium-low technology industries (11% of total manufacture exports) point to drop of 19.2% at an annual rate, in the last three months after an increase of 1.0%, in August-October 2014. Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of basic metal products decreased by 9.7% at an annual rate.
Trend data of exports by low technology industries (6% of total manufacture exports) increased by 6.6% at an annual rate, in November 2014-January 2015 continuing an increase of 11.1% in August-October 2014. Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of textile, wearing apparel and leather products increased by 7.3% at an annual rate.
Export of diamonds (net, polished and rough), in January 2015, totaled NIS 4.1 billion.
Agricultural, forestry and fishing exports in January 2015 totaled NIS 0.6 billion (original data) a decrease of 23.4% compared to the same period in 2014. Export of growing of flowers decreased by 43.2% in the same period.
