The Central Bureau of Statistics [CBS] reported that in June 2015, import of goods totaled NIS 20.5 billion, export of goods totaled NIS 14.7 billion and the trade deficit in goods totaled NIS 5.8 billion.
June 2015
Export of goods as percent of imports (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) constituted 84.3% compared to 77.3% at the same period in 2014.
Trade deficit (goods only) in January -June totaled NIS 26.8 billion compared to NIS 25.0 billion deficit in January -June 2014.
Import of goods (excluding ship, aircraft, diamonds and fuels) increased by 2.1% at an annual rate in April-June 2015, according to trend data, continuing an increase of 3.8% in January - March 2015.
Export of goods (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) decreased by 16.9% at an annual rate, according to trend data, after an increase of 2.9% in January - March 2015.
Trade in goods in June 2015 was influenced by changes in the value of the NIS against other currencies in which import and export transactions are conducted.
In June 2015, the NIS strengthened compared the US Dollar by 1.0% and compared to the Japanese Yen the NIS strengthened by 3.5%. Compared to the Euro by 0.5%, compared to the Sterling Pound strengthened by 0.4%.
Import of Goods
Import of goods, in June 2015, totaled – as mentioned – NIS 20.5 billion. 44% of total imports were import of raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels); 19% were consumer goods; 15% were machinery, equipment and land vehicles for investment; and 22% diamonds, fuels, ships and aircraft.
Trend data of imported raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels) decreased by 1.0%, in April –June 2015, at an annual rate after an increase of 4.3% in January - March 2015.
A breakdown by groups points that import of Wood and its products decreased by 16.0% at an annual rate, import agricultural raw materials decreased by 16.0% at an annual rate and import of non-ferrous metals decreases by 9.7% at annual rate. In contrast, import of inputs for Paper manufacturing increased by 8.0% at an annual rate.
Trend data of import of investment goods (excluding ships and aircraft) increased by 17.7%, at annual rate, in April-June 2015 continuing an increase of 5.0% in January - March 2015. A breakdown by groups points that import of machinery and equipment (66% of investment imports) point to an increase of 22.3% at an annual rate. Import of vehicles for investment point to a decrease of 2.7%, at an annual rate.
Trend data of import of consumer goods decreased by 0.8% at an annual rate in April- June 2015, after an increase of 1.5% in January - March 2015. Import of non-durable goods (medicines, food and beverages, and clothing and footwear) increased by 2.1% at an annual rate, in the last three months.
Import of durable goods (furniture, electrical equipment and transport equipment) decreased by 8.2%, at an annual rate, in March-June 2015.
Import of diamonds (net, rough and polished) in January -June 2015 totaled NIS 13.4 billion compared to NIS 14.8 billion in the same period of 2014.
Import of fuels (crude oil, distillates and coal) in January -June 2015 totaled NIS 16.0 billion, a decrease of 32% compared to the same months of the previous year.
Export of Goods
Export of goods totaled – as mentioned – NIS 14.8 billion in June 2015. Manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports (excluding diamonds) constituted 91% of all export of goods. Export of diamonds constituted 7%, and the remaining 2% were agriculture, forestry and fishing exports.
Trend data of manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports(excluding diamonds) point to a decrease of 16.0%, at an annual rate, in April -June 2015, continuing a increase of 4.1% in January - March 2015.
Trend data of manufacture exports, by technological intensity
Trend data of exports by high technology industries (50% of total manufacture exports) decreased by 4.8%, at an annual rate, in April –June, after an increase of 30.0% in January- March 2015 (2.2% monthly average). Breakdown by economic activity shows that manufacture of pharmaceutical products decreased by 17.6%.
Trend data of exports by medium-high technology industries (31% of total manufacture exports) decreased by 36.8% (-3.8% monthly average). at an annual rate, in April -June 2015, continuing a decrease of 35.2% (-3.6% monthly average). in January- March 2015. Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of chemicals and products decreased by 42.0% at an annual rate (-4.5% monthly average).
Trend data of exports by medium-low technology industries (12% of total manufacture exports) point to drop of 4.4% at an annual rate in the last three months continuing a decrease of 16.2%, in January – March 2015.
Trend data of exports by low technology industries (7% of total manufacture exports) decreased by 2.0% at an annual rate, in April -June 2015 after an increase of 3.0% in January - March 2015. Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco products a decreased by 11.5% at an annual rate.
Export of diamonds (net, polished and rough), in January - June 2015, totaled NIS 17.1 billion compared to NIS 18.6 billion in the same period in 2014.
Agricultural, forestry and fishing exports in January - June 2015 totaled NIS 2.9 billion (original data) a decrease of 4.5% compared to the same period in 2014.
Export of flowers decreased by 13.2% in the same period.
