The Central Bureau of Statistics reported that in March 2014, import of goods totaled NIS 21.7 billion, export of goods totaled NIS 15.5 billion and the trade deficit in goods totaled NIS 6.2 billion.
January- March 2014
Export of goods as percent of imports (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) constituted 75.0% compared to 78.5% at the same period in 2013.
The trend data calculated by the Central Bureau of Statistics, seasonally adjusted and adjusted for irregular elements, in import of goods (excluding ship, aircraft, diamonds and fuels) decreased by 1.9% at an annual rate, in January- March 2014 after an increase of 4.0% in October- December 2013.
Export of goods (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) point to a drop of 1.5% at an annual rate, after an increase of 8.6% in October- December 2013.
Development of trade in goods in March 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 March 2014, totaled NIS 21.7B. A breakdown of the data of imports by economic use indicates that in March 2014, 41% of total imports were import of raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels); 18% were consumer goods; 13% were machinery, equipment and land vehicles for investment; and 28% diamonds, fuels, ships and aircraft.
Trend data of imported raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels) point to a rise of 4.8%, in January- March 2014, at an annual rate continuing an increase of 3.9% in October- December 2013. A breakdown by groups of import of raw materials shows that import of chemicals and its products increased by 16.5% at an annual rate.
Trend data of import of consumer goods rose by 2.1% at an annual rate in January- March 2014, continuing an increase of 1.9% in October- December 2013. Import of durable goods point to a rise of 2.8%, at an annual rate, in January-March 2014. Import of non-durable goods decreased by 1.5% an annual rate of in the last three months. Most of the increase was recorded in import of clothing and footwear category (-14.3% at an annual rate).
Trend data of import of investment goods (excluding ships and aircraft) point to a drop of 4.7%, by an annual rate, in January- March 2014 after an increase of 14.1% in October-December 2013. A breakdown by groups points that import of machinery and equipment (65% of investment imports) point to a drop 23.6%, at an annual rate, in the last three months. Import of vehicles for investment point to an increase of 6.2% at an annual rate, in the same period.
Import of diamonds (net, rough and polished) in January- March 2014 totaled NIS 7.1B. During the same months in 2013 the import of diamonds totaled NIS 6.9B.
Import of fuels (crude oil, distillates and coal) in January - March 2014 totaled NIS 11.9B a decrease of 17.1% compared to the same months of the previous year.
Export of goods in New Israel Shekels (NIS) totaled in March 2014, NIS 15.5B.
In March 2014, manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports (excluding working diamonds) constituted 86% of all export of goods. Export of diamonds constituted 11%, and the remaining 3% were agriculture, forestry and fishing exports.
Trend data of manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports point to a drop of 0.2%, at an annual rate, in December- March 2014, after an increase of 10.3% in October-December 2013.
Trend data of exports by high technology industries (47% of total manufacture exports) increased 2.3%, at an annual rate, in January- March 2014, continuing an increased of 30.7% in October-December 2013 (2.3% monthly average). Breakdown by economic activity shows a rise in export of manufacture of pharmaceutical products and in export of manufacture of electronic components and boards.
Trend data of exports by medium-high technology industries (34% of total manufacture exports) point to a rise of 5.7%, at an annual rate, in January- March 2014, continuing an increase of 6.7% in October- December 2013. Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of chemicals and its products rose by 3.5% at an annual rate.
Trend data of exports by medium-low technology industries (12% of total manufacture exports) point to a drop of 24.2% at an annual rate, (-2.3% monthly average), in the last three months continuing a decrease of 27.5%, (-2.6% monthly average), in October-December 2013. Breakdown by economic activity shows a drop in export of manufacture of fabricated metal products.
Trend data of exports by low technology industries (7% of total manufacture exports) increased by 4.4% at an annual rate, in January-March 2014 continuing an increase of 4.6% in October-December 2013. Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of fine jewellery and imitation jewellery and related products rose by 20.4% at an annual rate (1.5% monthly average).
Export of diamonds (net, polished and rough), in January - March 2014, totaled NIS 11.0B (NIS 9.1B in January - March 2013).
Agricultural, forestry and fishing exports in January - March 2014 totaled NIS 1.8B (original data), point to a decrease of 17.1% compared to the same period in 2013.
