The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reported that in March 2015, import of goods totaled NIS 24.4 billion, export of goods totaled NIS 20.9 billion and the trade deficit in goods totaled NIS 3.5 billion.
March 2015- Export of goods as percent of imports (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) constituted 91.3% compared to 78.8% at the same period in 2014
Trade deficit (goods only) in January-March totaled NIS 2.8 billion compared to NIS 8.2 billion deficit in January-March 2014.
Import of goods (excluding ship, aircraft, diamonds and fuels) increased by 12.4% at an annual rate in January-March 2015, according to trend data, continuing an increase of 14.7% in October-December 2014.
Export of goods (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) increased by 6.5% at an annual rate, according to trend data, continuing an increase of 21.8% in October-December 2014 (1.7% monthly average).
Import of Goods
Import of goods, in March 2015, totaled – as mentioned – NIS 24.4 billion. 41% of total imports were import of raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels); 20% were consumer goods; 12% were machinery, equipment and land vehicles for investment; and 27% diamonds, fuels, ships and aircraft.
A breakdown by groups points that import of iron and steel products increased by 32.8% in, at an annual rate (2.4% monthly average), import of raw food products increased by 19.4% in at an annual rate and import of non-ferrous inputs increased by 14.7% at an annual rate. In contrast, import of inputs for agriculture decreased by 24.4% at an annual rate (-2.3% monthly average).
Trend data of import of investment goods (excluding ships and aircraft) increased by 14.0%, at an annual rate, in January-March 2015 continuing an increase of 1.2% in October-December 2014.
A breakdown by groups points that import of machinery and equipment (68% of investment imports) point to an increase of 27.3% at an annual rate (2.0% monthly average). In contrast, import of vehicles for investment point to a decrease of 18.8%, at an annual rate.
Import of consumer goods continues to grow in January- March 2015 but in a slower rate.
Trend data of import of consumer goods increased by 4.7% at an annual rate in January- March 2015, continuing an increase of 11.8% in October - December 2014. Import of non-durable goods (medicines, food and beverages, and clothing and footwear) increased by 14.7% at an annual rate, in the last three months. Most of the increase was in import of medicines (15.2%). In contrast import of durable goods (furniture, electrical equipment and transport equipment) decreased by 7.2%, at an annual rate, in January-March 2015.
Import of diamonds (net, rough and polished) in January-March 2015 totaled NIS 6.9 billion compared to NIS 7.2 billion in the same period of 2014.
Import of fuels (crude oil, distillates and coal) in January -March 2015 totaled NIS 8.2 billion, a decrease of 30.6% compared to the same months of the previous year.
Export of Goods
Export of goods totaled – as mentioned – NIS 20.9 billion in March 2015. Manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports (excluding diamonds) constituted 81% of all export of goods. Export of diamonds constituted 16%, and the remaining 3% were agriculture, forestry and fishing exports.
Trend data of manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports point to an increase of 6.4%, at an annual rate, in January-March 2015, continuing an increase of 22.1% in October –December 2014 (1.7% monthly average).
Trend data of manufacture exports, by technological intensity
Trend data of exports by high technology industries (52% of total manufacture exports) increased by 36.8%, at an annual rate, in January-March 2015 (2.6% monthly average), continuing an increase of 58.2% in October-December 2014 (3.9% monthly average). Breakdown by economic activity shows that most of the activities increased sharply.
Trend data of exports by medium-high technology industries (30% of total manufacture exports) decreased by 20.4%, at an annual rate, in January-March 2015, continuing a decrease of 0.7% in October-December 2014. Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of chemicals and products decreased by 27.5% at an annual rate (-2.6% monthly average).
Trend data of exports by medium-low technology industries (11% of total manufacture exports) point to drop of 25.1% at an annual rate (-2.4% monthly average), in the last three months continuing a decrease of 15.0%, in October-December 2014.
Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of basic metal products decreased by 23.9% at an annual rate (-2.2% monthly average).
Trend data of exports by low technology industries (7% of total manufacture exports) increased by 8.5% at an annual rate, in January-March 2015 continuing an increase of 17.7% in October-December 2014.
Breakdown by economic activity shows that export of manufacture of textiles, wearing apparel leather and related products increased by 9.5% at an annual rate.
Export of diamonds (net, polished and rough), in January - March 2015, totaled NIS 9.1 billion compared to NIS 11.2 billion in the same period in 2014.
Agricultural, forestry and fishing exports in January - March 2015 totaled NIS 1.8 billion (original data) a decrease of 11.1% compared to the same period in 2014. Export of flowers decreased by 30.9% in the same period.
