State of Israel
Media Release
info@cbs.gov.il
www.cbs.gov.il
Fax: 02-6521340
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Previous Press Release on Foreign Trade appeared on December 13, 2015
Jerusalem,
January 13, 2016
009/2016
Summary of Israel’s Foreign Trade - 2015
In 2015 compared to 2014
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Import of goods (excluding ships, aircraft, diamonds and fuels) increased by 3.5%
Export of goods (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) increased by 4.2%
Trade deficit (goods only) declined by 38.2%
Imports of investment good (excluding ships and aircraft) increased by 1.5%
Imports of consumer goods increased by 3.5%
Imports of fuels declined by 36.6%
Exports of High Technology Industries increased by 23.4%
Trend data October-December 2015 (at annual rate)
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Export of goods (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) increased by 3.0%
Import of goods (excluding ships, aircraft, diamonds and fuels) increased by 6.1%
Tables
Foreign Trade Presentation for 2015, in USD;
Foreign Trade Presentation for 2015, in NIS
Development of the trade in goods - December 2015
Trade deficit (goods only) in 2015 totaled NIS 30.5 billion compared to NIS 49.4 billion in 2014 and NIS
51.3 billion in 2013). This is the lowest trade deficit since 2011.
Diagram 1 - Import, export and trade deficit in goods (original data)
28000
24000
NIS Million
20000
16000
12000
8000
4000
0
-4000
I
VI
2011
XII I
VI
XII I
2012
Imports
VI
2013
Exports
XII I
VI
XII I
2014
Trade deficit
Diagram's data source
Written by Simon Vinokur and Shirly Kirma
For explanations and clarifications regarding the contents of this Press Release,
Please contact the Press Relations Unit, at 02-652 7845, 050-623 5124
VI
2015
XII
Exports (excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) as per cent of Imports constituted 83.7% (76.6% in 2014
and 76.3% in 2013).
In 2015, import of goods totaled NIS 238.2 billion, export of goods totaled NIS 207.7 billion and the
trade deficit in goods, totaled NIS 30.5 billion as mentioned. Imports of goods declined by 6.8%
compared to previous year. Imports of goods (excluding ships, aircraft, diamonds and fuels) increased by
3.5% (NIS 6.3 billion). Most of the decline was in import of fuels that declined by 36.6% and in import of
ships and aircraft declined by 47.2% compared to 2014.
In 2015 export of goods totaled NIS 207.7 billion, higher by 0.8% than exports in 2014. Export of goods
(excluding ships, aircraft and diamonds) totaled NIS 178.3 billion an increased of 4.2% compared to 2014.
Data on import and export of goods are temporary and do not include trade between Israel and the
Palestinian Authority. Final data for 2015 will be published in April 2016. Import and export data on trade in
services are published in the frame of Balance of Payments every quarter.
Industrial, mining and quarrying exports1 (excluding diamonds) totaled NIS 175.6 billion, higher by 4.4%
compared to 2014. Agricultural, forestry and fishing exports decreased by 8.5% and totaled NIS 4.6
billion. Export of diamonds (raw and polished) totaled NIS 28.0 billion, a decreased of 15.8% compared to
2014.
Breakdown of industrial exports by technological intensity points to a rise of 23.4% in high
technology industries exports compared to 2014. Medium high technology industries exports
declined by 12.8%. Medium low technology industries exports declined by 7.9% and low technology
industries exports rose by 4.9%.
Detailed data by import destinations show an increase of 3.5% of consumer goods. Import of
investment goods increased by 1.5% and import of raw materials (excl. diamonds and fuels) increased
by 4.3%. In contrast, import of fuels decreased by 36.6% compared to 2014. Import of diamonds (raw and
polished) decreased by 20.6% and import of ships and aircraft decreased by 47.2%.
Trade in goods in 2015 was influenced by changes in value of the NIS against other currencies in which
import and exports transactions are conducted2. Compared to the Euro the NIS strengthened by 10.0%,
compared to the Canadian Dollar it strengthened by 6.3%, compared to the Japanese Yen it
strengthened by 5.3%. In contrast, compared to the USA Dollar it weakened by 7.9%, compared to the
Jordanian Dinar it weakened by 7.8% and compared to the Swiss Franc it weakened by 3.3%.
Main Findings
Export of goods
In 2015, Manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports (excluding diamonds) constituted 84.5% of all
export of goods (81.5% in 2014).
Export of diamonds constituted 13.5% (16.1% in 2014) and the remaining were agriculture, forestry and
fishing exports.
1
2
Exports are classified according to Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities 2011.
Source: Bank Israel
Israel's Foreign Trade- 2015
2
Publication date 13/01/2016
Diagram 2 - Export of goods (excl.diamonds)
16000
15500
NIS Millions
15000
14500
14000
13500
13000
12500
I
VI
XIII
VI
2011
XII I
VI
2012
XII I
VI
2013
XIII
VI
2014
Seasonally adjusted data
XII
2015
Trend data
* The last 3 points are subject to substantial revisions
Diagram's data source
Breakdown of industrial exports by technological intensity shows that high technology industries
proportion increased, it represented 50.1% of total industrial exports (excluding diamonds) against 42.4%
in 2014. In absolute terms it Increased by NIS 16.6 billion (23.4%). Breakdown by economic activity shows
that export of manufacture of computers, electronic and optical equipment increased by 20.2% (NIS
8.2 billion). Export of pharmaceutical products rose by 14.8% (NIS 3.4 billion).
Diagram 3 - Manufacturing Exports by Technological Intensity
High Technology Industries
Medium -high Technology Industries
5800
7500
5500
7000
5200
NIS Milion
NIS Milion
8000
6500
6000
4900
4600
5500
4300
5000
4000
4500
I
VI
XIII
2011
VI
XIII
2012
VI
XIII
2013
VI
XIII
2014
VI
I
XII
VI
Medium -low Technology Industries
VI
XIII
2012
VI
XIII
2013
VI
XIII
2014
VI
XII
2015
Low Technology Industries
2700
1100
2500
1050
2300
1000
NIS Milion
NIS Milion
XIII
2011
2015
2100
1900
1700
950
900
850
1500
800
I
VI
XIII
2011
VI
2012
XIII
VI
2013
XIII
VI
2014
XIII
VI
XII
I
2015
VI
2011
XIII
VI
2012
XIII
VI
2013
XIII
VI
2014
XIII
VI
XII
2015
Diagrams data source
In 2015 Export of medium high technology industries (30.9% of industrial exports) totaled NIS 53.9
billion, compared to NIS 61.8 billion in 2014. It represents a decrease of 12.8%. Most of the declined was
recorded in export of chemicals and its products by NIS 8.1 billion (20.7%).
Israel's Foreign Trade- 2015
3
Publication date 13/01/2016
Export of medium low technology industries (12.3% of industrial exports) declined in 2015 by 7.9% and
totaled NIS 21.5 billion. Export of manufacture of metals decreased by 14.3% (a decrease of NIS 0.4
billion) and export of manufacture of refined petroleum products decreased by 31.1% (a decrease of
NIS 0.9 billion). Most of the decrease could be explained by global decline in fuels prices.
Export of low technology industries (6.7% of industrial exports) rose by 4.9% compared to 2014 and
totaled NIS 11.7 billion. Export of manufacture of textile rose by 10.9% compared to 2014 and export of
manufacture of beverages rose by 7.4%.
Export of diamonds (net, raw and polished) totaled, in 2015, NIS 28.0 billion low compared to 15.8% in
2014.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing exports totaled NIS 4,560 million against NIS 4,986 million in 2014, a
decrease of 8.5%. Export of growing of fruits (excluding citrus) decreased by 17.0% and export of
flowers decreased by 12.1%.
Import of goods
In 2015 Import of goods, in current prices totaled NIS 238.2 billion lower by NIS 17.3 billion compared to
2014.
Diagram 4 - Import of goods (excl.ships aircraft, diamonds and fuels)
18000
NIS Million
17000
16000
15000
14000
13000
I
VI
2011
XII I
VI
XII I
VI
2012
2013
Seasonally adjusted data
XII I
VI
2014
XII I
VI
XII
2015
Trend data
* The last 3 points are subject to substantial revisions
Diagrams data source
Breakdown by import destinations shows that 44% of imports were raw materials (excluding diamonds
and fuels), 19% imports of consumer goods, 14% were import of investment goods, 12% imports of fuels
and 11% import of ships, aircraft and diamonds.
In 2015, import of raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels) totaled NIS 103.8 billion, increased by
4.3% compared to 2014. A breakdown by groups of import of raw materials shows increase in import of
machine and electronics manufacturing (10.9%), import of chemical products (4.6%) and import of
precious metals (5.2%). In contrast, import of rubber and plastic decreased by 4.5% and import of paper
manufacturing decreased by 4.3%.
In 2015, import of investment goods (excluding ships and aircraft) increased by 1.5% and totaled NIS
33.9 billion, Import of machinery and equipment rose by 7.7% and import of vehicles declined by 12.9%.
Israel's Foreign Trade- 2015
4
Publication date 13/01/2016
Import of consumer goods increased 3.5% in 2015 .Most of the increase was recorded in import of nondurable goods (5.4%), specially import of food and beverages (8.4%). Import of durable goods
increased by 1.0%.
Import of diamonds (net, rough and polished) totaled NIS 24.4 billion in 2015 compared to NIS 30.8 billion
in 2014.
Import of fuels continued to fall in 2015 and totaled NIS 28.8 billion lower by 36.6% compare to 2014.
Development of the trade in goods - December 2015
Export of goods totaled NIS 17.3 billion, import of goods totaled NIS 21.1 billion and the trade deficit
totaled NIS 3.8 billion.
Trade in goods in December 2015 was influenced by changes in value of the NIS against other currencies
in which import and exports transactions are conducted3. In December 2015, compared to US Dollar the
NIS strengthened by 0.2%. Compared to the Sterling Pound the NIS strengthened by 1.7%, compared to
the Canadian Dollar it strengthened by 3.4%. In contrast, compared to the Euro it weakened by 1.0%,
compared to Swiss Franc weakened by 1.1%.
Trend data point to an increase of 3.0% at an annual rate in export of goods (excluding ships, aircraft and
diamonds) in the last three months of 2015, after a decrease of 2.0% in July-September 2015.
Trend data of manufacturing, mining and quarrying exports increased by 3.3%, at an annual rate, in the
last three months of 2015, after a decrease of 0.8% in July-September 2015.
Trend data of manufacture exports, by technological intensity
Trend data of exports by high technology industries increased by 5.9%, at an annual rate, in OctoberDecember 2015, continuing an increase of 6.0% in July- September 2015. Breakdown by economic activity
shows an increase in export of pharmaceutical products and in exports of manufacture of electronic
components and boards.
Trend data of exports by medium-high technology industries increased by 5.8%, at an annual rate, in
the last three months of 2015, after a decrease of 7.3% in July- September 2015. Breakdown by economic
activity shows that export of manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers point to an
increase in the same months of 2015.
Trend data of exports by medium-low technology industries decreased by 14.8% at an annual rate, in
the last three months of 2015, continuing a decrease of 14.0%, in July-September 2015. Breakdown by
economic activity shows that export of manufacture of basic metals point a decrease in the same months
of 2015.
Trend data of exports by low technology industries decreased by 10.3%, at an annual rate, in the last
three months of 2015, continuing a decrease of 8.5% in July-September 2015. Breakdown by economic
activity shows that export of manufacture of food products beverages and tobacco products
decreased in the same months of 2015.
Imports of goods (excluding ships, aircraft, diamonds and fuels) increased by 6.1% at an annual rate in
October-December 2015, continuing an increase of 5.8% in July-September 2015.
3
Source: Bank Israel
Israel's Foreign Trade- 2015
5
Publication date 13/01/2016
Trend data of import raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels) increased by 5.8%, in the last three
months of 2015, at an annual rate, continuing an increase of 3.4% in July- September 2015.
Trend data of import of investment goods (excluding ships and aircraft) increased by 13.7%, at an
annual rate, in the last three months of 2015, continuing an increase of 6.8% in July- September 2015.
Trend data of import of consumer goods increased by 10.5% at an annual rate in the last three months
of 2015, continuing an increase of 8.4% in July- September 2015. Import of non-durable goods
(medicines, food and beverages, and clothing and footwear) increased by 10.5% at an annual rate, in the
last three months. Import of durable goods (furniture, electrical equipment and transport equipment)
increased by 11.3%, at an annual rate.
Next press release will be published on February 11, 2016.
Israel's Foreign Trade- 2015
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Publication date 13/01/2016