Top Israeli Imports & Exports

America and Israel Trade US$14.4 Billion Worth of Diamonds in 2007

Jul 10, 2008 Daniel Workman

Israel depends on imported raw materials from oil to grains as well as military equipment, while exporting diamonds, high-tech equipment & agricultural goods.

The United States of America consumes almost 40% of Israel’s total export shipments, far more than second-place Belgium at 6.5% and third-place Hong Kong at 5.9%.

Israel’s imports are less concentrated, with products from trade partners distributed more proportionately. Leading exporters into Israel include the U.S. (12.4%), Belgium (8.2%), Germany (6.7%), Switzerland (5.9%), the United Kingdom (5.1%) and China (also 5.1%).

In 2007, Israel exported an estimated US$50.2 billion worth of goods onto the international trade marketplace. Israeli imports totalled roughly $55.8 billion, resulting in Israel’s overall $5.6-billion trade deficit last year.

Israeli Trade with U.S.

Despite its overall deficit, Israel enjoyed a US$7.8 billion trade surplus with its American trade partner in 2007. The most recent surplus statistic is 32.6% higher than the Israel-US surplus in 2003 but represents a 5% decrease from the $8.2 billion surplus in 2006.

Exports from Israel to U.S.

With a population of 7.1 million, Israel exported US$20.8 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2007, an 8.6% increase from 2006 and up by 63% in 4 years. The following product categories represent about 77% of Israeli exports to America.

Gem diamonds … US$9.5 billion – up 10.5% from 2006 (45.6% of Israel-to-U.S. exports)
Dental, medical and pharmaceutical preparations … $2.7 billion – up 3.5% (12.9%)
Telecommunications equipment … $746.8 million – up 17.6% (3.6%)
Complete civilian aircraft … $685.9 million – up 41.6% (3.3%)
Other hospital, medical and scientific equipment … $655 million – up 12.6% (3.1%)
Electric apparatus and parts … $385.6 billion – up 11.3% (1.9%)
Civilian aircraft engines … $370.5 million – up 52.6% (1.8%)
Measuring, testing and control instruments … $337.1 million – down 9.8% (1.6%)
Other military equipment … $271.3 million – up 223.2% (1.3%)
Computer accessories, peripherals and parts … $254.6 billion – up 36.5% (1.2%).

In aggregate, Israel’s top 10 export product categories experienced increased sales to the U.S. in 2007, up 12.4% from 2006. This contrasts with a 17.5% gain for the top 10 Israeli exports to the U.S. from 2005 to 2006.

Fastest-Growing Israeli Exports to U.S.

Below are selected Israeli exports to America in 2007 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2006.

Other military equipment … $271.3 million (up 223.2% from 2006)
Business machinery and equipment excluding computers … $19.9 million (up 128.2%)
Sulfur and non-metallic minerals … $37.3 million (up 117.5%)
Household and kitchen appliances … $18.6 million (up 104.8%)
Nickel … $11.4 million (up 70.4%).

Fastest-Declining Israeli Exports to U.S.

Selected Israeli exports to America in 2007 with the highest percentage sales decreases from 2006 are listed below.

Marine engines and parts … US$41.5 million (down 55.7% from 2006)
Pulp and paper machinery … $106.2 million (down 39.6%)
Cotton apparel and household goods … $112.6 million (down 31.6%)
Plastic materials … $40.2 million (down 30.5%)
Rugs and other textile floor coverings … $12.8 million (down 27.4%).

Israeli Imports from U.S.

Israeli imports from the U.S. rose by 18.7% to $13 billion in 2007, up 88.9% since 2003.

Of American exports to Israel in 2007, the following product categories had the highest values and in total represented 63% of all U.S. shipments into Israel.

Gem diamonds … US$4.9 billion – up 20.6% from 2006 (37.5% of Israeli imports from America)
Complete civilian aircraft … $485.9 million – up 971.1% (3.7%)
Complete military aircraft … $438.7 million – down 37.9% (3.4%)
Civilian aircraft parts … $429.7 million – up 10.5% (3.3%)
Other industrial machines … $418.9 million – up 106.4% (3.2%)
Plastic materials … $332 million – up 82.2% (2.5%)
Telecommunications equipment … $330.2 million – down 6.5% (2.5%)
Ammunition, artillery, guns, missiles, rockets, tanks … $302.4 million – up 25.5% (2.3%)
Other petroleum products … $294.7 million – up 48.1% (2.3%)
Military-type parts … $283.4 million – down 5.3% (2.2%).

Last year, Israel’s top 10 import product categories from the U.S. grew by 19.5% from 2006. From 2005 to 2006, the top 10 Israeli imports from the U.S. had gained about 14%.

Fastest-Growing Israeli Imports from U.S.

Below are selected American exports to Israel in 2007 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2006.

Complete civilian aircraft … US$485.9 million (up 971.1%)
Barley, oats and sorghum … $25.6 million (up 736%)
Manufactured wood supplies … $6.9 million (up 264.2%)
Dairy products and eggs… $25.9 million (up 184.3%)
Buses, trucks and special purpose vehicles … $71.3 million (up 135.2%).

Fastest-Declining Israeli Imports from U.S.

Selected American exports to Israel in 2007 with the highest percentage sales decreases from 2006 are listed below.

Drilling and oilfield equipment … US$6 million (down 39.8% from 2006)
Complete military aircraft … $438.7 million (down 37.9%)
Semiconductors … $249.8 million (down 24.2%)
Other nonferrous metals … $84.1 million (down 20%)
Chemical fertilizers … $9.7 million (down 9.9%).

Sources

This analysis is based on latest statistics from the US Census Bureau - Foreign Trade Statistics and CIA World Factbook as of the date of article publication.

The copyright of the article Top Israeli Imports & Exports in International Trade is owned by Daniel Workman. Permission to republish Top Israeli Imports & Exports in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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