State of Israel

Media Releaseinfo@cbs.gov.il www.cbs.gov.il Fax: 02-6521340

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Previous Media Release on Foreign Trade by Country appeared on August 20, 2019

Jerusalem,September 18, 2019

289/2019

Israel’s Foreign Trade in Goods, by Country - August 2019With a Focus on Trade in Goods between Israel and Belgium

August 2019 Exports of goods (gross, excluding diamonds) totaled NIS 14.4 billion and the trade deficit

of goods (excluding diamonds) totaled NIS 6.2 billion. 29% of total exports were to the EU countries, 23% to the USA, 28% to the Asian countries and 20% to the "Other Countries"1.

Imports of goods (gross, excluding diamonds) totaled NIS 20.6 billion. 37% were imports from the EU countries, 21% from the Asian countries, 21% from the USA and 21% from the "Other Countries".

Trend data in June - August 2019 point to: An increase of 56.9% in exports of goods to the Asian countries.

A decrease in the imports of goods from all country groups.

Trade with Belgium Israel's trade deficit with Belgium increased from $518.9 million in 2014 to $1,629.7 million in

2018.

This Media Release includes a review of trade in goods between Israel and Belgium. The purpose of this review is to present to the public detailed data of trade in goods between Israel and one of the partner countries.

11 The above is based on temporary data regarding goods that cleared customs, not including trade between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In addition, the data do not include imports and exports of services (e.g. software). Data on all exports and imports of goods and services are published as part of the Balance of Payments, every quarter. 2019 data are provisional. Final data for 2019 will be released April 2020.

Written by Yaron Marcus - Foreign Trade SectorFor explanations and clarifications regarding the contents of this Press Release,

for more details statistics center 02-6592666

E.U37%

U.S.A21%

Asia21%

Other21%

Import of Goods (excl. diamonds)

E.U29%

U.S.A23%

Asia28%

Other20%

Export of Goods (excl. diamonds)

Trade balance January - August 2019Main Trading Country Groups NIS million

ImportJanuary - August 2019

ImportJanuary - August 2018

ExportJanuary - August 2019

ExportJanuary - August 2018

Trade BalanceJanuary - August 2019

Trade BalanceJanuary - August 2018

Total (gross, excl.diamonds)

174,636.1 170,490.6 116,262.4 115,199.2 -58,373.7 -55,291.4

European Union 67,698.2 73,862.1 41,711.0 38,447.1 -25,987.2 -35,415.0USA 29,816.5 23,105.0 26,231.7 25,434.4 -3,584.8 2,329.4Asia 38,718.7 40,524.9 23,497.4 25,409.5 -15,221.3 -15,115.4Other Countries 38,402.7 32,998.6 24,822.3 25,908.2 -13,580.4 -7,090.4

Trend dataExports of goods June - August 2019The trend data show that exports of goods (excluding ships, aircrafts and diamonds) increased by 1.4% at an annual rate in June - August 2019, following an increase of 1.2% in March - May 2019.

Trend data indicate that exports (excluding diamonds) to the EU countries decreased by 2.5%, at an annual rate, in June - August 2019, following a decrease of 6.8% in March - May 2019. Since the beginning of 2019, exports (excluding diamonds) to Portugal, Czech Republic and Slovenia decreased significantly compared with the same period in 2018.

Trend data indicate that exports (excluding diamonds) to the USA decreased by 2.6%, at an annual rate in June - August 2019, following a decrease of 5.5% in March - May 2019.

According to trend data, exports (excluding diamonds) to the "Other Countries" decreased by 3.2%, at an annual rate, in June - August 2019, following a decrease of 5.4% in March – May 2019. Since the beginning of the year exports (excluding diamonds) to Nigeria, Canada and Mexico decreased significantly compared with the same period in 2018.

In contrast, according to trend data, exports (excluding diamonds) to the Asian Countries increased by 56.9% in the last three months, at an annual rate (3.8% monthly average), following an increase of 46.6% in March - May 2019 (3.2% monthly average). Since the beginning of 2019

Israel's Foreign Trade in Goods, by Country;August 2019Publication date: 18/9/2019

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exports (excluding diamonds) to Georgia, Jordan and Taiwan increased significantly compared with the same period in 2018.

Trend data Seasonally adjusted data The last 3 points are subject to substantial revisions

Imports of goods June - August 2019The trend data calculated by the Central Bureau of Statistics show that imports of goods (excluding ships, aircrafts, diamonds and fuels) decreased by 11.3% at an annual rate in June - August 2019, following a decrease of 9.9% in March - May 2019.

Trend data indicate that imports (excluding diamonds) from the EU countries decreased by 20.0%, at an annual rate, in June - August 2019, following a decrease of 14.2% in March – May 2019. Since the beginning of 2019, imports (excluding diamonds) from Cyprus, United Kingdom and Ireland and decreased significantly compared with the same period in 2018.

Trend data indicate that imports (excluding diamonds) from the USA decreased by 12.5% at an annual rate in June - August 2019, following a decrease of 2.7% in March – May 2019.

Trend data indicate that imports (excluding diamonds) from the Asian Countries decreased in the last three months by 20.4% at an annual rate (-1.9% monthly average), following a decrease of 27.8% in March – May 2019 (-2.7% monthly average). Since the beginning of 2019, imports (excluding diamonds) from Indonesia, Japan and South Korea decreased significantly compared with the same period in 2018.

Trend data indicate that imports (excluding diamonds) from the "Other Countries" decreased by 17.8% at an annual rate in the last three months, following a decrease of 3.6% in March – May 2019. Since the beginning of 2019, imports (excluding diamonds) from Norway, South Africa, Uruguay and Mexico decreased significantly compared with the same period in 2018.

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Trend data Seasonally adjusted data The last 3 points are subject to substantial revisions

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Trade in Goods between Israel and Belgium 28% of total exports of goods to Belgium were exported by the ten largest

exporters to Belgium.

36% of total imports of goods from Belgium were imported by the ten largest

importers from Belgium.

Exports of diamonds (rough and polished) to Belgium decreased by 45%

between the years 2014-2018.

Israel's trade deficit with Belgium increased from $518.9 million in 2014 to

$1,629.7 million in 2018.

Israel2 and Belgium3 - General Data 2018

2 Data on Israel was retrieved from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics' site on August 11th, 2019.3 Data on Belgium was retrieved from the World Bank site and the COMTRADE site on August 11th, 2019.Israel's Foreign Trade in Goods, by Country;August 2019Publication date: 18/9/2019

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Belgium - Exports and ImportsExports from Belgium to the Rest of the World4

Exports of goods from Belgium in 2018 totaled $466.7 billion, an increase of 8.5% compared with 2017.The main groups of exported goods were: motor cars and other motor vehicles; principally designed for the transport of persons and petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals; not crude.The main countries to which Belgium exported in 2018 were: Germany, France and Netherlands.

Imports to Belgium from the Rest of the World Imports of goods to Belgium in 2018 totaled $450.4 billion, an increase of 10.8% compared with 2017.The main groups of imported goods were: motor cars and other motor vehicles; principally designed for the transport of persons and petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude.The main countries from which Belgium imported in 2018 were: Netherlands, Germany and France.

Germany 17.8%

France 14.4%

Netherlands 12.2%

United Kingdom 8.0%

USA 5.2%

Other coun-tries 42.4%

The Main Export Countries - 2018

Netherlands 17.9%

Germany 13.0%

France 9.4%

USA 6.9%Ireland 5.1%

Other coun-tries 47.7%

The Main Import Countries - 2018

Trade in Goods: Israel - BelgiumIsrael's trade deficit with Belgium increased from $518.9 million in 2014 to $1,629.7 million in 2018. This increase in the trade deficit was mainly caused by a decrease in exports from Israel to Belgium from $3,299.6 million in 2014 to $2,193.5 in 2018. In this period, imports to Israel from Belgium increased from $3,818.5 million to $3,823.2 million.

4 Comtrade (retrieved on August 11th, 2019).Israel's Foreign Trade in Goods, by Country;August 2019Publication date: 18/9/2019

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Exports from Israel to Belgium by Main Economic ActivitiesThe main economic activities of the Israeli exports to Belgium in 2018 were: working of diamonds ($778 million) and wholesale trade; primarily diamonds ($656 million). The most significant decrease in Israeli exports to Belgium between 2014 and 2018 was in the economic activity wholesale trade; primarily diamonds which decreased by 52%.

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Imports from Belgium to Israel by Main Economic ActivitiesThe main economic activities in Israeli imports from Belgium were: wholesale trade; primarily diamonds ($1,230 million), working of diamonds ($579 million) and manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers ($527 million).The most significant increases in Israeli imports from Belgium between 2014 and 2018 were in manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers which increased by 134%.

Exports and Imports of Goods between Israel and Belgium by Exporters and ImportersBetween the years 2014 and 2018, the number of exporters from Israel to Belgium decreased by 7%. In 2018 there were 1,930 exporters that exported goods to Belgium compared with 2,083 exporters in 2014 (Table A). The largest decrease in the number of exporters was of the group of exporters whose value of exports totaled at least $10 million.

Table A. Number of Exporters to Belgium by the Export Value 2014-2018

Annual export value inthousand dollars

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Percent change 2018/2014

0-100 1,293 1,216 1,193 1,212 1,279 -1%100-500 365 339 314 351 304 -17%

500-1,000 115 116 103 101 101 -12%1,000-10,000 247 230 206 198 203 -18%

10,000+ 63 48 57 56 43 -32%Total exporters 2,083 1,949 1,873 1,918 1,930 -7%

Between the years 2014 and 2018, the number of importers from Belgium to Israel whose value of imports totaled at least $10 million decreased by 32%. It should be noted that the large increase in the number of importers from Belgium was largely impacted by a change in the registration methods used by the Customs' Authority (Table B).

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Table B. Number of Importers from Belgium by the Import Value 2014-2018

Annual import value inthousand dollars

20142015201620172018Percent change 2018/2014

0-1002,6832,9952,7242,8843,72139%100-500621615564605608-2%

500-1,000175160179184166-5%1,000-10,000351309319308288-18%

10,000+7756555452-32%Total importers3,9074,1353,8414,0354,83524%

In 2018, 28% of the total exports from Israel to Belgium were exported by the ten largest exporters to Belgium compared with 32% in 2014.

In 2018, 36% of the total imports to Israel from Belgium were imported by the ten largest importers from Belgium compared with 19% in 2014.

The next Press Release on “Israel’s Foreign Trade in Goods, by Country- September 2019", will be released on October 31, 2019.

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