Vehicle Import Surge Continues: 136% Increase in January 2026

The Israel Tax Authority's report on durable goods imports for January 2026 indicates a significant upward trend in Israeli import volumes, with the automotive sector at the forefront. During the month, 22,045 private vehicles were imported, a sharp 135.9% jump compared to only 9,347 vehicles in January 2025. The Tax Authority notes that this exceptional increase is partly due to the "base effect": January 2025 was characterized by particularly low imports following a massive pre-import wave in December 2024, ahead of the purchase tax hike on electric vehicles and the update to the green taxation framework. However, even at the end of 2025, some pre-importing of electric vehicles was recorded in December, albeit at a more moderate volume.

The growth trend did not skip other vehicle segments. Imports of commercial vehicles totaled 1,351 units, a 59.1% increase compared to January last year, while two-wheeled vehicle imports saw an increase of approximately 39%. General trend data from the Israel Tax Authority indicates that since March 2025, a moderate and consistent increase in passenger vehicle imports to Israel has been maintained, suggesting a certain stabilization in the market following the tax-related volatility of recent years.

Alongside the automotive sector, the white goods market also recorded impressive growth in January. Data analysis shows that washing machine imports surged by 40.2%, dishwasher imports rose by 39.9%, and refrigerator imports recorded a 13.6% increase. In the consumer electronics field, a 15.5% increase was recorded in television imports. Conversely, a dramatic plunge was noted in the import of clothes dryers, which fell by 72.7% compared to January 2025—a figure that may indicate market saturation or a shift in seasonal purchasing patterns.

In the tobacco products sector, a mixed trend was recorded: while cigarette imports decreased by 4.3%, the import value of other tobacco products (including hookah tobacco, cigars, and heated tobacco units) rose by 2.6%. In the macroeconomic summary, the total value of all imports to Israel in January 2026 amounted to $8.1 billion, an 11% growth compared to the same month last year. The Israel Tax Authority concludes that current trend data points to a continued rise in total import value, despite a slight decrease recorded in the marketing of gasoline and diesel last December.