Fuel imports up 29% in January - March

According to statistics issued by the Ministry of Energy, fuel imports climbed 29% from US$275 million in the first quarter of 2004 to US$355 million in the first quarter of 2005.
 
Fuel imports in March 2005 were up 12% to US$134 million. Fuel imports currently account for 4% of civilian imports, excluding diamonds, up from 3.6% a year ago.
 
The published statistics also show that revenue from fuel taxes totaled NIS 2.04 billion in the first quarter of 2005, a 4.1% increase, compared with NIS 1.96 billion in the first quarter of 2004.
 
Fuel tax revenue totaled NIS 693 million. Revenue from purchase taxes on fuel and energy products rose from NIS 127 million in the first quarter of 2004 to NIS 141 million in the first quarter of 2005, an 11% increase. Revenue from purchase taxes on fuel in March was up 8% to NIS 51 million.