In 2014, imports of goods to Israel by sea transport comprised 64.3% of imported goods

For the first time, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is publishing data about the imports of goods by mode of transport.

In 2014: Imports of goods to Israel by sea transport comprised approximately 64.3% (US$46.5 billion) of the value of imported goods. Imports of goods to Israel by air transport comprised approximately 34.8% (US$25.1 billion) of the value of imported goods.

Imports of goods to Israel by sea transport from the European Union countries comprised approximately 19.1% of the value of imports and totaled US$13.8 billion.

The imports of goods from the USA by air transport were the largest among the main groups of countries.

The data in the CBS release are based on import data by country of origin, based on data of goods that passed through Customs, not including imports from the Palestinian Authority and defense imports. It should be noted that the value of imports refers to the value of goods and not to the cost of transport services. The data is displayed in gross values and include the import of diamonds.

The aim of detailing the import of goods by mode of transport is to expand the possibilities of analysis for the users of foreign trade data, as well as monitoring international transport routes, formulating transportation policy, and assessing the impact of trade on the environment. Additionally, this release fulfills the international recommendations of the IMTS (the United Nations' statistical methodology for international trade in goods). Data on the imports of goods are detailed by five modes of transport: air transport, sea transport, land transport, parcel post transport and self-propelled transport.

In 2014, imports by sea transport comprised approximately 64.3% (US$46.5 billion) of the value of imported goods, imports by air transport comprised approximately 34.8% (US$25.1 billion) of the total value of imports and imports by the rest of the transport modes (self-propelled transport, land transport and parcel post transport) were 0.9% of the total value of imports.

Imports by mode of transport and economic use - in 2014, imports of consumer goods by sea transport comprised approximately 72.4% of the value of imports of consumer goods, and imports of consumer goods by air transport were approximately 27.1% of the value of imports of consumer goods.

Imports of production inputs by sea transport comprised approximately 61.4% of the value of imports of production inputs, and imports of production inputs by air transport comprised approximately 38.1% of the value of imports of production inputs (of these, imports of diamonds were approximately 48.8%).

The relatively high share of imports of production inputs by air transport is due to the inclusion of the import of diamonds in this category. Imports of investment goods by sea transport were approximately 69.2% of the value of imports of investment goods, and imports of investment goods by air transport were approximately 27.2% of the value of imports of investment goods.

Import by mode of transport and main chapters -the main chapters imported by sea transport were the import of "mineral fuels, mineral oils and their products" (Chapter 27), approximately 27.4%, and the import of "vehicles and their parts" (Chapter 87), approximately 11.6%. The main chapters imported by air transport were the import of "pearls, precious stones, precious metals, imitation jewellery and coins" (Chapter 71), approximately 38.3%, and the import of "electrical machinery and equipment" (Chapter 85), approximately 20.8%.

The main chapters imported by land transport were the import of "plastics and articles thereof" (Chapter 39), approximately 62.0%, and the import of "inorganic chemicals" (Chapter 28), approximately 11.1%. The main chapters imported by parcel post transport were the import of "electrical machinery and equipment" (Chapter 85), approximately 18.6%, and the import of "optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments" (Chapter 90), approximately 7.1%. Imports by mode of transport and groups of countries -the imports of goods from the USA by air transport comprised the largest among the main groups of countries.

The imports from the European Union countries by sea transport totaled US$13.8 billion (19.1% of total import value), and the imports by air transport totaled US$8.1 billion (11.2% of total import value). The imports from Asian countries by sea transport totaled US$11.7 billion (16.1% of total import value), and the imports by air transport totaled US$7.3 billion.

The imports from the USA by air transport totaled US$4.8 billion, and the imports by sea transport totaled US$3.1 billion. The imports from other countries by sea transport totaled US$17.9 billion, and the imports by air transport totaled US$4.9 billion.