Imports of goods down 7.3% Exports down 6.6% in Q1

The Central Bureau of Statistics ( CBS ) reported last week that in the first quarter of 2005, Israeli exports and imports continued to fall. Imports, excluding diamonds, were down by an annualized 7.3% in the first quarter. Imports from the EU were down 4.9% in the first quarter.
 
Imports from the US were down 3.5% in March, after being unchanged in February.
Imports from Asia were unchanged, in February-March, after rising by 7.4% in January.
 
Imports from the rest of the world were up by 15.8% in the first quarter, after a 38% increase in the fourth quarter of 2004.
 
Imports of goods, excluding diamonds, totaled $8.7 billion in the first quarter: 38% from the EU, 17% from the US, 17% from Asia, and 28% from the rest of the world.
 
The CBS noted that exports of goods, excluding diamonds, fell by an annualized 6.6% in the first quarter. Exports of goods to the US fell by an annualized 7.2% in the first quarter.
Exports to the European Union (EU) were unchanged in March, after rising by 4.5% in December 2004-February 2005.
 
Exports to Asia were down by an annualized 20% in the first quarter, after sliding 7% in the fourth quarter of 2004.
 
Exports to the rest of the world were 1% higher in March, after dropping 7% in December 2004-February 2005.
 
Exports of goods, excluding diamonds, totaled $6.4 billion in the first quarter: 37% to the EU, 27% to the US, 14% to Asia, and 22% to the rest of the world.