January-April : Imports from China up 42% to $568m

The economic department of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce reported last week that the bilateral Israel-China trade balance, which totaled $2.1 billion in 2004, grew by 38% in January-April 2005
 
Exports to China, according to the figures remained unchanged at $109 million in January-April, while imports rose 42% to $568 million.
 
Uriel Lynn chairman of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce predicted in a press release that within a few years China would become Israel’s third largest trade partner.After the EU & USA.
 
Analyzing the trade figures, the federation's economic department pointed out that Imports from China currently account for 73% of Israel’s current trade with China.
 
Israeli imports from China include textiles 24%, machinery and equipment 26%, metals 6%, and chemical products 9%. Israeli exports to China, which account for 27% of bilateral trade, include chemical products 15%, electrical machinery and equipment 42%, and medical devices and equipment.
 
The Federation pointed out also that China is currently rated in the eighth place among countries to which Israel exports, after the US in the first place, France second, the UK third, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey.