Israeli exports to Arab countries rose by 48% in 2004 to $180 million, the Manufacturers Association reports. It adds that exports to the Palestinian Authority (PA) rose 9% to $1.6 billion.
The Manufacturers Association attributed most of the increase in exports to Arab countries to greater trade with Egypt and Jordan. Exports to Jordan were boosted by joint textiles and clothing business under the qualified industrial zones (QIZ) program with Jordan.
Exports to the PA included food, plastics and rubber products, metal products, machinery and equipment, chemicals and chemical products, raw materials for the construction industry, and electronic communications equipment. Despite the increase last year, exports to the PA were still 35% less than the record posted in 1999, before the outbreak of the intifada.
Exports to Jordan rose by 55% to $134 million, comprising mainly textiles and clothing, leather products, wood and furniture, and paper and printing. Exports to Egypt rose by 11% to $29.2 million. Exports to Iraq rose ten-fold to $5 million, comprising mostly goods to the US military there, including defense products, consumer products, transportation equipment, rubber and plastics products, and mining, quarrying and mineral products. Exports to the Persian Gulf states rose 110% last year to $1.9 million.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on February 7, 2005