Israel imported US$83.2 billion worth of products from around the world in 2023, up by 8.6% compared to 5 years earlier in $107.8 billion in 2019.

Year over year, Israeli spending on imported products shrank by -22.8% starting from $107.8 billion during 2022.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2023, the Israeli shekel depreciated by -2.9% against the US dollar since 2019 and fell by -9.2% from 2022 to 2023. Israel’s weaker local currency makes its imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from the Israeli shekel.

Israel’s Best International Suppliers

The latest available country-specific data shows that 70.4% of products imported into Israel was supplied by exporters in: mainland China (20.7% of the Israeli total), United States of America (11.9%), Germany (7.3%), Türkiye (6.7%), Italy (4.6%), India (3.1%), South Korea (2.9%), Russia (2.89%), France (2.7%), United Kingdom (2.6%), Belgium (2.5%) and Spain (2.5%).

Applying a continental lens, 44.2% of Israel’s total imports by value in 2023 were purchased from countries in Asia. In second place were trade partners in Europe fulfilling 39.7% of Israeli import purchases. Another 12.8% worth of goods originated from North America.

Much smaller percentages were furnished by exporters in Latin America (1.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.1%) and Oceania (0.3%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Given Israel’s population of 9.8 million people, its total $83.2 billion worth of 2023 imports translates to roughly $8,500 in yearly product demand from every person in the Middle Eastern country. That dollar metric lags the average $11,700 per capita one year earlier in 2022.

Israel’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Israel’s import purchases during 2023. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Israel.

1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$10.4 billion (12.5% of total imports)
2. Mineral fuels including oil: $9.6 billion (11.6%)
3. Machinery including computers: $9.2 billion (11.1%)
4. Vehicles: $8.6 billion (10.3%)
5. Gems, precious metals: $4.7 billion (5.6%)
6. Pharmaceuticals: $3.3 billion (4%)
7. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $3.2 billion (3.8%)
8. Plastics, plastic articles: $2.9 billion (3.4%)
9. Iron, steel: $2.1 billion (2.5%)
10. Articles of iron or steel: $1.5 billion (1.8%)

Israel’s top 10 imports represent two-thirds (66.7%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Vehicles posted the most modest decrease in value among Israel’s top 10 import categories, down -6.6% from 2022 to 2022.

Year over year, the severest decreases arose from Israel’s purchases of imported mineral fuels including oil via a -34.3% drop, gems and precious metals (down -33.1%) pulled down by lower revenues for diamonds and jewelry, then plastics both as materials and items made from plastic (down -30.3%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented below is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Israel’s Top Electrical Product Imports

In 2023, Israeli importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical products including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$2.7 billion (down -8.3% from 2022)
2. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $1.6 billion (down -26%)
3. Insulated wire/cable: $658 million (down -20.2%)
4. Electrical converters/power units: $596.2 million (down -16.2%)
5. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $521.2 million (down -27.3%)
6. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $462.6 million (down -15.1%)
7. Electric storage batteries: $430.7 million (up 31.8%)
8. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $389 million (down -34.7%)
9. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $323 million (down -4.6%)
10. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $246.2 million (down -34.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Israel’s purchases of electric storage batteries rose 31.8% from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage changes within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electrical products among Israel’s businesses and consumers.

Israel’s Top Fuel Imports

In 2023, Israeli importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.

1. Crude oil: US$7.5 billion (down -23.1% from 2022)
2. Processed petroleum oils: $1.1 billion (down -56.2%)
3. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $772.8 million (down -61%)
4. Petroleum gases: $189.4 million (down -30.2%)
5. Petroleum oil residues: $28.6 million (down -52.7%)
6. Peat: $14.2 million (down -21.3%)
7. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $6.9 million (down -4.4%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $6.8 million (down -23.2%)
9. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $4.3 million (down -34.3%)
10. Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $375,000 (up 20.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Israel’s purchases of natural bitumen, asphalt and shale increased by 20.6% from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage changes within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported mineral fuels-related products among Israel’s businesses and consumers.

Israel’s Top Machinery Imports

In 2023, Israeli importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$1.7 billion (down -31.2% from 2022)
2. Turbo-jets: $1.1 billion (down -2.3%)
3. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $416.7 million (down -22.1%)
4. Refrigerators, freezers: $409.7 million (down -24.2%)
5. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $399.5 million (down -13.8%)
6. Printing machinery: $393.7 million (down -16.3%)
7. Machinery for making semi-conductors: $378.5 million (down -38%)
8. Air conditioners: $333 million (down -23.1%)
9. Lifting/loading machinery: $311.4 million (up 5.1%)
10. Miscellaneous machinery: $286.9 million (down -21.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Israel’s purchases of lifting or loading machinery grew by 5.1% from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage changes within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery including computers among Israel’s businesses and consumers.

Israel’s Top Automotive Imports

In 2023, Israeli importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$6.1 billion (down -7.5% from 2022)
2. Trucks: $1.2 billion (up 2.1%)
3. Public-transport vehicles: $409.2 million (up 21.4%)
4. Automobile parts/accessories: $347.7 million (down -21.8%)
5. Motorcycles: $133.6 million (down -22.1%)
6. Chassis fitted with engine: $122.4 million (down -1.2%)
7. Special purpose vehicles: $100.7 million (up 23.1%)
8. Trailers: $74.2 million (down -38.5%)
9. Tractors: $72.7 million (down -12.5%)
10. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $28.5 million (down -35.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Israel’s purchases of special purpose vehicles (up 23.1%), public-transport vehicles (up 21.4%) then trucks (up 2.1%) grew from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Israel’s businesses and consumers.
 

See also Israel’s Top Trading Partners, Israel’s Top Trading Partners, Palestine’s Top 10 Exports, Lebanon’s Top 10 Exports and Diamond Imports by Country

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Middle East: Israel. Accessed on September 30, 2024

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates. Accessed on September 30, 2024

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 30, 2024

Wikipedia, Israel. Accessed on September 30, 2024