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CARMEL lorry travelling between settlements in the Jordan Valley. CARMEL AGREXCO is the largest
exporter of Settler's produce grown on stolen Palestinian land to European markets.
REPORT
Spring 2008
Introduction
This report aims to provide an overview of the most recent data available regarding Israeli
vegetable exports to the EU. It is based on and limited to figures provided by the Israeli Central
Bureau of Statistics that do not distinguish between settlement and nonsettlement produce.
The report examines trade relations between Israel and its main export partners in Europe
(Germany, UK, Belgium and Italy), within the larger context of the European market as a whole.
In addition to providing the latest figures on vegetable exports, the dynamics within the exporting
season, and the general increase in Israeli exports to the EU and its member states, this paper
highlights developments in Israel's trade deficit with some of its partners, explains the importance
of the diamond trade, and presents statistics on flower exports into the EU.
The EU is Israel's most important trading partner. Within the EU, Israel's largest export markets
are Germany (21%), the UK (18%), the Netherlands and Italy (both 11%), and France (10%).
When the diamond trade is included in Israel’s global exports, this ranking changes: Belgium leads
with 6%, ahead of Germany (4.8%), and the UK (4.3%).
Free and preferential trade agreements are of vital importance to Israeli exporters. Tariffs and non
tariff barriers are partially or totally abolished on goods entering the partner's market on the basis
of reciprocity.
The history of economic relations between Israel and European countries shows dynamics of
evercloser integration. Israel signed its first freetrade agreement with the European Community
as early as 1964. At that stage, the EC had only 6 members. With the ECIsrael Free Trade
Agreement of 1975, economic cooperation went far beyond normal levels, and included
cooperation in scientific matters intended to facilitate the transfer of technological knowhow. In
2000, the ECIsrael Association Agreement came into force, providing Israeli exporters with
privileged access to Europe’s ‘Common Market’, and to EU funds.
Israel has also signed free trade agreements with the United States (signed in 1985, fully effective
since 1995), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA, effective since 1993), Turkey, Mexico,
Canada (1997), Jordan, and Egypt, and on 18 December 2007, became the first nonLatin
American country to sign a free trade agreement with Mercosur.
Israel is the only country in the world to have free trade agreements with both the European Union
and the U.S.
Israel's main exports are weapons, diamonds, manufactured goods and software. In 2006, Israeli
exports grew by 11% to just over $29 billion; the hitech sector accounted for $14 billion,
a 20% increase over the previous
year. The IT sector makes up a
substantial portion of Israel’s
export of services. In 1997, this
share (20.1%) was second only to
Japan (24%), and much higher
than the OECD average of
12.5%. Israel is one of the world's
major exporters of military
equipment, accounting for 10% of
the world total in 2007.
Israel imports military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels, and consumer goods,
mainly from the United States (18.6%), Belgium (9.9%), Germany (7.5%), UK (7.6%), Italy (4.8%),
and Japan (3.3%), according to 2000 figures.
Trade balance
Israel has traditionally run a large external trade deficit (i.e. imports exceeded exports). The cost of
Israel's imports has largely been offset by cash grants from the U.S. government and Zionist
“charitable” organizations and individuals abroad.
“Made in Israel” vegetables sold in European supermarkets can have various origins. Some
originate from what is often referred to as Israelproper (i.e. the area of Palestine largely ethnically
cleansed by Zionist militias in 1948 when the
State of Israel was created). Others are grown
in the West Bank or in Syria’s Golan Heights,
which were both occupied by the Israeli army
in 1967 (huge agricultural plantations have
been installed on stolen Palestinian land by
Israeli settlers).
Given that Israel does not acknowledge
Palestinian sovereignty, even produce
originating in the West Bank is almost without
exception labeled as “made in Israel”; likewise,
official Israeli statistics on agricultural
production, vegetable and flower exports
conflate settlement and nonsettlement
products. Israeli authorities are aware that all Medjoul dates grown by settlers on stolen
Palestinian land in the Jordan Valley, sold as "made
settlements in the occupied Palestinian in Israel" in European supermarkets.
territories are illegal under international law,
and that settlement’ produce is similarly illegal. It
is therefore crucial to them to blur the difference between products originating from within the
Green Line and settlement produce.
Flower exports have remained a stable source of income for the Israeli economy over recent
years. Due to Valentine's day, February is the peak month within the exporting season (November
to May).
Flowers "made in Israel" exported to global markets from 1988-2007 (million US$) .
In recent years, Israeli global flowers exports each February reached between US$ 30 and US$
40 million.
The UK is one of Israel's top trading partners within the European Union. In 2007, Britain sold
products worth US$ 2681.2 million on the Israeli market, while Israeli exports to the UK amounted
to US$ 1954.3 million. Vegetable products made up 11% of Israeli exports to the UK in 2007. The
UK is among the main destinations for Israeliprocessed diamonds. In 2004, diamonds made up
almost 14% of all Israeli exports to the UK.
The UK's vegetable market has been one of the most reliable ones for Israeli exporters within the
European Union. A steady increase of vegetable exports into the UK was registered from 1995
onwards. Although record exports occurred first in the winter season of 1998/1999, 2007 has
proved the most successful year yet, with vegetable products worth US$ 221.2 million sold in UK
supermarkets. The alltime monthly record of vegetable exports was reached in March 2007 (US$
29.0 million). December 2007 vegetable export levels of US$ 26 million compare to US$ 19 million
in December 2006.
Monthly vegetable export to the UK 2002-2007 (million US$)
The main exporting season lasts 4 months, from December to March, with export peaks usually
reached in February/March. Since 2004, however, even offseason vegetable exports are on the
rise, providing the Israeli agricultural industry with a more steady revenue.
Trade balance
The UK is one of the most important trading partners for Israel within the EU. While for many
years, Israel's trade deficit with the UK was enormous, recent years have seen a sharp increase in
Israeli exports to the UK.
Trade balance Israel – UK: Total of Israeli exports (orange) to
and imports from Britain (blue) 1988-2007 (million US$).
To date, monthly Israeli exports have managed to reverse the trade balance on two occasions.
While in April 2003 this was due to a historical low in UK exports to Israel, in November 2007
record Israeli exports where able to exceed the value of “normal“ levels of UK imports for the first
time.
The Israeli trade deficit with the UK 2002-2007 in detail. It has been entirely reversed in
April 2003 and November 2007 (million US$).
Although UK exports to Israeli markets are still growing, Israeli companies' booming sales to the
UK are growing even more. Since 2002 the surplus of UK exports to Israel over imports from Israel
has been steadily shrinking: in 2001 Israeli exports to the UK were 45% lower than the value of UK
exports to the Israeli market; in 2007 this gap was only 27%.
Amount of British Annual Export surplus
1600
1400
in million US$ per year
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
19952007
Due to its size and population, it may be expected that Belgium would be only a minor trading
partner of Israel within the EU; Germany is well know for being Israel’s main European trading
partner. In fact, total Israeli exports to Belgium amounted to US$ 4070.6 million in 2007—twice the
level of its exports to Germany in that year.
The reason for Belgium’s crucial role in Israel’s foreign economic relations is its central role in
diamond trade. Israeli cuttingcenters export huge amounts of polished diamonds to while rough
material is imported via the Belgium market. In 2006, US$ 2.01 billion out of total Israeli exports to
Belgium worth US$ 3.06 billion consisted of cut and polished diamonds; in the same year, Israel
imported US$ 2.22 billion worth of rough diamonds from Belgium.
Belgium's role in Israeli diamond trade
Diamonds made up twothirds of Israeli exports to Belgium in 2006. Including the diamond trade,
Belgium is even outrunning Germany as major European trade partner, being the destination of
9.9% of global Israeli exports, while Germany was receiving 7.5%, according to figures of 2000. In
2007 Israeli exports to Belgium including diamonds have been more than twice as high (4070.6
million US$) as exports to Germany (1920.5 million US$).
In other trade sectors as well, exchanges between Belgium and Israel remain significant. Belgian
products marketed in Israel include: Côte d’Or chocolate; Fruibel chocolate and fruit preparations;
Callebaut Chocolate; Leffe Beers; Hoegaarden Beers; Stella Beers; chemical products of
Lambiotte; Caterpillar machinery; and Gyproc materials. Barco, a major Belgian hightech
company has a marketing office based in Tel Aviv. The Belgium Telindus Group, offering network
based IT solutions, is also based in the country.
Most of Israel’s big companies like Tadmor air conditioning systems, Check Point software
(offering the fire wall “Zone Alarm” as a free download), Iskar products and logistics, MultiLock
(manufacturing locking devices) and Ahava (beauty & care products) export to Belgium.
In 2005, Israel was the 15th most important supplier of goods and services to Belgium, ahead of
countries such as Finland, Switzerland and Brazil. At the same time Israel was the 13th biggest
customer for Belgian goods and services, ahead of countries such as China, Japan and Poland.
In 2007, Israel exported vegetable products worth US$ 70.3 million to Belgium. After the signing of
the Oslo Agreement in 1994, Israeli vegetable exports to Belgium registered quite different
dynamics compared to developments in other European countries—there was a steady decline in
vegetable export value from 1995 onwards, after exports to Belgium had reached their all time
high in 1995. This tendency however, was reversed in 2002. Like in other European countries,
Israeli vegetable exports have seen a steady increase from 2002 onwards and a steep incline in
the winter season of 2005/2006.
In 2005, peak Israeli exports outran
the maximum levels reached by
Belgian exporters in 2004. While in
2005, Israel managed to reverse Trade balance Israel – Belgium: Total of Israeli exports (orange)
to and imports from Belgium (blue) 1988-2007 (million US$)
the trade balance during 2 months,
in 2007 it did so in 3 of the 12
months. That year’s Israeli exports to Belgium totaled US$ 4070.6 million while US$ 4455 million
worth of goods left Belgium for the Israeli market.
Belgium is a shining example of the Europewide trend of a shrinking Israeli trade deficit with its
partners. In fact, the Belgian economy is struggling to keep up with the pace of growing Israeli
exports to European markets.
Trade balance Israel-Belgium in detail: Belgium exporters are struggling to keep up with
the pace of growing Israeli exports to Belgium. (Orange: Israeli exports to Belgium; million US$)
Germany is Israel's main economic partner within the European Union. In 2007, it sold products
worth US$ 3484.1 million on the Israeli market, while Israeli exports to the German market
amounted to US$ 1920.5 million.
Germany is the most important destination for Israeli vegetables in the EU. In 2007, annual
vegetable exports to Germany exceeded those to the UK by more than 5 times (US$ 1401.8
million compared to US$ 221.2 million).
Annual Israeli vegetable exports to
main partners in Europe 2007
1600
1400
1200
million US$
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Italy Belgium UK Germany
The share of vegetable products among Israeli exports to Germany is extraordinarily high.
According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, these exports made up 73% of all Israeli
exports to Germany in 2007.
Thus the Israeli economy relies heavily on the sales of vegetable, fruit and flowers in German
supermarkets and florists.
1600
1400
1200
million US$/year
1000
800
600
400
200
Annual vegetable exports (19952007)
After a decline between 20002002, there has been a steep increase in Israeli vegetable exports
to Germany from 2003 onwards. While this trend is Europewide, the massive jump in vegetable
exports to Germany in 2007 compared to 2006 is exceptional.
The main export season is the winter, reaching peaks in January, February and March. In
December 2007 the Central Bureau of Statistics announced record sales worth US$ 171.1 million.
This is an all time export high for December and an increase of more than 50% compared to
December 2006. The total exports in the winter season Dec 2006 – March 2007 amounted to US$
630.2 million. The all time monthly export record, however, was reached in March 2007 (US$
187.1 million).
One of Israel's main concerns regarding trade with its European allies is its trade deficit. As with its
trading relations with other European nations, Israel is closing the gap between its exports to and
its imports from Germany.
Recently, there have been exceptional months that produced trade surpluses rather than deficits.
In May 2006, Israeli goods worth US$ 295.1 million were sold to Germany, while Germany
exported goods worth “only” US$ 292.4 million to the Israeli market.
The Israeli trade deficit in detail. Shrinking in tendency it has been entirely reversed by
Israeli record sales to Germany in May 2006. (Orange: Israeli exports to Germany; million US$)
V. Israeli trade relations with Italy
In 2007, Italy sold products worth US$ 2302.1 million on the Israeli market, while Israel's exports
to Italy amounted to US$ 1316.0 million, making Italy one of Israel's 5 most important trading
partners within the EU. It is worth noting that Israeli diamond exports amounted to only 4% of
overall Israeli exports to Italy in 2004, and vegetables accounted for less then 4% of exports in
2007. Thus, Israeli exports are strong in other sectors.
Even though their share of total Israeli exports to Italy is small, agricultural exports to the Italian
market still provide a stable source of revenue. Between the signing of the Oslo Agreements and
the outbreak of the 2nd intifada (2000), vegetable exports to Italy were relatively stable with annual
totals of approximately US$ 30 million.
Israeli vegetable exports to Italy
55
45
35
million US$
25
15
5
Vegetable exports 19952007
After 3 years of decline, a steep rise in vegetable export to Italy was registered from 2003
onward a trend confirmed by many other national European markets. The massive 33% jump in
vegetable exports to Italy in 2007 compared to 2006 produced an alltime record of US$ 48.9
million.
While in other European countries the winter export season follows a stable pattern, the situation
on the Italian market is slightly different and irregular. October is normally the strongest export
month, followed by November and December. An alltime high for monthly exports was reached in
October 2007 (US$ 9.8 million, compared to US$ 7.1 million in Oct 2006).
Fluctuation in export peaks within the winter season.
Monthly Israeli vegetable export to Italy 1995-2007 (million US$).
Compared to Israel's other European trading partners, Italy seems to cope better with keeping its
export surplus. While Italian exports to Israeli markets achieved new records in 2007, Israeli
exports are growing steadily as well.
Trade balance Italy-Israel: Total of Israeli goods exported to Italy (orange) compared to
Italian exports to the Israeli market (blue) 1988-2007 (million US$).
Still, the trade balance has not been reversed in a single month:
Nevertheless, the trend of evershrinking European export surpluses over Israeli imports is
confirmed even in Italy: the1996 Italian surplus of US$ 1720.9 million was reduced to a third of that
sum by 2003. Since 2003 however, Italian exports have recovered and have grown at a faster
pace than Israeli exports.
Italian export surplus over Israeli imports
2000
1800
1600
million US$/year
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
Annual Italian export surplus 19952007