Year over year, Israeli spending on imported products increased by 19.3% from $90.3 billion during 2021.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2022, the Israeli shekel appreciated by 6.4% against the US dollar since 2018 but fell by -4% from 2021 to 2022. Israel’s weaker local currency since 2021 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 73.3% of products imported into Israel were supplied by exporters in: mainland China (22.5% of the global total), United States of America (11.8%), Türkiye (7.9%), Germany (7.2%), Italy (4.2%), India (3.7%), Belgium (2.93%), South Korea (2.87%), Russia (2.8%), United Kingdom (2.6%), France (2.5%) and Japan (2.4%).
Applying a continental lens, 47.4% of Israel’s total imports by value in 2022 were purchased from countries in Asia. In second place were European trade partners fulfilling 36.9% of Israeli import purchases. Another 12.2% worth of goods originated from North America.
Much smaller percentages were furnished by exporters in Latin America (2.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.9%), and Oceania (0.2%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Given Israel’s population of 9.2 million people, its total $107.7 billion worth of 2022 imports translates to roughly $11,700 in yearly product demand from every person in the Middle Eastern country. That dollar metric exceeds the average $9,600 per capita one year earlier in 2021.
Israel’s Top 10 Imports
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Israel’s import purchases during 2022. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Israel.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$14.7 billion (13.6% of total imports)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $12.6 billion (11.7%)
- Machinery including computers: $11.4 billion (10.6%)
- Vehicles: $9.2 billion (8.5%)
- Gems, precious metals: $7 billion (6.5%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $4.1 billion (3.8%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $3.6 billion (3.4%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $3.5 billion (3.3%)
- Iron, steel: $3 billion (2.8%)
- Organic chemicals: $2.2 billion (2%)
Israel’s top 10 imports represent about two-thirds (66.2%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Mineral fuels including oil posted the fastest increase in value among Israel’s top 10 import categories, up 61.9% from 2021 to 2022.
In second place for improving import purchases was the gems and precious metals product category, thanks to its 34.4% uptick. That increase was due largely due to Israel’s activities in the global diamond trade.
Israeli imports of organic chemicals delivered the third-fastest gain, up 32.4% from 2021.
Year over year, the lone decrease arose from Israel’s purchases of imported pharmaceuticals via a -1.4% drop.
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 Fuel Imports
In 2022, Israeli importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.
- Crude oil: US$9.8 billion (up 53.9% from 2021)
- Processed petroleum oils: $2.6 billion (up 56.8%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $2 billion (up 160.6%)
- Petroleum gases: $271.2 million (up 23.2%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $60.5 million (up 80%)
- Peat: $18.1 million (up 3.2%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $8.8 million (up 21%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $7.2 million (down -83.4%)
- Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $6.6 million (up 33.2%)
- Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $311,000 (up 44.7%)
Among these import subcategories, Israel’s purchases of coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 160.6%), petroleum oil residues (up 80%), then processed petroleum oils (up 56.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.
These amounts and the percentage gains 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 Electrical Product Imports
In 2022, Israeli importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical products including consumer electronics.
- Phone system devices including smartphones: US$3 billion (up 5% from 2021)
- Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $2.2 billion (up 32.1%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $823.9 million (up 25%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $717.2 million (up 21.5%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $711.3 million (up 37.4%)
- TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $595.9 million (down -4.8%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $544.9 million (up 12.9%)
- Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $377.8 million (up 1.1%)
- Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $338.7 million (up 36.2%)
- Electric storage batteries: $326.6 million (up 76.5%)
Among these import subcategories, Israel’s purchases of electric storage batteries (up 76.5%), electrical converters and power units (up 37.4%) then electrical or optical circuit boards and panels (up 36.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.
These amounts and the percentage gains 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 Machinery Imports
In 2022, Israeli importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$2.4 billion (up 18% from 2021)
- Turbo-jets: $1.1 billion (up 28.2%)
- Machinery for making semi-conductors: $610.7 million (down -45.7%)
- Refrigerators, freezers: $540.4 million (up 2.7%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $534.7 million (up 34%)
- Printing machinery: $470.6 million (up 9.7%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $463.1 million (up 11.2%)
- Air conditioners: $433.1 million (down -0.6%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $363.5 million (up 7.9%)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $302 million (up 7.2%)
Among these import subcategories, Israel’s purchases of centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 34%), turbo-jets (up 28.2%) then computers including optical readers (up 18%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.
These amounts and the percentage gains 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 2022, Israeli importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.
- Cars: US$6.6 billion (up 28.9% from 2021)
- Trucks: $1.1 billion (up 0.4%)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $444.6 million (up 15.1%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $337.3 million (up 16.3%)
- Motorcycles: $171.6 million (down -0.6%)
- Chassis fitted with engine: $124.2 million (up 26.1%)
- Trailers: $120.3 million (up 18.5%)
- Tractors: $83 million (down -11.9%)
- Special purpose vehicles: $81.8 million (down -12.1%)
- Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $44.4 million (down -37.9%)
Among these import subcategories, Israel’s purchases of cars (up 28.9%), chassis fitted with engine (up 26.1%) then trailers (up 18.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.
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 May 15, 2023
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on May 15, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 15, 2023
Wikipedia, Israel. Accessed on May 15, 2023
World’s Capital Cities, Capital Facts for Jerusalem, Israel. Accessed on May 15, 2023
