Located in Western Asia and with a population exceeding 8.8 million Israelites, the State of Israel imported US$69.2 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -9.5% decrease from $76.5 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Israel’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Israel shares land borders with Jordan to its east, Egypt to its southwest Lebanon to its north, and Syria to its northeast. In addition, Israel has common boundaries with Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Israeli imports during 2020 for each of Israel’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for about three-fifths (59.7%) of total Israeli import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Israeli imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Israel’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Israel amounted to $11.7 billion or 16.9% of overall Israeli imports.

That dollar amount represents a 14.3% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 80.3% of Israel’s imports from the mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $2.7 billion
Machinery: $2.3 billion
Organic chemicals: $528.1 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $490.6 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $461.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $430.7 million
Plastics: $386.4 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $375.7 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $361.9 million
Iron or steel products: $309 million
Toys, games: $261.3 million
Vehicles: $227.1 million
Aluminum: $185.5 million
Footwear: $182.9 million
Rubber: $165.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Israeli imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 230.3% gain in revenue, medical or technical equipment (up 37.1%), machinery (up 33.4%), electronic equipment (up 17.2%) then toys and games (up 9.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Israel’s top 15 imported products were footwear (down -26.3%), vehicles (down -15.8%) then knitted and crocheted clothing (down -15.3%).

Israel’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Israel amounted to $8.8 billion or 12.7% of overall Israeli imports.

That dollar amount represents a -31.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78.2% of Israel’s imports from America.

Machinery: $1.5 billion
Electronic equipment: $978.9 million
Medical, technical equipment: $793.8 million
Pharmaceuticals: $709.8 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $546.2 million
Plastics: $404.4 million
Vehicles: $341.9 million
Photo/cinematographic goods: $276.4 million
Gems, precious metals: $238.3 million
Iron or steel products: $232.8 million
Other chemical goods: $185.8 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $179.7 million
Organic chemicals: $173.5 million
Fruits, nuts: $167.6 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $158.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Israeli imports from the United States under the photographic or cinematographic goods product category via a 28.9% gain in revenue and pharmaceuticals (up 22.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Israel’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -71.1%), mineral fuels including oil (down -63.6%), gems and precious metals (down -48.2%), products made from iron or steel (down -45.4%), machinery (down -30.3%) and electronic equipment (down -28.3%).

Israel’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Israel amounted to $4.6 billion or 6.7% of overall Israeli imports.

That dollar amount represents a -4.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 84.5% of Israel’s imports from Germany.

Machinery: $864.8 million
Pharmaceuticals: $648.4 million
Electronic equipment: $480.7 million
Vehicles: $471.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $441.2 million
Plastics: $267.6 million
Organic chemicals: $130.6 million
Other chemical goods: $118.3 million
Railway, tram equipment: $118.3 million
Paper: $69.4 million
Iron or steel products: $65.6 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $61.3 million
Other manufactured products: $60.7 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $56.7 million
Rubber: $52.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Israeli imports from Germany under the medical or technical equipment product category via a 27.9% gain in revenue, perfumes and cosmetics (up 10.8%) then tanning or dyeing extracts (up 10.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Israel’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -29.7%), railway or tram equipment (down -20.1%), electronic equipment (down -11.7%), products made from iron or steel (down -11.1%), organic chemicals (down -10.7%) then miscellaneous manufactured products (down -9%).

Israel’s Main Imports from Turkey

In 2020, Turkey’s exports to Israel amounted to $4.3 billion or 6.3% of overall Israeli imports.

That dollar amount represents a -21.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78.4% of Israel’s imports from Turkey.

Vehicles: $662.9 million
Iron and steel: $635.7 million
Plastics: $322.1 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $247.8 million
Machinery: $225.5 million
Electronic equipment: $216.8 million
Iron or steel products: $203.8 million
Gems, precious metals: $144.9 million
Paper: $121.1 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $119 million
Stone, plaster, cement: $112.2 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $102.5 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $100.9 million
Ceramic products: $92.9 million
Aluminum: $89.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Israeli imports from Turkey under the aluminum product category via a 72.5% gain in revenue, furniture, lighting and signs (up 29.2%), stone, plaster and cement (up 24.9%), salt, sulphur, stone and cement (up 22%), products made from iron or steel (up 19.2%) and plastics as a material (up 16.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Israel’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -10%) then unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -7.3%).

Israel’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Israel amounted to $2.8 billion or 6.3% of overall Israeli imports.

That dollar amount represents a -5.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 71.3% of Israel’s imports from Italy.

Machinery: $589.5 million
Electronic equipment: $189.2 million
Vehicles: $164.3 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $155.2 million
Plastics: $151.6 million
Pharmaceuticals: $133.6 million
Ceramic products: $107 million
Gems, precious metals: $93 million
Iron or steel products: $78.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $78.2 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $74.3 million
Organic chemicals: $56.8 million
Paper: $56.8 million
Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $53.5 million
Iron and steel: $48.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Israeli imports from Italy under the items made from iron or steel product category via a 13.7% gain in revenue, ceramic products (up 13.1%), plastics as a material (up 10.9%) and paper (also up 10.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Israel’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -29.6%), organic chemicals (down -12.3%), gems and precious metals (down -11.7%) and machinery (down -10.8%).

Israel’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Israel amounted to $2.1 billion or 3% of overall Israeli imports.

That dollar amount represents a -3.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.4% of Israel’s imports from Japan.

Vehicles: $882.3 million
Machinery: $559.5 million
Electronic equipment: $140.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $126.8 million
Other chemical goods: $68.4 million
Photo/cinematographic goods: $47.1 million
Plastics: $46.8 million
Organic chemicals: $32.1 million
Pharmaceuticals: $24.5 million
Rubber: $22.4 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $15.5 million
Glass: $14 million
Gems, precious metals: $13.3 million
Other manufactured products: $11.3 million
Inorganic chemicals: $9.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Israeli imports from Japan under the tanning or dyeing extracts product category via a 42.7% gain in revenue, inorganic chemicals (up 24.2%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 12.7%), organic chemicals (up 10.5%) and medical or technical equipment (up 9.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Israel’s top 15 imported products were gems and precious metals (down -19.9%), miscellaneous manufactured products (down -18.6%), machinery (down -13%), photographic or cinematographic goods (down -11.7%) then plastics as a material (down -9%).

Israel’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, the United Kingdom’s exports to Israel amounted to $1.9 billion or 2.8% of overall Israeli imports.

That dollar amount represents a -9.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 80.1% of Israel’s imports from the United Kingdom.

Machinery: $559.6 million
Vehicles: $263.1 million
Pharmaceuticals: $172 million
Electronic equipment: $122.9 million
Medical, technical equipment: $86.4 million
Beverages: $78.5 million
Other chemical goods: $55.7 million
Plastics: $44.2 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $37.7 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $33.3 million
Gems, precious metals: $25.4 million
Iron or steel products: $23.6 million
Rubber: $20.3 million
Organic chemicals: $17.3 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $15.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Israeli imports from the United Kingdom under the soaps, lubricants and candles product category via a 12.9% gain in revenue then perfumes and cosmetics (up 6.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Israel’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -91.5%), vehicles (down -32.2%) and medical or technical equipment (down -10%).

Israel’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Israel amounted to $1.8 billion or 2.6% of overall Israeli imports.

That dollar amount represents a 2.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.1% of Israel’s imports from France.

Machinery: $251.7 million
Vehicles: $214.8 million
Electronic equipment: $176.6 million
Pharmaceuticals: $152.7 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $127.8 million
Plastics: $82.5 million
Other chemical goods: $82.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $69.9 million
Organic chemicals: $50 million
Beverages: $43.2 million
Iron or steel products: $42.1 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $35.6 million
Meat: $28.2 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $28.1 million
Paper: $25 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Israeli imports from France under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 64.3% gain in revenue, electronic equipment (up 29.9%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 23.5%), pharmaceuticals (up 20.4%), soaps, lubricants and candles (up 15.3%) and products made from iron or steel (up 12.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Israel’s top 15 imported products were organic chemicals (down -14.2%) and vehicles (down -7.9%).

Israel’s Main Imports from India

In 2020, India’s exports to Israel amounted to $1.7 billion or 2.4% of overall Israeli imports.

That dollar amount represents a -11.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 84% of Israel’s imports from India.

Gems, precious metals: $570.3 million
Electronic equipment: $237.2 million
Organic chemicals: $146.7 million
Plastics: $92.8 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $54 million
Pharmaceuticals: $48.3 million
Machinery: $43.7 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $41.1 million
Aluminum: $39.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $30.6 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $26.2 million
Cereals: $25.6 million
Cotton: $22.3 million
Ceramic products: $21 million
Oil seed: $17 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Israeli imports from India under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 585.7% gain in revenue, electronic equipment (up 135.4%), ceramic products (up 45.2%), cotton (up 30.8%) and aluminum (up 9%).

Posting the severest declines among Israel’s top 15 imported products were medical or technical equipment (down -49%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -30.1%), gems and precious metals (down -28.8%), plastics as a material (down -26%), organic chemicals (down -17%) and knitted or crocheted clothing (down -14.8%).

Israel’s Main Imports from Belgium

In 2020, Belgium’s exports to Israel amounted to $1.6 billion or 2.3% of overall Israeli imports.

That dollar amount represents a -22.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 85.8% of Israel’s imports from Belgium.

Gems, precious metals: $565.7 million
Vehicles: $173 million
Pharmaceuticals: $159.3 million
Plastics: $106.5 million
Electronic equipment: $72.3 million
Machinery: $58.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $34.1 million
Beverages: $31.5 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $31.1 million
Other chemical goods: $28.7 million
Sugar: $28.1 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $19 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $18 million
Organic chemicals: $18 million
Vegetables: $17.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Israeli imports from Belgium under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 101.6% gain in revenue, sugar (up 69%), beverages (up 46.3%), electronic equipment (up 36.6%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 34.9%) and medical or technical equipment (up 26.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Israel’s top 15 imported products were machinery (down -50%), gems and precious metals (down -43.4%), vehicles (down -33.6%), tanning or dyeing extracts (down -33.3%) then vegetables (down -9.9%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Israel, Borders of Israel

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Israel’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries