The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) published its national trade report Monday, revealing that Israel's trade deficit has increased by 30% in 2007, reaching $10.2 billion, as opposed to $7.6 billion in 2006.

Merchandise imports in 2007 rose by 18.6% and came to $56.1 billion; while exports came to $45.9 billion – a 15.6% increase from 2006.

The CBS report, said Yedioth Ahronoth, also noted that Israel's industrial exports are gaining strength in world markets, as all its categories have increased in 2007: High-Tech exports were up 11.5%, mixed elite technologies rose 26.7% and mixed traditional technologies were up 20.7%.

Merchandise imports indicacted an across-the-board increase as well, with a 27.3% rise in consumer goods imports, 15.5% increase in raw materials imports and a 11.4% rise in importing uncut and cut diamonds.

Industrial exports comprised 74.1% of Israel's exports in 2007, with technology exports rising 11.5%, medicinal exports increasing 10.7% and electronic exports decreasing 12.8%.