Saudi Arabia
Photo: Reuters
12 Israeli firms exporting to Saudi Arabia
Exports to kingdom rise by 10 percent to USD 470,000 in first half of 2006. Israeli companies export to Saudi Arabia medical equipment, fertilizers, minerals, metals, machines and mechanical appliances
Israeli exports to Saudi Arabia totaled USD 470,000 in the first half of 2006, constituting a rise of 10 percent compared to the first half of 2005, data published by the Manufacturers Association of Israel revealed.
However, the extent of exports from Israel to Saudi Arabia is still very small compared to the economy of the world's largest oil manufacturer.
According to the data, 12 Israeli companies currently have export relations with Saudi Arabia, compared to only four companies which exported to the kingdom in 2004. Some of the companies export directly and some indirectly.
The Israeli companies export to Saudi Arabia medical equipment, fertilizers, minerals, metals, machines, mechanical appliances, and more.
According to data published by the Israeli Export and International Cooperation Institute, Israeli exporters sold products worth USD 245 million in Arab countries in 2005, including exports to Arab countries through third parties.
The direct Israeli exports to Arab countries totaled USD 57 million in the first quarter of 2006, a sharp rise of 34.5 percent compared to the same quarter last year. The data do not include Israeli exports to the Palestinian Authority, which is Israel's second largest trade partner, after the United States, and purchases from Israel goods worth billions of US dollars.
Exports to Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia
More than 60 Israelis are operating in Iraq nowadays, and have exported goods worth USD 5.7 million, mainly war equipment to the US military.Some 1,343 Israeli exporters are operating in Jordan today, mainly in the furniture, paper, print and machinery industries. The exports to Jordan amounted to USD 26.5 million in the first quarter of 2006, a drop of 6 percent compared to the parallel quarter in 2005. Exports to Jordan totaled USD 115.2 million in 2005.
About 257 Israeli exporters are operating in Egypt today, mainly in the textile, chemicals and oil refinery industries. The exports to Egypt in the first quarter of 2006 amounted to USD 26.5 million – like the exports to Jordan, a rise of 148.5 percent compared to the same quarter last year.
Exports to Egypt in 2005 totaled USD 93 million, a sharp rise of 214 percent compared to 2004. Exports to Egypt increased due to the free trade agreement – QIZ, signed last year between Israel, Egypt and the US.
Some 46 Israeli exporters are currently operating in Morocco. The exports to Morocco amounted to USD 2 million in the first quarter of 2006, a rise of 23.5 percent. Exports to Tunisia totaled USD 500,000 in the first quarter of the year, a drop of 16 percent.
