Importation of Consumer and Investment Goods - April 2005

In April an increase was seen in some of the importation of durable goods, compared to the same month last year, for a number of reasons:

• The Passover holiday fell this year at the end of April, therefore, the increased importation which comes before the holiday shopping was divided into the months of March and April, while in 2004, the holiday timing lead to the increased importation in March alone and the importation in April was lower.
• Importation of refrigerators in April 2005 increased by approximately 51%, clothes dryers decreased by approximately 4%, televisions increased by 27%, dishwashers increased by 57%, DVD's increased by approximately 30% compared to April 2004, and this was after a decrease in importation of this product in March. The only products which saw a decrease were videos and this is due to the public's purchasing of DVD's instead of videos.
• Importation of air conditioners, cosmetics and alcohol also saw an increase in April 2005 compared to the same month last year.

Vehicles

Vehicles – In April 2005 importation of vehicles numbered 9,6000 (Passenger and commercial), compared to 3,600 vehicles in April 2004. In the past several years importation of vehicles in April is especially low because in May a new manufacturing year begins. In general, this trend is still in place, however, this year an artificial increase in the importation of vehicles was seen for the following reasons:

• A 10 time increase in commercial vehicle importation – from 400 vehicles in April 2004 to 3,500 vehicles in April 2005. The main reason for this is that on the June 1, input tax will no longer be allowed to be deducted when purchasing a commercial vehicle, and therefore, there is an increase of purchases of commercial vehicles (the monthly average of importation of commercial vehicles is 1,000 vehicles).
• Importation of private vehicles totaled 6,100 compared to 3,200 in April 2004. However, about a third of the importation were 2006 models which were cleared in April in order to take advantage of the convenient exchange rates. However, since 2006 models can not be registered before May 1, a substantial difference was seen between importation and the ergistration of the vehicles as reported by vehicle importers.
• In the past several years a phenomena is seen of relatively low importation in months close to "exchanging year of model in may every year. Therefore, The phenomena of low importation in February-march, which may continue to April, is certainly expected.

Miscellaneous

Importation of cigarettes increased in April 2005 by approximately 2% compared to last year.

IMPORTATION OF VEHICLES AND PARTS- APRIL 2005 (in millions of US$)
(Quantity in Units,Value in millions of $ and Purchase Tax Revenue in Millions of NIS)

ACCUMULATING - FROM BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
Vehicle and Parts Type Jan.-April 2004 Jan.-April 2005 Change in %
Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $
Passenger 32,876 377 1,341 31,692 374 1,364 4.9 2.0 3.7
Commercial 3,263 45 155 6,235 57 187      
Two-Wheeled 2,174 4 11 2,640 5 13 21.4 17.5 17.1
Trucks and tractors 1,263 54 13 1,790 79 4 41.7 45.9 -65.1
  Spare parts   90 74   96 75   6.9 2.1
  TOTAL   570 1,594   610 1,644   7.0 3.1

MONTHLY
Type April 2004 April 2005 Change in % Change in % Compared to Previous Month
Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in Shekels
Passenger 3,252 40 139 6,129 69 254 163.9 83.3 93.1 3.1 -24.4 -24.6
Commercial 397 6 20 3,499 16 52            
Two-Wheeled 415 1 3 625 1 3 50.6 1.9 -4.8 -15.4 -18.9 -20.1
Trucks and tractors 287 10 3 444 18 0 54.7 77.7 -84.0 -15.9 -16.4 79.6
Spare parts   21 17   23 18   8.6 4.1   -11.2 -7.4
TOTAL   79 182   127 328   61.5 80.2   -21.2 -23.7

Note:
Beginning on April 1, 2004 Jeeps and Minivans were added to the passenger category,which are classified in the fourth addition to the VAT regulations.

Begininng from the month of April, the monthly publication will include details acording to the types of vehicles: passenge, commercial, two-wheel trucks and tractors.


Import of Consumer Goods- April 2005
(Quantity in Units,Value in millions of $ and Purchase Tax Revenue
in Millions of NIS)


Accumulating From The Beginning of the Year
Product Jan.-April 2004 Jan.-April 2005 Change in %
Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $
Household Elec. Appliances Refrigerators 63,265 22.1   68,444 25.3   8.2 14.4  
Washing Machines 67,077 15.6   73,277 18.9   9.2 20.9  
Clothes Dryer 11,481 2.1   17,138 3.2   49.3 55.0  
Dish Washer 19,449 5.8   21,996 6.6   13.1 12.7  
  Other   40.0     46.5     16.3  
  TOTAL   86 33   100 27   17.3 -18.5
EntertainmentEle T.V. 121,478 31.3   156,455 42.5   28.8 35.6  
Video 33,706 3.2   18,898 2.0   -43.9 -36.8  
DVD 126,669 7.3   216,572 14.6   71.0 99.1  
  Other   45.8     57.8     26.3  
  TOTAL   88 69   117 66   33.4 -3.4
Cigarettes (Thousands of packets)   84,312 34.1 683.2 90,124 36.8 787.1 6.9 7.8 15.2

MONTHLY
Product Jan.-April 2004 Jan.-April 2005 Change in % Change in % Compared to Previous Month
Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in NIS
Household Elec. Appliances Refrigerators 13,320 4.9   20,171 7.9   51.4 60.2   9 5.9  
Washing Machines 15,210 3.7   15,344 3.9   0.9 6.5   -31 -32.6  
Clothes Drier 1,425 0.3   1,364 0.3   -4.3 15.6   -41 -35.7  
Dish Washer 3,920 1.2   6,168 1.7   57.3 42.2   -6 -9.8  
Other   7.3     13.5     84.4        
TOTAL   17 4   27 8   57.0 72.4   -8.1 -5.2
EntertainmentEle T.V. 34,070 7.6   43,109 12.9   26.5 69.4   -3 14.6  
Video 7,760 0.9   5,436 0.6   -29.9 -36.7   2 24.0  
DVD 31,020 1.6   40,310 2.2   29.9 40.9   -27 -35.0  
  Other   11.9     13.2     10.3        
  TOTAL   22 13   29 16   31.1 23.3   -6.1 79.6
Cigarettes (Thousands of packets) 21,757 8.8 177.0 22,163 9.1 192.8 1.9 2.9 8.9 -9.9 -9.0 -9.6



Purchase Tax Revenue from other products - April 2005
(Quantity in Units,Value in millions of $ and Purchase Tax Revenue
in Millions of NIS)


PRODUCT Value in $ Purchase Tax Revenue in NIS Change in % Value in $ Purchase Tax Revenue in NIS Change in %
Jan-Mar 03 Jan-Mar 04 Jan-Mar 03 Jan-Mar 04 Value Revenue Mar 03 Mar 04 Mar 03 Mar 04 Value Revenue
Telephone 160.8 145.7 105.9 95.6 -9.4 -9.8 31.9 27.5 21.8 18.1 -13.6 -16.7
Alcohol 12.9 14.4 49.9 53.1 11.9 6.4 3.0 3.3 10.8 11.9 8.4 9.7
Fuel 344.0 395.0 135.9 179.5 14.8 32.1 68.8 40.1 8.6 38.2 -41.6 343.4
Air Conditioners 7.7 10.2 14.1 16.6 32.6 17.2 1.9 4.1 2.4 7.2 119.4 198.7
Cosmetics 39.3 42.7 23.6 24.4 8.5 3.4 8.5 9.0 5.0 5.2 6.2 4.4
Chargers and Batteries 11.8 10.7 17.3 17.3 -10.0 0.2 2.7 2.3 3.4 3.7 -14.3 9.6


Total Import (Not including Diamonds Jan.-April April Previous Month
2004 2005 Change in % 2004 2005 Change in % Feb Change in %
Value of Importation (Millions of $) 9,896 11,400 15.2 2,294 2,560 11.6 3,316 -22.8



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