Importation of Consumer and Investment Products February 2005

In February, an increase was seen in the importation of most of the durable goods, compared to the same month last year. However, it should be kept in mind that the accumulative contribution from electric appliances and electronics, to the state revenue is not high. The total revenue form electrical appliances and electronics in 2004 is approximately 5% from the purchase tax revenue.

In February 2004, taxes were Febreased on a long list of products. The announcement on the Febreased caused a temporary delay of purchases and importation until the new prices were announced. Therefore, some of the increase in importation of durable goods stems from the low sales last year.

In February 2005 9,600 vehicles were imported (passenger and commercial), compared to 8,700 vehicles in February 2004 - an increase of 10%. It should be noted that in February 2004 there was especially low importation of vehicles compared to January 2004, since the announcement of reduction of VAT on march 1, 2004, significantly slowed vehicles sales in February 2004.

In the months January-February 2005, importation of vehicles totaled 19,000 compared to 21,600 vehicles during the same tile in 2004 - a Febrease of 12%. These are the lowest number in six moths. The main reasons for this was that many vehicles were released by importers in Februarys due to the concern of the strengthening of the Euro and the Yen compared to the Shekel as well as the traditionally high sales in February to improve annual sales data. These data can not be used to conclude that the trend of vehicle importation will continue towards the new model may 2-5/

Importation of cigarettes increased in February 2005 by approximately 12%, compared to last year. An increase was also seen in the importation of other durable goods in February 2005 compared to the same time last year. Refrigerators - an increase of 8%, televisions - increase of 42%, clothes dryers - increase 120% and DVD's - and increase of 55%.

Total value of importation totaled 2.6 billion dollars - an increase of 5% compared to 2004.


IMPORTATION OF VEHICLES AND PARTS- FEBRUARY 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.-February 2004 Jan.-February 2005 Change in %
Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $
Passenger 19,811 227 800 17,350 210 762 -12.4 -7.9 -5.6
Commercial 1,844 26 89 1,617 23 77
Two-Wheeled 991 2 4 1,276 2 6 28.8 41.1 38.9
Trucks and tractors 624 26 6 924 39 4 48.1 45.5 -38.6
  Spare parts   44 36   47 38 7.5 4.6
  TOTAL   325 935   322 886 -1.2 -5.2

MONTHLY
Type February 2004 February 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 7,915 87 308 8,662 102 375 10.2 18.5 21.9 2.7 -0.6 0.7
Commercial 802 11 37 948 14 46
Two-Wheeled 501 1 2 666 1 3 32.9 55.2 62.0 9.2 6.7 15.1
Trucks and tractors 316 13 3 541 26 0 71.2 91.9 -87.1 0.1 0.0 0.0
Spare parts   23 19   22 17 -3.5 -6.5 -14.7 -13.4
TOTAL   135 369   165 442 22.4 19.8 5.6 -0.5

Note:
Beginning on March 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-February 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.-February 2004 Jan.-February 2005 Change in %
Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $ Quantity Value in $ Revenue in $
Household Elec. Appliances Refrigerators 22,375 7.2   29,785 9.8   33.1 36.8
Washing Machines 31,215 6.8   35,698 9.2   14.4 34.3
Clothes Dryer 7,562 1.3   13,456 2.4   77.9 80.5
Dish Washer 8,249 2.5   9,301 2.9   12.8 14.9
  Other   15.6     19.0   21.7
  TOTAL   33.5 19.6   43.4 11.4 29.4 -41.8
EntertainmentEle T.V. 49,898 14.3   68,721 18.3   37.7 27.9
Video 17,781 1.3   8,129 0.9   -54.3 -30.1
DVD 41,594 2.7   82,932 8.9   99.4 223.1
  Other   17.8     29.3   64.4
  TOTAL   36.1 37.1   57.3 32.0 58.6 -13.9
Cigarettes (Thousands of packets)   37,273 15.2 303.0 43,372 17.7 381.0 16.4 16.3 25.8

MONTHLY
Product Jan.-February 2004 Jan.-February 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 9,356 3.2   10,089 3.8   7.8 19.2 -49 -37.2
Washing Machines 13,474 3.4   16,916 4.3   25.5 25.2 -10 -12.9
Clothes Drier 2,194 0.4   4,779 0.9   117.8 107.9 -45 -44.4
Dish Washer 4,741 1.4   4,579 1.4   -3.4 2.4 -3 -6.8
Other   7.5     5.5   -26.2
TOTAL   15.8 5.7   15.8 5.7 0.0 0.0 -13.8 -6.5
EntertainmentEle T.V. 26,245 5.4   37,226 8.9   41.8 65.8 18 -4.7
Video 6,714 0.5   2,943 0.5   -56.2 -11.9 -43 4.5
DVD 24,403 1.3   37,776 4.5   54.8 233.0 -16 2.7
  Other   9.0     13.6   51.8
  TOTAL   16.2 13.9   27.5 15.2 69.5 9.3 -7.7 -54.0
Cigarettes (Thousands of packets) 18,985 7.8 155.4 21,271 8.8 187.7 12.0 11.9 20.8 -3.8 -2.0 -2.9



Purchase Tax Revenue from other products - February 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-Feb 03 Jan-Feb 04 Jan-Feb 03 Jan-Feb 04 Value Revenue Feb 03 Feb 04 Feb 03 Feb 04 Value Revenue
Telephone 86.6 70.2 55.5 46.2 -18.9 -16.9 51.1 34.5 32.7 22.8 -32.4 -30.5
Alcohol 5.9 6.8 23.4 24.9 16.2 6.6 3.4 3.5 12.2 12.0 4.4 -2.2
Fuel 155.4 220.4 79.7 89.9 41.9 12.8 99.3 89.3 72.9 10.1 -10.1 -86.2
Air Conditioners 3.8 2.7 8.2 3.6 -28.2 -55.9 2.6 1.7 6.1 2.1 -34.1 -64.8
Cosmetics 17.8 18.9 10.6 10.7 6.1 0.3 10.4 9.0 6.3 4.9 -13.7 -21.9
Chargers and Batteries 5.5 5.2 8.9 8.8 -5.2 -0.7 2.6 2.0 4.0 3.6 -21.2 -11.4


Total Import (Not including Diamonds Jan.-February February Previous Month
2004 2005 Change in % 2004 2005 Change in % Jan Change in %
Value of Importation (Millions of $) 4,750 5,520 16.2 2,523 2,649 5.0 2,871 -7.7

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