Import of Durable Products

During May, an increase was seen in the of most of the durable products imported, compared to the same month last year. This indicates the influence of the improvement in the security situation and the market's recovery.

Import of refrigerators saw an increase of 17% in May, 2005 compared to May 2004. Clothes dries saw an increase of 25%, washing machines - 28%, televisions, a decrease of 4%, but a 21% increase in value, which indicates a transition to importation of larger and more expensive televisions, dish washers saw a decrease of approximately 25%. Importation of DVD increased by 23%.

An increase was seen in the importation of cosmetics, phone equipment, fuel an alcohol compared to the same month last year.

During the months January-May 2005 the value of importation of durable goods increased by 25%, compared to the same month last year.

Vehicles

During May 2005 the importation of vehicles stood our compared to the importation o other goods. Revenue from importation of vehicles during May totaled 1.4 Million NIS compared to 1.1 Billion NIS in May 2004.

Passenger Vehicles - In May 2005, 18,173 passenger vehicles were imported compared to 19,426 vehicles in May 2004, a decrease of 6.5%. However, it should be noted that In April 2005. Approximately 2000 vehicles were released from customs ( a third of the total import of this month) which "belong, to 2006 models, in order to take advantage of the convenient exchange rate. Therefore, when the above stated is matched, vehicle importation reached beyond the "20,000" mark.

The seasonality which exits in importation of vehicles surrounding the model year begins in May each year, is known and expected. Therefore, in March-April, a sharp decrease in importation and in May there is a "recovery"/

Even if April is included, a positive situation is seen for April-May 2005, 24,167 passenger vehicles were imported compared to 22,678 vehicles during the same month last year - an increase of 6.5%.

However, importation of passenger vehicles from the beginning of the year (January-may 2005), totaled approximately 49,460 vehicles, a decrease of 5.5% compared to last year.

Commercial Vehicle

Import of commercial vehicles in May increased by approximately 4,500 vehicles compared to 1,2000 last year, an increase of almost four times. The main reason for this increase is that on June 1, deduction of input tax in purchasing commercial vehicles is cancelled and therefore, commercial vehicles are being bought before this deadline. It is safe to say that in the next few months, there will be very little import of commercial import.

Miscellaneous

Importation of cigarettes increased in May by 6% compared to last year.
Total value of importation in May 2005 totaled 3.5 Billion Dollar - increase of 17% compared to last year.

IMPORTATION OF VEHICLES AND PARTS - MAY 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.- May 2004			Jan.- May 2005			Change in %
		Quantity	Value in $	Revenue in $	Quantity	Value in $	Revenue in $	Quantity	Value in $	Revenue in $
	Passenger	52,302	583	2,115	49,460	552	2,032	-5.4	-5.3	-3.9
	Commercial	4,437	60	208	8,762	131	452	97.5	117.3	117.4
	Two-Wheeled	3,053	6	16	3,668	7	19	20.1	23.3	22.2
	Trucks and tractors	1,708	69	17	2,413	101	6	41.3	46.0
	Spare parts		114	94		122	96		6.7	1.7
	TOTAL		832	2,450		913	2,605		9.7	6.3

MONTHLY
Type	May 2004			May 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	19,426	206	774	18,173	188	711	-6.5	-8.6	-8.1	203.2	185.4	196.2
Commercial	1,174	15	53	4,508	64	222	284.0	330.9	317.8	260.9	232.6	235.0
Two-Wheeled	879	2	5	1,028	2	6	17.0	38.8	34.6	64.5	89.8	96.0
Trucks and tractors	445	15	4	498	22	1	11.9	46.5		57.3	22.7
Spare parts		25	21		26	21		6.0	0.4		15.7	14.6
TOTAL		262	856		303	962		15.5	12.3		138.0	193.1

Accumulating From The Beginning of the Year
Product		Jan.- May 2004			Jan.- May 2005			Change in %
		Quantity	Value in $	Revenue in $	Quantity	Value in $	Revenue in $	Quantity	Value in $	Revenue in $
Household Elec. Appliances	Refrigerators	77,785	27.1		85,458	31.3		9.9	15.6
	Washing Machines	81,957	19.2		92,386	23.6		12.7	22.6
	Clothes Dryer	12,711	2.3		18,683	3.6		47.0	52.8
	Dish Washer	24,874	7.3		26,066	7.8		4.8	6.2
	Other		49.9			56.8			13.8
	TOTAL		106	39		123	33		16.2	-14.5
EntertainmentEle	T.V.	157,728	39.8		190,791	52.8		21.0	32.6
	Video	37,356	3.7		22,588	2.4		-39.5	-35.3
	DVD	162,219	9.2		267,717	16.7		65.0	80.4
	Other		59.6			75.2			26.1
	TOTAL		112	84		147	84		30.8	0.5
Cigarettes (Thousands of packets)		108,113	43.6	876.6	115,452	47.1	1006.8	6.8	7.9	14.9

MONTHLY
Product		Jan.- May 2004			Jan.- May 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	14,520	5.0		17,060	6.1		17.5	20.8		-15	-0.2
	Washing Machines	14,880	3.6		19,110	4.7		28.4	30.0		25	0.2
	Clothes Drier	1,230	0.3		1,545	0.3		25.6	34.1		13	0.1
	Dish Washer	5,425	1.5		4,070	1.2		-25.0	-18.7		-34	-0.3
	Other		9.9			10.3			4.1
	TOTAL		20	6		23	6		11.5	8.9		-17.1	-20.4
EntertainmentEle	T.V.	36,250	8.5		34,725	10.3		-4.2	21.3		-19	-20.4
	Video	3,650	0.5		3,690	0.4		1.1	-24.8		-32	-37.1
	DVD	35,550	1.9		43,895	2.1		23.5	9.4		-8	-6.3
	Other		13.8			17.0			23.3
	TOTAL		25	15		30	18		20.6	17.3		1.9	181.8
Cigarettes (Thousands of packets)		23,801	9.5	193.4	25,338	10.3	219.6	6.5	8.3	13.5	14.4	13.4	13.9

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