(Communicated by the Ministry of Economy)

2014 ended on a positive note in all of Israel's foreign trade indices. There was growth in Israel's foreign trade - both imports and exports - despite Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014.

Israeli exports to Asian countries stood at 20% of total exports, following a consistent rise since the global financial crisis. At the same time, exports to the United States continued to grow as did exports to Turkey. Nevertheless, exports to Spain, Brazil, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam diminished significantly.

Director of the Foreign Trade Administration at the Israel Ministry of Economy, Ohad Cohen: "We're continuing our work expanding trade and export activity in developing markets in East Asia, Latin America and Africa and laying the groundwork to help Israeli exporters penetrate burgeoning target markets. The level of imports from Asian countries grew by 2% compared with last year. Israeli exports and imports with E.U. countries grew as well. 54% of Israeli trade (not including diamonds) is with Western economies - the U.S. and Europe - and 47% of total imports come from these countries."
 
Trade by global blocs
 
Israeli exports in 2014 to various trading blocs was similar to 2013. In 2014, exports to the E.U. remained at 32%. 2014 Exports to the U.S. grew slightly to 22% of total exports, following consistently diminishing figures since 2010.
 
According to the Foreign Trade Administration, the four countries to which exports grew significantly in 2014 were the U.S., the Netherlands, Greece and Turkey.
 
The U.S. is a key destination for Israeli exports. During the past year, exports to the U.S. stood at $9.8 billion, 23% of total Israeli exports, excluding the diamond industry. 2014 saw a rise of $351.8 million in exports to the U.S., 3.7% higher than 2013.
 
Exports in 2014 to the Netherlands rose by $333.3 million, a rise of 17.3%, bringing the total in exports to Holland to $2.2 billion, which constitute 5.3% of total Israeli exports. Holland is a major logistical and transportation hub in Europe, and this growth in exports to Holland may come as a result of increased trade with other European economies.
 
Exports to Greece rose by $197.4 million - a rise of 89.5%. Total exports to Greece in 2014 stood at $417.8 million (approximately 1% of total Israeli exports) and grew mainly due to the export of chemicals and fuels.
 
Total exports to Turkey in 2014 stood at $2.4 billion, which constitute 5.6% of Israel's total exports. 2014 saw exports to Turkey rise by $ 138.2 million (a rise of 6.1%).
 
Nevertheless, exports to five other countries - Spain, Brazil, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam - decreased significantly.
 
Countries from which imports grew significantly in 2014 include the U.S., China, Germany, Russia and Turkey. The two countries leading the chart - the U.S. and China - together constitute around a quarter of Israeli imports.
 
Imports from the U.S. grew in 2014 by $865 million (an increase of 11.7%), reaching a total of $8.2 billion, or 14% of total Israeli imports excluding diamonds. Imports from China grew by $591 million (a rise of 8.4%) to a total of $7.6 billion, constituting 13% of Israeli imports excluding diamonds.
 
Imports from Germany in 2014 stood at $4.5 billion, $503 million higher than 2013 (a rise of 12.5%). Imports from Russia reached a sum of $1.3 billion, $468 million higher than 2013 (a rise of 54%). Imports from Turkey stood at $2.6 billion, $367 million higher (12.7%) than 2013. These three countries put together make up 14% of Israeli imports, excluding diamonds.
 
Imports from Ireland, Sweden, South Africa and the Ukraine decreased significantly during 2014.