Overview of best prospect sectors, major infrastructure projects, significant government procurements and business opportunities.
Last Published: 12/3/2019

Israel has a strong economy, led by an export-oriented high-tech sector and a spirit of innovation that continues to attract interest from U.S. companies looking for investment, acquisition and partnership opportunities. The market is primed for imports from U.S. manufacturers of high-end equipment with technology advantages over competition and for U.S. components that can be integrated into Israeli systems, either for domestic use or for re-export. In 2018, Israel imported $30.8 billion worth of raw materials (excluding diamonds and fuels) from around the world, one-third of which was destined for the industrial equipment and electronics industries. The remaining raw material imports were chemicals, raw food products, rubber and plastic, and iron and steel.  Imports of consumer goods were $14.7 billion, including furniture & electrical equipment, food & beverages, clothing & footwear, transport equipment and medicines. Israel’s global imports of investment goods were $12.6 billion, including machinery & equipment, passenger cars for business, trucks, pick-ups & buses. Israel also imports business services, mainly from the United States and from Europe. In 2017, imports of business services from the United States accounted for 28% of total business services imports, at $3.1 billion.

In 2018, the top five Israel imports from the world in 2018 were: machinery and mechanical appliances (12.9%); mineral fuels and oils (12.8%); electric machinery, sound equipment, TV equipment and parts (10.4%); pearls and precious stones (9%); and vehicles, except railway or tramway, and parts (8.4%).

Top U.S. exports to Israel in 2018 included miscellaneous manufactured commodities (36.9%); transportation equipment (18%); computer & electronic products (10.8%); machinery, except electrical (8.5%); and chemicals (6.6%). 
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.