March 2015 showed a decline in car imports in Israel as compared to March 2014. A total of 19,652 cars were imported in March 2015 as compared to 22,174 a year earlier. This represents a 12.7% decline. Importing of commercial vehicles was also down, from 737 in 2014 to 714 in 2015, representing a 3.1% decline.

The drop in March, as was the case in January and February was expected due to the large number of vehicles imported in December 2014 before the change in green taxes in January 2015. Generally speaking, car imports in the first months of a new year are on the rise.

Electronic & Electric Imports:

There was a mixed picture regarding the importing of ‘white electric’ and electronic appliances in March 2015 as compared to a year earlier. There was an increase in refrigerator imports of 24.5%. Washing machine imports dropped 9.5% and dryer imports increased by 63%. Dishwasher imports were down 34%.

Television imports were down 8.2% and video and DVD imports dropped a significant 58%.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)