The Yearbook of International Trade Statistics for 1951. Which was released here today, shows that Israel’s exports multiplied 15 times from 1948 to 1951, while its imports increased six times. However, the country’s trade balance continues to be unfavorable as the Yearbook puts the imports at 122,000,000 Israeli pounds and the exports at 16,000,000 Israeli pounds.
As far as exports of individual commodities are concerned, the U.N. report shows that nylon stockings made the greatest gain, rising from 35,000 pairs in 1949 to 385,000 in 1950. The export of polished diamonds also increased from 76,000 carats in 1949 to 119,500 carats in 1950. On the other hand, the export of grapefruit and fruit juices decreased under the period under survey.
Imports of all foodstuffs to Israel, including barley, wheat, frozen and chilled meats, butter, cheese, milk, fish and sugar, increased between 1949 and 1950 which show the rise in the country’s population. Most raw material imports went up too, although there was a notable decline in the importation of cotton and cotton goods.
The Yearbook shows that most of Israel’s imports came from the United States, while most of its exports went to the United Kingdom. Trade with the Arab countries was virtually non-existent.
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