American imports of Israeli products rose by almost 27 percent in 1980, from $769.4 million to $976.8 million, according to figures released by the Israel Trade Center here. While diamonds continue to lead the list of U.S. imports from Israel–$456 million worth last year–manufactured goods showed the biggest percentage gains, rising 36.6 percent.
“Imports of industrial goods have more than doubled in three years, from $260 million in 1977 to $520 million in 1980,” said Shmuel Ben-Tovim, Israel Trade Commissioner to the United States. He attributed the rise to Israel’s “increasing investment in industrial research and development and a better understanding of the American market.”
The growth in Israeli industrial exports to the U.S., he said, was particularly strong in basic metals used in the construction and aircraft industries (up 94.8 percent). machinery for agricultural or industrial uses (up 93.2 percent); mining products and fertilizers (up 68.5 percent) and other chemicals (up 39 percent.)
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
