The twenty imports Israel is best placed to replace.
Israel imported USD 69bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 47bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well, with how concentrated the supply of each is.
Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.
Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Israel already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Israel would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.
This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Israel does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.
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1
Photographic plates and film: exposed and developed, other than cinematographic filmHS 370500
Comes fromUnited States 75%, 15 source countriesNearest export strengthColouring matter: inorganic products of a kind used as luminophores (exports USD 1m)Exports of this lineUSD 197kCountries that export it well7Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 199m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2); United States supplies 75 per cent (2).
USD 199mup 11% on 2022 -
2
Odoriferous substances and mixtures: of a kind used in the food or drink industriesHS 330210
Comes fromIreland 78%, 31 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 6m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 65mCountries that export it well15Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 121m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 25 per cent (2); Ireland supplies 78 per cent (2).
USD 121mup 4% on 2022 -
3
Medicaments: containing hormones (but not insulin), adrenal cortex hormones or antibiotics, for therapeutic or...HS 300439
Comes fromDenmark 62%, 27 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 21m; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 109mCountries that export it well14Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 402m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1); Denmark supplies 62 per cent (2).
USD 402mup 36% on 2022 -
4
Railway or tramway coaches: passenger coaches, luggage vans, post office coaches and other special purpose railway or...HS 860500
Comes fromGermany 100%, 1 source countryNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this linenone recordedCountries that export it well15Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 155m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 35 per cent (1); Germany supplies 100 per cent (2).
USD 155mup 100% on 2022 -
5
WhiskiesHS 220830
Comes fromNetherlands 43%, 38 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 1m; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 104mCountries that export it well16Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 129m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 21 per cent (2); Netherlands supplies 43 per cent (1).
USD 129mdown 1% on 2022 -
6
Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3000ccHS 870324
Comes fromUnited States 51%, 28 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 3m; 12 more lines in the heading, USD 6.7bnCountries that export it well14Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 113m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2); United States supplies 51 per cent (1).
USD 113mdown 48% on 2022 -
7
Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: immunological products, put up in...HS 300215
Comes fromSwitzerland 30%, 34 source countriesNearest export strengthPharmaceutical goods: dental cements and other dental fillings, bone... (exports USD 18m)Exports of this lineUSD 116m; 5 more lines in the heading, USD 317mCountries that export it well17Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 886m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2).
USD 886mup 17% on 2022 -
8
Electrical apparatus: plugs and sockets, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 voltsHS 853669
Comes fromUnited States 42%, 57 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 17m; 6 more lines in the heading, USD 287mCountries that export it well15Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 235m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1); United States supplies 42 per cent (1).
USD 235mup 6% on 2022 -
9
Railway or tramway coaches, vans and trucks: self-propelled, powered from an external source of electricity (excluding...HS 860310
Comes fromGermany 47%, 3 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this linenone recordedCountries that export it well14Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 234m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 40 per cent (1); Germany supplies 47 per cent (1).
USD 234mup 177% on 2022 -
10
Machines and apparatus of heading 8486: parts and accessoriesHS 848690
Comes fromUnited States 38%, 35 source countriesNearest export strengthMachines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the... (exports USD 37m)Exports of this lineUSD 48m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 89mCountries that export it well8Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 198m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2).
USD 198mdown 24% on 2022 -
11
Electrical apparatus: parts suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading no. 8535, 8536 or 8537HS 853890
Comes fromSouth Korea 54%, 63 source countriesNearest export strengthBoards, panels, consoles, desks and other bases: for electric... (exports USD 273m)Exports of this lineUSD 55m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 27mCountries that export it well24Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 185m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 44 per cent (1); South Korea supplies 54 per cent (1).
USD 185mup 116% on 2022 -
12
Reagents: diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on...HS 382219
Comes fromGermany 28%, 50 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 22m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 10mCountries that export it well13Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 170m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2).
USD 170mdown 29% on 2022 -
13
Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers, having a specific gravity of less than 0.94HS 390140
Comes fromUnited States 42%, 18 source countriesNearest export strengthEthylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific... (exports USD 113m)Exports of this lineUSD 19m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 264mCountries that export it well16Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 159m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 27 per cent (1); United States supplies 42 per cent (1).
USD 159mup 14% on 2022 -
14
Chemical products, mixtures and preparations: n.e.c. heading 3824HS 382499
Comes fromUnited States 27%, 56 source countriesNearest export strengthPharmaceutical goods: dental cements and other dental fillings, bone... (exports USD 18m)Exports of this lineUSD 58m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 29mCountries that export it well18Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 128m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2).
USD 128mdown 15% on 2022 -
15
Cocoa: butter, fat and oilHS 180400
Comes fromSingapore 76%, 14 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 1kCountries that export it well18Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 83m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1); Singapore supplies 76 per cent (2).
USD 83mup 197% on 2022 -
16
Therapeutic respiration apparatus: ozone, oxygen, aerosol therapy apparatus: artificial respiration or other...HS 901920
Comes fromFrance 43%, 37 source countriesNearest export strengthAppliances: worn, carried or implanted in the body, to compensate... (exports USD 142m)Exports of this lineUSD 14mCountries that export it well18Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 64m, top 20 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2); France supplies 43 per cent (1).
USD 64mup 69% on 2022 -
17
Aluminium: casks, drums, cans, boxes and the like for any material (not compressed or liquefied gas), 300l capacity or...HS 761290
Comes fromGreece 62%, 34 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 1mCountries that export it well42Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 58m, top 23 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 34 per cent (1); Greece supplies 62 per cent (2).
USD 58mup 19% on 2022 -
18
Wrist-watches: whether or not incorporating a stop-watch facility, with automatic windingHS 910221
Comes fromSwitzerland 94%, 30 source countriesNearest export strengthnone namedExports of this lineUSD 1m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 38mCountries that export it well6Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 56m, top 24 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 27 per cent (1); Switzerland supplies 94 per cent (2).
USD 56mdown 2% on 2022 -
19
Electronic integrated circuits: n.e.c. in heading no. 8542HS 854239
Comes fromTaiwan 30%, 50 source countriesNearest export strengthParts of electronic integrated circuits (exports USD 59m)Exports of this lineUSD 699m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 128mCountries that export it well10Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 952m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 30 per cent (1).
USD 952mdown 29% on 2022 -
20
Units of automatic data processing machines: processing units other than those of item no. 8471.41 or 8471.49, whether...HS 847150
Comes fromUnited States 37%, 61 source countriesNearest export strengthAutomatic data processing machines: presented in the form of... (exports USD 55m)Exports of this lineUSD 231m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 994mCountries that export it well10Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 532m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Israel's export strengths in the top 26 per cent (1).
USD 532mdown 44% on 2022
One line per customs heading. Products Israel already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.
Scale conversations, not capability ones.
- Turbo-jets: of a thrust exceeding 25kN imports USD 514m, exports USD 260m, top source United Kingdom 37%
- Iron or steel (excluding cast iron): line pipe of a kind used for oil or gas... imports USD 234m, exports USD 84m, top source Greece 99%
- Optical elements: lenses n.e.c. in heading no. 9001, prisms, mirrors and other... imports USD 154m, exports USD 54m, top source China 25%
- Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the... imports USD 127m, exports USD 37m, top source Singapore 34%
- Polycarbonates: in primary forms imports USD 106m, exports USD 28m, top source Germany 42%
- Electrical static converters imports USD 426m, exports USD 356m, top source China 27%
- Washing and cleaning preparations: surface-active, whether or not containing... imports USD 71m, exports USD 24m, top source United States 51%
- Firearms: parts and accessories, of military weapons of heading 9301 imports USD 90m, exports USD 48m, top source United States 99%
- Seats: n.e.c. in heading no. 9401, (excluding medical, surgical, dental... imports USD 57m, exports USD 17m, top source China 48%
- Instruments and apparatus: specially designed for telecommunications (e.g.... imports USD 54m, exports USD 16m, top source United States 49%
Three scores, each from a field the record carries.
Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 1027 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.
Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.
Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.
Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.
A map of where to look.
Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.
Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-03. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.
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What Israel buys, and from whom: the trade lanes into Israel.
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