The value of Israel's fresh produce exports in 2006 amounted to NIS4.6 billion ((£581 million), according to a study by the economic department of the ministry of agriculture.

Data supplied by the ministry indicates a sharp decline in the export of citrus - 23 per cent less in real terms. The decline in value represents a 19 per cent rise in volumes, and a 5.6 per cent decline in real term prices. The decline of the export volume of citrus, as well as the decline in quantities marketed to other markets, stems from lower yields and not from reasons associated with the citrus market.

The export of field crops, which comprised 15 per cent of the general export value, was up significantly in 2006, by 19.5 per cent, which combined a real price increase and a rise in exported volumes by nine per cent. The rise in volume is attributed wholly to the 30 per cent rise in the volume of cotton, whereas the increase in price stems from the real price increase for fresh herbs.

The value of vegetable exports was up by 4.4 per cent in real terms. The real 2006 increase expresses a significant decline of 17.6 per cent in the export of potatoes, noting a real price decline of seven per cent, as well as a 12 per cent decline in the export volume of potatoes.

The export of other vegetables rose in value by 13.5 per cent, as a result of a real average seven per cent decline against the increase of exported volumes in 2006 by 22 per cent.

The most significant rise in the export of vegetables is on carrots: it is estimated that Israel exported over 50,000 tonnes of carrots in 2006.

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