A summary of ecommerce related information relating to Israel. This information is from "Preparing Your Business for Global ecommerce" prepared by the U.S. Commercial Service for exporters.
Last Published: 7/12/2016

Summary

Statistics Population: 8.3 million GDP (USD): 305 billion
Currency: Shekel (ILS)
Languages: Hebrew, Arabic
Contact
Joseph White
Deputy Senior Commercial Officer
joseph.white@trade.gov
+972-3-519-8509

Cross-border purchasing is a driving force in the global marketplace. The most popular category is fashion. Cross-border shoppers are valuable consumers: they spend double what domestic online customers spend. In Israel, 72 percent of consumers shopped online and 82 percent shopped cross border in the past year. Free shipping and   security can drive cross-border trade.

Market Entry

Popular E-Commerce Sites
• eBay Israel
• Walla!Shops
• Getit
• P1000
• Best Buy

 

Digital Advertising

Digital ads can appear in search engines, display/banner ads, and digital video. Lead generation occurs through sponsorship, e-mail, and rich media (interactive  media).

Current Market Trends

According to a survey conducted by PayPal in 2014, 72 percent of Israelis shopped online in the past 12  months.

Cross-Border E-Commerce

Of online shoppers, 18 percent shop only domestically, 72 percent shop both domestically and cross border, and 10 percent shop only cross   border.

 

Popular Social Media Sites

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn


Popular Online Payment Services

• Credit cards
• PayPal accounts

 

Mobile E–Commerce

In 2013, mobile spending was USD 169 million—10.23 percent of the total spent   online.

 

Current Demand

Percentage of goods sold online:

• Baby and children’s supplies: 42  percent
• Consumer electronics: 52 percent
• Appliances and furniture: 26 percent
• Entertainment and education: 41  percent
• Clothing and apparel: 32 percent
• Cosmetics and beauty products: 19 percent
• Gardening supplies and tools: 16  percent

Estimated and projected online commerce (including mobile) through  2016:

• 2013: USD 1.733 million
• 2014: USD 2.047 million (+18 percent)
• 2015: USD 2.336 million (+14 percent)
• 2016: USD 2.608 million (+12 percent)

Source: Ipsos Research, 2014

Services

• Tourism: Hulyo, hotels and  flights
• Education: Lamdan, private teachers database
Challenges

Data Collection

According to the Israeli privacy law, data gathering is allowed only with the agreement of the user; any usage of the data also requires the user’s   consent.

 

IPR

The Israeli intellectual property law is written pursuant to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS); therefore Israel’s customs department is authorized to enforce any intellectual property right, trademark, and copyright violations caused by imported products.

 

Regulations and Initiatives

In 2011, an e-commerce bill was signed in the Knesset (legislature) establishing regulations concerning electronic documents related to e-commerce, determining the terms of receiving and sending orders by electronic messages, and establishing new instructions regarding Internet companies’ duty of confidentiality in regard to “distributors of information.”

The Israeli Bureau of Consumer Protection and Fair Trade handles reports of violations of the consumer protection law or other related  violations.

 

Prohibited Products

Any product that might be considered a threat to national security, public health, or   public safety and any product that might harm the environment are prohibited. Imported products from hostile countries or from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel are forbidden.

Major Buying Holidays

• Rosh Hashanah
• Sukkot
• Hanukah
• Pesach
• Israeli Independence Day
• Black Friday

 

Prepared by the International Trade Administration. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.