Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported last Wednesday that Israel's trade deficit narrowed in April 09 as economic growth slowed down, slowing demand for imports.



Exports in April fell almost 26% to $2.59b. while imports dropped by over 33% to $3.19b. The trade deficit, excluding polished diamonds, ships and aircraft, narrowed to a seasonally adjusted $603.3 million from a revised $1.31 billion in the same month of 2008.



Israel’s polished diamond exports fell 28% to $269.1 million in April. Polished exports fell 57% in the first quarter of 2009. Rough diamond exports dropped 59% to $108.3 million in April.



The country’s total diamond exports, of rough and polished combined, fell 41% to $377.4 million in April.