MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
|
|
Israel
Index
The chemical industry began in the early 1920s, when a small
plant was started to extract potash and bromine from the Dead Sea.
In the past, the chemical industry concentrated on the sale of raw
materials, such as potash and phosphates, and their processed
derivatives. In the early 1980s, the industry undertook a
comprehensive research and development program, which has
substantially transformed it. Helping Israel to become one of the
world's largest chemical-producing nations was the industry's
development of new treatment processes for ceramics, glass,
textiles, plastics, and wood. In 1986 the chemicals, rubber, and
plastics industries together provided 15.6 percent of total
industrial sales and engaged 11 percent of the industrial labor
force.
In the 1980s, Israel Chemicals Limited (ICL)--a governmentowned corporation--was the largest chemical complex and also
dominated Israel's mineral resources industry. Its subsidiaries
included the Dead Sea Works, Dead Sea Bromine, and Negev
Phosphates. ICL also was parent to smaller research, desalination,
telecommunications, shipping, and trucking firms. In addition, ICL
owned Amsterdam Fertilizers in the Netherlands and Broomchemie,
Guilin Chemie, and Stadiek Dunger in the Federal Republic of
Germany (West Germany).
In the plastics field, Kibbutz Industries Association--a member
of the Histadrut--accounted for more than 60 percent of Israel's
plastics output and more than 75 percent of plastics exports.
Virtually all the successful plastics establishments were kibbutz
owned.
Data as of December 1988
|
|