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Palestinian food manufacturing industries contribute
significantly to food security for Palestinian people,
and considered one of the oldest industries in the West
Bank and Gaza; the industry plays a key role in the
Palestinian Territories’ food security and economic
growth; represents 23% of the total industrial output.
The main categories of foodstuffs manufactured in the
West Bank and Gaza include: confectioneries and sweets,
dairies and milk products, meat processing, beverage:
soft drinks, snacks, pasta and other grains products,
canned food,: tomato paste, chick peas, broad beans oils
and traditional industries (particularly tahini, hummus,
halaweh, za'atar, freekeh, etc), and animal feeds
industr.
Foodstuff products output is estimated at US$400
million. The local industry has shown constant growth in
local market share, as witnessed in the increase from
13% in 1994 to 50% in 2007. Palestinian food industries
depend primarily and largely on local market. The share
of the local market represented some 90% of total sales
with less than 10% of sales destined for the Israeli,
Jordanian, Gulf markets, France and Germany. There are
156 operating firms in food industries, and there are
some 7,800 people working in food industries or 13% of
total workers in manufacturing industries.
Source:
Palestinian Food Industries Association (PFIA),
2007
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