Manufacturers estimate NIS 120 million in war damage

The conflict will cost kibbutz industries 15% of their revenue, and damage enterprises in South.

By YUVAL AZULAI / GLOBES
Kiryat Malachi building hit by rocket 390 (photo credit: Ben Hartman)
Kiryat Malachi building hit by rocket 390
(photo credit: Ben Hartman)
The Manufacturers Association of Israel on Monday estimated that damage to enterprises in the South since the start of Operation Pillar of Defense at NIS 120 million. The estimate covers 430 enterprises located within 40 kilometers of the border with the Gaza Strip.
The Manufacturers Association found that 80 percent of employees at these enterprises have turned up for work, but some firms have been affected by the call up of IDF reservists, and many workers are not coming in for night shifts.
“The cumulative effect to industrial activity in the South is growing daily,” Manufacturers Association president Amir Hayek said. “Manufacturers are trying to continue business as usual despite the difficult conditions, but many manufacturers, especially those close to the Gaza border, have had to close their gates because of the fighting.”
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Plastics components manufacturer Kafrit Industries Ltd., located in Kfar Aza, was hit twice within a day by rockets fired from Gaza. On Monday, the company notified the TASE that its production lines were severely damaged, forcing them to be shut down. The company has 150 employees at Kfar Aza. It also has three plants in Canada, China and Germany. Its exports from Israel total NIS 700 million a year.
BDO Ziv Haft, an Israeli accounting and consulting firm, estimates that the conflict will cost kibbutz industries 15% of their revenue because of reduced operations at plants in the South and the possible cancellation of export orders.