Signature export
Olive oil & specialty foods
Extra-virgin olive oil, za'atar, maftoul and dates with strong specialty and fair-trade retail presence in the US.
Country Profile — Arab-America International Expo 2027
Profile content in preparationState of Palestine
Heritage products, technology talent.
A young, highly educated population with a globally recognised olive oil and artisan sector, and a fast-growing software outsourcing industry.
Country at a glance
- GDP
- ≈ $17 billion (nominal)
- Population
- ≈ 5.5 million
- Currency
- Israeli Shekel, Jordanian Dinar and USD in circulation
- Capital
- Jerusalem (proclaimed); Ramallah (administrative)
- Economic growth
- Sharp contraction reported
Statistics year: 2023 (latest verified full-year data)
Palestinian statistics for the most recent period are incomplete because of conflict conditions in Gaza. The latest verified full-year figures are shown and clearly labelled.
Overview
Small scale, distinctive products, strong talent
Palestinian olive oil, dates, soap, embroidery and stone are recognised premium products with established specialty and fair-trade channels in the United States.
A young population with high university enrolment supports a growing technology sector, with development teams serving American and European clients.
The Palestinian-American community is a large, commercially active diaspora that already drives significant two-way trade.
- Administrative centre
- Ramallah
- Population
- ~5.5 million
- Language
- Arabic (English widely used in business)
- Currency
- Israeli Shekel, Jordanian Dinar and USD in circulation
- Signature exports
- Olive oil, dates, stone, handicrafts, software services
- Time zone
- GMT +2/+3
Economy
Agriculture, stone and services
Palestinian output is concentrated in agriculture, quarrying and stone, light manufacturing and a growing services and technology sector.
0%
University enrolment rate
Among the highest in the region
0M+
Olive trees
The backbone of rural livelihoods
0+
Stone & marble firms
A major export industry
0%
Population under 30
A young, digitally fluent workforce
Agriculture & olive oilPremium export positioning
Stone & marbleQuarrying and finishing
IT & software servicesOutsourced development
Food processingDates, preserves, confectionery
Handicrafts & embroideryTatreez and olive-wood carving
PharmaceuticalsDomestic generics manufacturing
Priority sectors
Where Palestinian producers meet American buyers
Sectors with existing, provable channels into US retail and services markets.
Industry
Stone & marble
Quarried and finished stone supplying construction and architectural projects internationally.
Talent
IT & software outsourcing
English-fluent development teams delivering for American clients across time zones.
Artisan
Handicrafts & embroidery
Olive-wood carving, ceramics and traditional tatreez embroidery with premium positioning.
Health
Pharmaceuticals
Local generics manufacturers with regional distribution ambitions.
Emerging
Renewable energy
Distributed solar deployment across homes, farms and industrial facilities.
Economic development
Building export capacity and digital services
Development priorities focus on raising export quality, expanding technology employment and strengthening producer cooperatives.
- 2005
Fair-trade olive oil channels
Palestinian cooperatives establish certified export routes to Europe and North America.
- 2015
Tech sector emerges
Software outsourcing companies begin serving US and European clients at scale.
- 2022
Solar expansion
Distributed renewable capacity grows rapidly across the West Bank.
- 2030
Target state
Higher-value exports, broader digital employment and stronger producer cooperatives.
Major development projects
Programs building export capacity
Initiatives that improve quality, certification and market access.
Olive oil quality programs
Mill upgrades, certification and traceability raising the share of premium extra-virgin output.
Technology parks
Shared infrastructure supporting software firms and startups in Ramallah and Nablus.
Stone industry modernisation
Cutting and finishing technology upgrades to raise value capture per tonne.
Cooperative development
Farmer and artisan cooperatives improving aggregation and export logistics.
US – Palestine trade
A diaspora-anchored export relationship
Palestinian goods reach American consumers through specialty grocers, fair-trade importers and a large Palestinian-American retail network.
Top exports to the world
Olive oil & food products
Stone & marble
Handicrafts & textiles
Software & services
Top imports
Food & agricultural commodities
Machinery & equipment
Construction materials
Consumer goods
Leading products to the United States
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Dates and za'atar
- Olive-wood handicrafts
- Embroidery
- Software services
Leading products from the United States
- Agricultural machinery
- Food commodities
- Medical supplies
- IT hardware
- One of the most established Arab specialty-food export categories in US retail
- A large, commercially active Palestinian-American business community
- English-fluent technology teams working US business hours
Bilateral goods trade — 2024
Trade with the United States
Verified full-year bilateral merchandise trade between Palestine and the United States, reported from Palestine's perspective.
Latest verified data available
Total U.S. goods trade
$80.0M
2024
Exports to the United States
$30.0M
2024
Imports from the United States
$50.0M
2024
Trade balance
$20.0M
Deficit for Palestine
2024
Exports vs. imports — 2024
Palestine exports to the United States$30.0M
Palestine imports from the United States$50.0M
Exports to the US Imports from the US
Recorded direct goods trade between the Palestinian territories and the United States is small. Much of the traffic is reported through the Israeli customs envelope, so official bilateral totals understate real commercial activity.
Scope of these figures
Reported by the U.S. Census Bureau under West Bank and Gaza; because the territories operate within a customs union with Israel, a share of bilateral trade is recorded under that customs territory. Latest verified data available. These figures represent merchandise trade only and do not include services.
Data source
- U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division — country trade data (full year 2024)
- UN Comtrade Database
Statistical year: 2024
Leading exports to the United States
- Stone and marble
- Dates and olive oil
- Handicrafts
- Prepared foods
Leading imports from the United States
- Machinery
- Vehicles and parts
- Medical supplies
- Agricultural products
Culture & tourism
Sacred sites and ancient towns
Some of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the world.
West Bank
Bethlehem
The Church of the Nativity, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Jordan Valley
Jericho
Among the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth.
West Bank
Nablus & Hebron old cities
Historic soap-making, glassblowing and market quarters.
Why invest
Why American buyers work with Palestinian producers
Distinctive products, credible certification and a ready-made distribution community.
01
Premium product story
Olive oil and artisan goods with authenticity that commands specialty pricing.
02
Certification maturity
Established organic and fair-trade certification across cooperatives.
03
Diaspora distribution
Palestinian-American grocers and importers already move product nationally.
04
Technology talent
Competitive, English-fluent development teams for US software firms.
At the Expo
Palestine at AAIX 2027
The Palestine pavilion connects producers and cooperatives directly with American specialty buyers.
- Olive oil and specialty food tastings for US buyers
- Artisan and handicraft wholesale meetings
- IT outsourcing and development partner introductions
- Cooperative and fair-trade certification briefings
World heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Palestine
Sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a core part of the country's cultural and tourism offer.
Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem
One of Christianity's most significant sites.
Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines — Battir
Ancient terraced agriculture and Roman-era irrigation.
Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town
A Mamluk-era urban core around the Ibrahimi Mosque.
Tell es-Sultan / Ancient Jericho
One of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements on earth.
Business opportunities
Opportunities for Arab and American companies
How companies from different markets can engage with Palestine through the Expo.
For American companies
Source certified olive oil, dates and artisan goods, and contract Palestinian software teams.
For Arab companies
Invest in food processing, pharmaceuticals and cooperative export logistics.
For international investors
Renewable energy, technology parks and agri-processing with development-finance support.
Represent Palestine at Arab-America International Expo 2027
Present your country's economy, industries, products, investment opportunities, tourism destinations and culture to the American and North American markets.
Reserve space in the Palestinian pavilion, or register as an American buyer to source olive oil, artisan goods and technology services.
Sources & data
- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
- PalTrade
- Paltrade export sector studies
- World Bank & IMF country data
- U.S. Census Bureau / USTR trade statistics
- UN Comtrade
Last updated: August 2026