Israeli Shoppers Favor Local Airlines and Retailers Amid Summer Travel and Back-to-School Shopping

In July, Israeli online purchases showed a slight 2% increase compared to June, driven mainly by summer vacation bookings and preparations for the upcoming school year, according to Shop Analytics data. International sites saw a 4% rise in orders, while Israeli sites experienced a 1% decline. AliExpress remains the top international platform in Israel despite a drop in order volume, maintaining a loyal customer base with 76% of buyers not shopping on competing Chinese sites. Recent changes require VAT to be calculated upfront at checkout, improving price transparency for consumers.

Among competitors, Shein's orders grew by 9% and Temu surged by about 22%, though both have lower customer loyalty than AliExpress. The American health products giant iHerb also gained ground, ranking fourth with a moderate increase in orders averaging 210 shekels, including supplements and food products. British fashion sites Next and ASOS, as well as travel sites like Booking.com, which saw a 38% jump in bookings, reflected typical summer shopping trends. Israeli airlines featured prominently in travel bookings, with Israir surprisingly ranking eighth ahead of El Al at tenth, despite Israir reporting a $32 million loss in the first half of 2026. Israir is now focusing on its New York route, government compensation, and demand recovery during peak travel periods. Arkia ranked nineteenth.

On the domestic retail front, KSP led Israeli sites with stable order numbers and an average basket of 337 shekels, with 73% of orders using discounts and most customers opting for in-store pickup. Super-Pharm followed, with about one-third of orders delivered or picked up, featuring private label brands alongside electronics and furniture. Shufersal ranked third with nearly double the order volume of Rami Levy, which placed sixth; both also operate on the delivery app Wolt, where Shufersal holds a larger lead. Social supermarkets also performed well, with the Histadrut’s social supermarket ranking 14th, driven by household cleaning product sales. Fashion sites Terminal X and Zara led the apparel category, with Delta reentering the top ten after a period of absence, posting a significant increase in orders and an average basket of 251 shekels. Fox and H&M also saw substantial order growth, particularly for school clothing.

Shop Analytics CEO Nati Yakobi noted that online shopping trends mirror real-life economic pressures, highlighting the success of social supermarkets amid rising living costs. The data reflects a dynamic Israeli e-commerce landscape shaped by seasonal demand, consumer loyalty, and economic factors.