March 31		Dec. 31
	1999	1998	1998
	U.S. Dollars
	(unaudited)		(audited)
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	69,780	60,927	47,074
Short-term investments	2,100	4,643	2,148
Accounts receivable:
Trade	263,033	226,361	274,592
Other	87,907	56,610	99,182
Inventories	350,187	300,801	353,249
Total current assets	773,007	649,342	776,245
investments and non-current receivables:	31,839	25,203	32,566
property, plant and equipment:
Cost	755,654	672,050	754,638
Less Accumulated depreciation	309,848	257,460	299,656
	445,806	414,590	454,982
intangible assets, net	167,809	80,315	172,205
	1,418,461	1,169,450	1,435,998
liabilities and shareholders' equity
current liabilities
Short-term credit-mainly from banks	319,067	219,298	324,534
Accounts payable and accruals:
Trade	93,542	109,957	123,743
Other	90,709	73,885	84,814
Proposed Dividend	5,126	5,235	4,554
Total current liabilities	508,444	408,375	537,645
long-term liabilities:
Deferred income taxes	31,114	12,543	33,172
Accrued employee rights upon retirement, net of amount funded	3,878	4,477	3,895
Loans and other liabilities	201,302	113,070	201,699
Total long-term liabilities	236,294	130,090	238,766
Total Liabilities	744,738	538,465	776,411
minority interest	481	703	781
shareholders' equity	673,242	630,282	658,806
	1,418,461	1,169,450	1,435,998