Between January and August, Spain exported food, beverages, and tobacco worth €50,585.9 million, according to the latest Foreign Trade Report published by EFE. This is the leading export category for the Spanish economy, consolidating the strategic importance of the agri-food sector in the country’s trade balance.
Despite the increase in imports, which grew by 7.6% to €38,040.2 million, the sector maintains a trade surplus of €12,545.7 million, the highest among all categories, reflecting its international competitiveness.
Within the agri-food sector, meat exports reached €8,642.3 million, representing a 5.6% increase compared to the same period of the previous year.
These figures place meat as the second highest-value exported category, second only to fruits, vegetables, and legumes (€17,985.4 million).
The meat sector continues to demonstrate its strength in international markets and its indispensable role in the Spanish economy:
- It is one of the industries with the greatest export capacity.
- It generates stable employment in rural areas.
- It adds value and contributes to food security.
Performance of Other Export Categories
Other standout sectors between January and August were:
- Other prepared foods: €6,668.9 million (+6.3%)
- Oils and fats: €5,041.4 million (-14.8%)
- Fish products: €3,831.9 million (+7.6%)
- Beverages: €3,536.2 million (+3.3%)
- Sugar, coffee, and cocoa: €2,727.7 million (+33.7%)
- Dairy products and eggs: €1,785.0 million (+2.3%)
- Tobacco: €367 million (+26.6%)
Although the food sector as a whole maintains a solid surplus, the decline in the oils and fats category and the growth in some imports explain the slight decrease in the overall positive balance.
Food imports also increased, especially in:
- Fruits, vegetables, and legumes: €6,560.2 million (+13.5%)
- Fish products: €6,256.6 million (+12.7%)
- Sugar, coffee, and cocoa: +34.2%
- In contrast, imports of oils and fats fell by 11.6%.
Raw materials and chemical products
In the area of raw materials:
- Animal and plant products: exports of €2,350.6 million (-1%), with a deficit of €411 million.
- Fertilizers: a surplus of €88.5 million, with imports on the rise (+40.6%).
The agri-food sector continues to be one of the main drivers of the Spanish economy, both in terms of export volume and its contribution to the trade surplus. Within this sector, the meat industry stands out as one of the main drivers of growth, reinforcing its strategic importance for Spain.
ANAFRIC will continue to highlight the work of meat companies and their essential role in the production, employment, sustainability, and internationalization of our industry.
