Fruit, meat and vegetables push Spanish exports to historic high

The publication of the Annual Foreign Trade Report 2024 has confirmed the key role of the agri-food sector in the Spanish economy. it has established itself as the sector with the largest positive foreign trade balance, reaching a record €19.232 billion in 2024, up 21.2% from the previous year.

In a context of geopolitical tensions such as the ongoing war in Ukraine , the conflict in the Middle East and the threat of new US tariffs , the agri-food sector has performed differently than the Spanish economy as a whole.

In 2024,   the sector's exports increased by 5.8% compared to 2023, reaching €75.09 billion, while imports increased by 1.4%, reaching €55.859 billion.

These figures contrast with the overall performance of the Spanish economy, which recorded EXPORT growth of 0.1% and import growth of 0.2% over the same period.

This resulted in a record trade balance of €19.232 billion, up 21.2% from 2023, and cementing the sector's position as the largest trade surplus in the Spanish economy.

In 2024, the agri-food sector accounted for 19.5% of total Spanish exports, compared to 13.2% of imports, reflecting its ability to generate wealth and stability in Spain's foreign trade.

https://www.revistacampo.es/ganaderia/el-valor-de-las-exportaciones-de-ovino-y-caprino-aumento-un-20-y-un-16-en-2024/embed/#?secret=RKzW6H9HM6#?secret=ylIVu8xQOS

As for the main export subsectors in 2024,  fruit stands out   with €10.859 billion, followed by MEAT   with €10.308 billion and vegetables with €9.193 billion.

In addition, oils stand out, with exports growing by 26.1% compared to 2023 and amounting to 8.689 billion euros, as well as cereals, with exports increasing by 12.2% to 495 million euros.

According to the ministry, 66.3% of agricultural exports were sent to the European Union, up 4.1% from the previous year, “confirming the importance of the EU market for this sector.”