Best October on record for Catalan exports despite political tensions

In the month of October, when political tensions with Spain were at breaking point, Catalan companies exported goods to the value of 6.299 billion euros, 10.2% more than the same time last year, according to figures by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. This is the highest figure for October since the ministry began keeping records in 2000.

The value of exports in October had never previously exceeded 6 billion euros. Until now, the best month recorded had been in 2015, with export value reaching around 5.8 billion euros. In the first ten months of 2017, Catalan exports were valued at about 59 billion euros.

Trade deficit

Meanwhile, the value of imports entering Catalonia stood at 70.2 billion euros in the first ten months of the year, an increase of 9% when compared with the same period in 2016. Therefore, based on the figures for both imports and exports, Catalonia’s trade deficit stands at 11.3 billion euros, with an increase of 11% in relation to last year, below the 39.9% trade deficit increase in Spain as a whole.