Catalan exports grew by 4% in the first quarter of the year on 2013 figures

Barcelona (ACN).- Exports from companies based in Catalonia reached €14.69 billion during the first 3 months of 2014, a 4.1% increase on the same period of 2013, according to figures released this week by the Spanish Ministry for the Economy and Competitiveness. Catalan exports stagnated in 2013 on 2012 figures, with 0.1% growth, after two years of high increases. Now, the figures from the first quarter of 2014 point towards a recovery of export growth, mostly thanks to the month of March, when exports grew by 7.8% compared to the same month of 2013. In the whole of Spain, exports increased by 3.2% in the first quarter and Catalonia represented 25.2% of total Spanish exports. The chemical industry accounted for 27.6% of Catalan exports, followed by capital goods and the car industry. 65,4% of Catalonia’s exports went to European Union markets, with an 8.8% increase. Exports to Asia accounted for 9% (+4.7%), to Latin America 6.1% (-1.6%) and to Africa 6.6% (+6.8%). Imports also increased significantly during the first quarter of 2014, by 9.4% in Catalonia, reaching €17.79 billion.

Catalan exports increased by 4.1% in the first three months of 2014 on the same period of 2013. Chemical exports, which account for 27.6% of the total, grew by 3.2%. Capital goods increased by 3.8%; automotive exports grew by 10.8%; those of manufactured goods for consumption by 8% and agri-food exports increased by 3.8%.

March 2014 has been particularly positive, being the second best month of March since 2000, with €5.12 billion of exports, a 7,8% growth on the same month of 2013. In the whole of Spain, exports in the month of March increased by 1.7%.

In addition, the first quarter of 2014 has been the second best since 2000, only surpassed by the first quarter of 2012. Catalan exports in this period reached €14,690.1 million. This represents a 4.1% growth on 2013 figures, while in the whole of Spain, exports in the same period increased by 3.2% compared to the previous year.

Imports increased by 9.4%

The rise in exports has come with a rise in imports, since internal demand is in better shape and industries have also increased their activity. Between January and March 2014, goods worth €17.798 billion were imported into Catalonia, a 9.4% increase on the same period of 2013. In the month of March alone, they increased by 14.4%, reaching €6.07 billion.