Catalan exports reached a historic 7.4% growth in July

Barcelona (CNA).- Catalan companies exported goods and services in July worth 6,086.30 million, representing a 7.4% increase over the same month last year, according to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. For the first time in the historical data series, which began in 2000, the turnover abroad exceeded the €6,000 million barrier in July and thus becomes Catalonia’s best month ever in terms of overseas sales. Since the beginning of this year, every month has recorded the best performance in export volume and if this trend keeps up, 2015 will be a record year. In Spain as a whole, exports in July were worth 148,000 million euros, the best month ever recorded.

During the first seven months of this year, Catalan companies exported goods and services worth nearly €38,000 million (€ 37,986.2 million), which means that the first seven months of this year have surpassed the value of export recorded, for example, in 2003 (€37,276.56 million). This confirms the efforts at internationalisation of Catalan businesses during the nearly seven years of crisis and two recessions.

By sector, Catalonia’s leading three export sectors all recorded over €1,000 million in foreign sales in July, and it is the only Autonomous Community which recorded sales of over €1,000 million in single sectors.

In the Autonomous Community of Madrid, which is the second-highest territory in terms of exports the top three export sectors in July were capital goods, chemicals, and consumer goods, all with values ​​below €1,000 million (€915 million, €697 million and €244 million respectively).

Turnover by sector

Sales of chemicals in Catalonia recorded a turnover in July of €1,608.9 million, with a sales increase of 7.2%. The second-biggest export sector, the car industry, with sales of €1,043.4 million (an increase of 18.2%), was followed by capital goods with €1,032.1 million, a growth of 5.7% compared with July last year.

Concerning the aggregated data set in Spain, 63% of foreign sales were directed towards the 28 countries of the European Union, of which 49% went to the Eurozone countries. France, with 15% of sales and Germany with 10%, are the two largest consumers of exports from Spain.

The trade balance of Catalonia, the value of exports minus the value of imports, stood in July at a deficit of €859.6 million euros, representing an increase of 8.8% over what the deficit was in July last year.

Barcelona, ​​the best month in history

Coinciding with the behaviour of the whole of Catalonia and Spain, Barcelona region also recorded in July the best month in sales abroad in the entire historical series of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (which began in 2000).

Companies in the province of Barcelona exported goods and services worth €4,827.3 million euros, 7.2% more than in July last year. Barcelona’s imports were worth €5,710.5 million, an increase of 7.35%.

The rest of the Catalan regions also move ahead

Apart from Barcelona, the other Catalan regions (Girona, Tarragona and Lleida) also had good results. Companies in Girona exported €419.8 million euros worth of goods and services, an increase of 6% compared with July 2014. This figure represents the best July in history. Tarragona, for its part, exported €608.8 million euros worth, an increase of 10.3% compared with July 2014. Finally, Lleida’s exports in July were worth €230.4 million euros, an increase of 6.6% compared with the same month last year.