Catalan exports rise foreseeing best year on record

Companies in Catalonia exported goods for the value of €65,374 billion from January to November 2017, 8.9% more than the same period during the previous year. With the numbers of December yet to be added up, 2017 has already surpassed total exports in 2016, thus foreseeing a record-breaking figure for the whole year.

Imports also grew during the first eleven months of the year. In total, Catalonia purchased goods worth €77,795 billion, an 8.6% rise from the year before. Consequently, the trade deficit (the difference between the exports and imports) rose to €12.421 billion, a 7% increase.

The most important sector for exports was the chemical industry, which accounted for one fourth of the total sales abroad. In comparison with the previous year, chemical exports increased by 7.2%. The sector was followed by machinery (17.4% of total exports) and the car industry (15.5%).

Spain's exports grow too

Regards Spain as a whole, companies sold goods abroad to the value of €255,155 billion from January to November last year, 9,1% more than in 2016. Just like in Catalonia, the figure sets a new record for the first eleven months of the year, and is set to break the all-year record too. Imports in Spain grew by 11.1%, up to €277,849 billion. As a result, the trade deficit during the first eleven months of the year went up to 39.2% compared with 2016.