Catalan high-technology exports increase by 4.2% in the first trimester of 2016

Barcelona (CNA).- Catalan high-technology exports have increased by 4.2% year-on-year, according to data from a report published by the Statistical Institute of Catalonia (Idescat) on Monday. High-level technology represents 10.4% of total foreign sales due to the strong performance of sales of computer, electronic and optical equipment, while pharmaceuticals have remained virtually stable. Sales of industrial, medium-level products have also increased in the first quarter of 2016, reaching a value of 7.54 billion euros. By geographical area, EU-28 exports have shown a positive performance in higher technology level products (showing a growth in high- and medium-high-level technology), while other levels have decreased. As for imports, medium-high technology is leading the growth with a 7.2% year-on-year increase, thanks to the purchase of electrical equipment. 

Catalan exports in high technology have increased by 4.2% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2016, according to data contained in a report published by the Statistical Institute of Catalonia (Idescat) on Monday. High technology, representing 10.4% of total foreign sales, has increased by 4.2%, driven mainly by the strong performance of computer, electronic and optical equipment (+17.3%), since pharmaceuticals have remained virtually stable (-0.2%). Industrial products of medium level have also increased in sales (+1%) in the first quarter of this year and reached a value of 7.54 billion euros. This figure is explained primarily by increased sales of chemical products (+2.7%).

According to Idescat, however, the other levels have decreased in foreign sales. Industrial products of medium-low technological level have reached 1.89 billion euros, representing a year-on-year decrease of 5.0%, and products of low technological level (with a value of 3,89 billion euros) fell by 0.6% in the first quarter of 2016. By geographical area, exports to the EU-28 have shown a positive performance in industrial products of high technological level, with a growth of 5.8% in high technology and a growth of 4.1% in medium-high technology, while the other levels have decreased. As regards sales in the rest of the world, they have increased as regards products of high technological level (+2.6%) and low technological level (+3.7%), while those of high-medium level (-6.1%) and low-medium level (-13.7%) have decreased.

Medium-high-technology imports increased by 7.2%

In the first quarter of 2016, imports of medium-high technology led the growth in purchases abroad, with a 7.2% year-on-year increase, thanks to the sharp increase in purchases of electrical equipment, that is, machinery and vehicles (+11.4%). Then came low-technology imports (+4.5%) and high technology (+0.7%). By geographical area, sales in the rest of the world have increased in all levels of technology, while imports from the EU-28 have increased as regards the medium-high (+5.2%) and low (+5%) levels, while those in the high (-2.6%) and medium-low (-8.8%) levels have decreased.