Exports for first half of 2021 exceed pre-pandemic levels

Catalonia sold goods abroad at a total value of €39.68 billion in the first half of 2021, a rate of growth of 28.2% compared with the previous year. 

These exports figures surpassed the levels seen in the first half of 2019, before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

According to data published this Thursday by Spain’s ministry of industry, trade and tourism, Catalonia was the region that contributed most to the growth of exports in the whole of Spain, with a share of 25.9%. 

In June alone, Catalonia sold products abroad for €7.093 billion, a year-on-year increase of 31.4% and 15.9% more compared to June 2019.

The chemical sector, undisputed leader

The chemical sector continues to lead Catalan exports, representing 28.9% of total sales abroad. 

Between January and June, this industry exported products worth €11.449 billion, 18.5% more compared with last year and 13.7% more compared to the first half of 2019. 

In June, exports of chemicals valued €1.98 billion, 28.6% more than the same period last year.

The capital goods industry is second in the list, after recording sales of €6.742 billion in the first six months of this year - a growth of 35% year-on-year. 

The third position is for the food, beverage and tobacco sector, which during the first half of 2021 sold products abroad for €5.888 billion, which was a jump of 13.4% on the same period in 2020. 

Barcelona was the region that exported the most products, selling a total of €30.65 billion worth of products, an increase of 28.5% year-on-year. 

However, Tarragona was the territory that most boosted growth in Catalonia. Exports from the southern counties reached €4.65 billion in the first half of the year, an increase of 37.6% year-on-year. 

In Girona and Lleida, on the other hand, growth was more moderate. The counties of Girona sold products abroad for €3.311 billion during the first half of the year (+19.2%) while in the western counties, exports rose to €1.063 billion, up 14% on last year.