Exports from Catalonia set new historic record and grow 6.6% over first quarter

Barcelona (ACN).- Catalan exports totalled €15,657 million (€15.66 billion) for the period January-March 2015, a 6.6% growth on figures from the 1^st quarter of 2014, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Spanish Ministry of the Economy and Competitiveness. This represents a new historic high, setting a new record for Catalonia’s export sector, which has been growing strongly over the last few years. As well as this, exports in March reached the highest amount ever recorded for a single month, up to €5.91 billion, increasing by 15.4% compared to the same month in 2014. Exports from Catalonia during the first quarter of 2015 represent 25.7% of Spain’s total exports.

Catalonia’s trade deficit drops by 6.3%

Regarding Catalonia’s imports, they totalled €18,477 million (18.48 billion), a 4.4% increase. Therefore, Catalonia’s trade deficit stood at €2,819 million (€2.82 billion), representing a 6.3% drop on the figures from the previous quarter.

Chemical and automotive industries lead Catalan exports

The sectors that have contributed the most to the positive export figures are the chemical sector, the automotive sector and that of capital goods. €4,068 million worth of chemical products from Catalonia were sold abroad between January and March, which represents 26% of Catalonia’s overall exports. The amount is 0.4% higher than that of the first 3 months of 2014. The car industry sold €2,732 million worth of products abroad, an 18.3% increase on the figures for the January-March period in 2014. Finally, €2,614 million in capital goods were sold during the first quarter of 2015, a 2.7% increase on figures from a year ago.

Catalonia leads Spain’s exports

Catalonia is the Autonomous Community with the highest share of exports within the Spanish economy, accounting for 25.7% of the total. The Valencian Country (also called Valencian Community) represents 11.5% of the total and the Region of Madrid, 11.8% of the overall figure.

At Spanish level, exports have also reached a new historic high, reaching €60.97 billion between January and March 2015, a 4.4% increase on the figures from the same period in 2014. Therefore, Spain posts better export growth figures than its European peers. Exports from Italy increased by 3.2%, those from France grew by 3.1%, and those from the UK dropped by 7.6%. Those from the EU overall increased by 3.4% and those from the Eurozone grew by 3%. German exports continue to achieve impressive figures, growing by 5.4%.

Spain’s total imports amounted to €66.5 billion (€66,496 million), a 2.5% increase on figures from a year ago. This means that Spain’s trade deficit stood at €5,524 million, a 14.9% drop on the figures registered for the period January-March 2014.