The Catalan agri-food sector shows its export reach in the European market at SIAL Paris 2024

The Catalan agri-food sector will show its international commercial reach at SIAL Paris 2024, one of the sector's most important food fairs, which from 19 to 24 October turns the French capital into Europe's agri-food epicentre.

"Catalonia's food and drink sector is one of the most dynamic parts of the Catalan economy and internationalisation is a key growth factor. With annual turnover of around €50 billion, the Catalan food sector holds a prominent place in Europe as a benchmark for quality, traceability and food safety", said the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Òscar Ordeig, who visited SIAL Paris 2024.

This year close to 50 Catalan companies are taking part, 28 of them under the agri-food brand "Catalonia, where food is culture". The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, through Prodeca, the Catalan food promotion agency, is organising the grouped participation of Catalan companies with two stands of its own, one in the Fine Food or multiproduct pavilion and the other in the Meat pavilion.

"The agri-food sector is the leading sector of the Catalan economy, with turnover of €48,231M, representing 20% of Catalonia's GDP", Ordeig stressed. 

The Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Òscar Ordeig, accompanied by the Secretary for Food, Rosa Cubel, attended the fair on Sunday 20 and Monday 21 to show institutional support for Catalan companies and address the sector's needs. In this context he said that "the European market is an opportunity for Catalan companies because it lets them diversify beyond local sales and so also tackle exports to third-country markets."

"The European Union offers Catalan companies a stable, broad market with solid, consolidated economies. Sales of agri-food products to EU countries have grown by more than 66% over the past 10 years and the sector earns 6 out of every 10 euros of its food and drink exports in the European Union", the Agriculture Minister concluded.

Meat and cured meats, the main Catalan foods exported to the EU

The main Catalan foods exported to the EU are meat and cured meats, worth more than €3,200M in 2023, 33% of total exports, of which €2,080M was pork and €380M cured and processed meats.

After meat and cured meats come Fine Food or multiproduct items, worth close to €3,030M in 2023, 31% of total sales in this market, led by sweets, cocoa and its preparations, confectionery, honey, coffee, tea and infusions (€815M) and snacks and appetisers, bakery and pastry products, cereal-based products, nuts, rice and pulses (€735M). Also significant are vegetable juices, waters, beers, drinks and smoothies (€429M), extracts, essences and concentrates, ingredients and soup preparations (€321M), ready meals, broths, preserves, jams and marmalades (€265M), and cheeses, dairy products and eggs (€237M).

Also notable is fruit exports (more than €910M), led by peaches (€153M), nectarines (€128M) and citrus (€126M), plus wine and cava at approximately €275M.

The sectors Catalonia is representing at SIAL (Fine Food and meat) are the two biggest Catalan exporters both in Europe and worldwide, and together they account for 64% of exports to the European Union — 67% if the olive oil sector is added.

Companies taking part with Prodeca under the brand "Catalonia, where food is culture":

• ALTERNATIVA 3 | Coffee, cocoa, sugars and organic sugars | Vallès Occidental
• ANELA FRUITS | Fruit products | Gironès 
• BLANXART | Chocolate | Baix Llobregat
• BOADAS 1880 | Hams and cured meats | Gironès
• BONAREA | Meat and cured meats | Segarra
• CAN BECH | Fruit products, jams and preserves | Baix Empordà
• CASA AMELLA BIO FOOD | Organic multiproduct | Bages
• CHILIPUM | Sauces | Barcelonès
• CHOCOLAT FACTORY | Chocolate | Barcelonès
• CONCEPT-PA | Bakery | Barcelonès 
• CONSERVAS DANI | Preserves, salt and spices | Maresme
• ESCORXADOR FRIGORIFIC REIXACH | Meat | La Selva
• ESPIGA BLANCA | Bakery | Baix Llobregat
• ESTEBAN ESPUÑA | Hams and cured meats | Garrotxa
• FFAIGES | Olive oil | Baix Ebre
• FOSSIL RIVER | Salt and spices | Vallès Occidental
• GRUP PONS | Olive oil | Segrià
• IDILIA FOODS | Cocoa and derivatives | Barcelonès
• LA SELVA | Ham | Gironès
• LAUMONT TRUFFLES | Mushrooms, truffles | Urgell
• LIQUATS VEGETALS | Plant-based drinks | Osona
• LUIS OLIVERAS | Hams and cured meats | Garrotxa
• NEULES ARTESANES SANT TIRS | Neules wafers | Berguedà
• NORTOLIVA 1850 | Olive oil | Garrigues
• PATATAS FRITAS TORRES | Snacks and appetisers | Vallès Oriental
• PROMOLAC ESPAÑA | Soups, creams, sauces and desserts | Pla de l'Estany
• SANT DALMAI | Hams and cured meats | La Selva

SIAL, the international meeting point for the agri-food sector

This biennial fair, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, is the most important specialist fair in the annual calendar for food and drink made in the European Union, bringing together professionals from around the world around the food industry. This edition has 7,500 exhibitors representing more than 205 countries. In all, more than 400,000 products will be presented and up to 285,000 accredited professionals are expected to visit.