Catalan agri-food exports grow 7.63% in the first half of 2025

The first half of 2025 confirmed the growth trend of the Catalan agri-food sector, with a 7.63% increase in value on the same period last year. This performance remains above the average for Catalan exports as a whole, which grew only 1.39%.

This means that food and drink now account for 16.37% of all Catalan exports. The figure makes agri-food the country's leading exporting sector and above the Spanish average, where agri-food as a whole grew 4.57%.

Market diversification and sustained growth

Between January and June Catalonia sold agri-food products to 185 international markets. The European Union accounts for 62.30% of transactions and grew 3.72%, while third markets grew 15.48% and now represent more than a third of export value.

The figures show particularly strong momentum in emerging regions. The Middle East leads the growth (+48.78%), followed by Asia (+22.39%), Africa (+16.76%), North America (+7.98%) and Latin America (+5.33%). This diversification helps reduce dependence on the domestic market and strengthens companies' international competitiveness.

The half-year result also reflects the consolidation of more than 3,000 Catalan companies as regular exporters. These companies have adapted to buyers' demands and to a challenging global environment, which explains the growth in both value (+7.63%) and volume (+7.53%).

Strategic markets: USA, UK and Asia

Looking at specific markets, the United States moved up to seventh in the ranking of Catalan exports, up 7.14% and worth €299M. Notable categories include Fine Food, with very sharp increases in cocoa sweets (+94%) and ready meals and preserves (+51%), as well as sparkling wine (+13.5%). Olive oil, by contrast, fell -31.2%.

In the The United Kingdom, the fifth destination market with €432M exported, grew 4.75%. The best-received products are dairy (+55.8%), fish and shellfish (+61%), juices and drinks (+27.8%) and, again, Fine Food categories. Wine and sparkling wines grew 5.3%, while olive oil fell -49.8%.

The Asian market remains key. China increased its purchases 30.89% to €371M, with pork (+40.4%) and fish and shellfish (+92.4%) weighing heavily. In Japan growth was 17.22% and €257M was exported, also driven mainly by pork (+32.5%).

Overall, the figures show a first half of 2025 with notable expansion for the Catalan agri-food sector, which not only leads Catalonia's exports but is consolidating itself as a significant player globally. The joint work of companies and institutions has made it possible to maintain a steady pace of growth that strengthens the international positioning of Catalan products.