Spain's 2024 exports: opportunities for the Catalan agri-food sector

The 2024 annual indicators report, published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, confirms the strong performance of the Spanish agri-food sector in international markets. The data show a positive trend in exports and in global demand for value-added food products, in an environment marked by adjusting consumption and the emergence of new consumer profiles.

These trends may be useful for export-minded Catalan companies, as they point to growth avenues aligned with the distinctive attributes of the Catalan offer: quality, sustainability, innovation and local sourcing.

1. Rising exports and market diversification

In 2023, Spain reached a new record high in agri-food exports, worth almost €70 billion, confirming it as the world's seventh largest exporter in this field. Foreign sales grew by 4.5% on the previous year and now account for 18% of all Spanish exports.

The main products exported were:

• Meat and meat products (24%)
• Fruit and vegetables (20%)
• Drinks (11.9%)

Although 66.7% of exports go to the European Union, sustained growth is seen in third markets such as the United Kingdom, the United States, the China, South Korea, Japan i Latin America, with growing demand for European-origin, sustainable, quality products.

2. Consumption trends and value criteria

Domestic food consumption has seen a fall in volume, but the value of spending has risen because of the price effect. This reflects restrained consumption and greater price sensitivity, but also growing interest among certain population segments in products that are organic, sustainable, locally sourced and with a clearly identified origin.

Notable trends include:

• The growing weight of online shopping and the specialist channel
• Interest in attributes such as organic credentials, traceability and functional benefits
• Growing sensitivity to labelling transparency and the product's narrative

These trends are also seen in markets such as the US and European ones, where a product's brand story and the value proposition carry decisive weight in the purchase decision.

3. Challenges and opportunities for Catalan companies

The figures published by the Ministry reinforce some of the lines of work Prodeca is pursuing on internationalisation. In this context, Catalan companies can find opportunities if they:

• Commit to internationalisation as a strategy for sustained growth.
• Align their offer with global consumers' new values: health, sustainability and differentiation.
• Invest in innovation, storytelling and certifications to access specialist channels and improve their positioning.
• Explore markets with growing demand for quality, such as the United Kingdom, United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Latin America, where there is a base of consumers who care about origin and added value.

The agri-food sector's strength, market diversification and focus on value mean that Catalonia is well placed to keep growing internationally.

You can read the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's full report here: 2024 annual indicators report