Catalan pork sector exports account for 27% of Catalan agrifood exports

The meat sector, specifically pork, is one of the main drivers of the Catalan agrifood industry and a key element in the country's international competitiveness. In 2024, Catalonia set a new all-time high in agrifood exports, at 15,727.51 million euros. Within this total, pork plays an indisputable leading role: international sales of pork meat and pork products exceeded 4,263 million euros and reached 1.33 million tonnes exported. These figures represent 27% of total Catalan agrifood exports, 83% of meat exports and 48% of all pork exported by Spain as a whole.

Last year, 258 Catalan companies exported pork on a regular basis —that is, for four consecutive years—, a figure representing 36% of all Spanish companies exporting pork. Regular exporting companies are distributed by province as follows: Barcelona: 169, Girona: 99, Lleida: 29. 

Pork sector exports by category:

Value and volume of pork exports by category in 2024. Source: AEAT (provisional data)

In value, the main category of pork exported is fresh, chilled and frozen pork meat (71%) followed by pork offal (16%), streaky bacon and unrendered fats (1.40%), cured meats (9.52%) and other meat preparations (1.91%). In volume, the main category of pork exported is fresh, chilled and frozen pork meat (70%), followed by: pork offal (20%), streaky bacon and unrendered fats (4%), cured meats (4%) and other meat preparations (1.31%).

Distribution of Catalan pork exports by province 

Pork export categories by province. Source: AEAT (provisional data)

Destination markets for Catalan pork

Catalonia exports pork products to 110 markets. The main destinations for Catalan pork continue to be France, China, Italy, Japan, Poland and the United Kingdom.

By market , European Union countries account for 61.5% of pork exports worldwide while sales to third countries accounted for 38.44% in value in 2024. In volume, the European Union accounts for 56.70% and third countries 43.3%. Asia is a preferred market and accounts for 27% of total exports in value and 35% in volume.

Top 15 destination markets for Catalan pork exports. Source: Datacomex