Catalonia increases its agri-food exports by 6.62% and exceeds €11,000 M for the first time

• The agri-food sector is consolidating itself as the driving force of the Catalan economy and breaking a new export record, increasing by 6.62% in value and 6.95% in volume.
• Catalonia takes the lead in food exports to Spain and surpasses Andalusia for the first time.
• The meat sector, led by pork sales, and Fine Food represent the bulk of the value of exports.
• Catalonia maintains the trade surplus achieved from the first half of 2019, recording a coverage rate of 117.69% in 2020.

Despite the COVID effect and the slowdown in international trade, the food sector in Catalonia has achieved in 2020 a new export record and exceeds €11,000 M in international sales for the first time (€11,435.01 M). Compared to the data of 2019, agri-food exports have increased by 6.62% in value and 6.95% in volume, and it becomes the only economic sector that grows in exports in an overall negative year for Catalan foreign trade. 

for the first time, Catalonia leads Spain's agri-food exports, above Andalusia, which in recent years had occupied this position. 

The Meat and Fine Food sectors lead foreign trade

The meat maintains the leadership in terms of agri-food exports (40.16% of the total). With an increase in volume of 11.68% compared to the previous year, the value has grown by 13.90%. Pork stands out, representing 66.18% of the export value of the meat sector and 26.58% of the total value of exports. 

The second place corresponds to the sector multi-product or Fine Food (26.71% of the total exported in value). This sector decreases in its exports by 2%. The main categories of the Fine Food sector are bakery and pastry products (10.35% of the total Fine Food), cocoa and its preparations (8.50%) and extracts, essences and concentrates (7.98%). 

Of the other sectors, the one that stands out is the fruit and vegetable garden, which is in third position (8.45%), which registers an increase in value of 10.33% and a decrease of 6.79% in value compared to 2019. The best-selling products in terms of value abroad are peaches, nectarines, citrus fruits, apples and pears.

The oils they occupy the fourth position with 6.24%, which grows by 12.49% in value and increases the exported volume by 15.35%. Likewise, olive oil represents 48.33% of this sector, growing by 6.22% in value and 20.5% in volume.

The sector of wine and cava it maintains the downward trend of the previous year with a decrease of 10.14% in value and 2.45% in volume compared to 2019. It should be taken into account that the world foreign trade in wine has fallen in value by 7% during 2020. Likewise, it remains the fifth exporting sector, representing 4.57% of Catalan exports. Cava represents practically 53% of exported value.

The cereals, milling and seeds they account for 3.93% and there is a growth of 8.10% in value.

Finally, the sector of fish and seafood, in seventh position, represents 2.11% of agri-food exports, 12.87% less than in 2019. This decrease is due to the significant drop in demand and, therefore, in prices. However, it practically maintains the volume and presents the best ratio value/volume exported.

The agri-food sector, driver of foreign trade

The good positioning of Catalan agri-food products in international markets is the result of the impetus of internationalization of recent years and this is proven by the data: in the last decade, Catalonia has grown by 84.73% in value and 45.78% in volume and in the last five years the value has grown at twice the rate of volume.

Regarding the number of exporting companies in the agri-food sector, Catalonia has 2,713 regular exporting companies (those that accumulate, at least, 4 consecutive years of sales abroad). 

Where do we export more?

Catalonia exports food and drinks to more than 190 countries, mainly European, but destinations like China, Saudi Arabia, the African and South-East Asian markets are increasingly attractive for Catalan products and companies in the sector.

The main importing countries of Catalan agri-food products in the course of 2020 have been: France (17%), China (14.9%), Italy (8.6%), Germany (6.1%), the United Kingdom (5%), Portugal (4.9%), Japan (3%), the Netherlands (2.7%) and the United States (2.5%). China is consolidated as the second destination with an increase of 109% in 2020. The increase in exports to Saudi Arabia (51.2%), Morocco (37.6%) and Hong Kong (22.5%) is also noteworthy.

It is evident that the countries of the Middle East, the Asian countries and the African countries are the most dynamic in terms of growth in European agri-food imports. The impetus for our foreign sales is particularly concentrated in geographical areas where there is a growth of the population and the income of the middle classes. 

trade surplus

Catalonia maintains the trade surplus achieved from the first semester of 2019, recording in 2020 a coverage rate of 117.69, that is to say, exports of agri-food products (€11,435.01 M) are higher than imports (€9,715.84 M). 

The coverage rate, which makes a balance of exports and imports, is an economic indicator that, together with the increase in value, gives us a view of the competitiveness of Catalan companies and their commercial attractiveness, as well as their productive and exporting capacity.