Catalan exports up 3.3% in first quarter to over €25 billion

Catalan exports were up 3.3% year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, according to figures released by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business, confirming that Catalonia remains the leading exporting region in Spain, with total foreign sales reaching €25.05 billion. This marks the second-highest figure in the historical series, despite ongoing uncertainty regarding tariffs.

By sector, chemicals continued to lead the ranking with nearly €7.8 billion in exports (+7.4%), representing 31% of the total. This was followed by capital goods, with €4.09 billion (+15%), and food and beverages, with sales worth €3.86 billion (+8%).

In terms of markets, Catalonia mainly exported to the European Union, with €5.42 billion in sales (+6.3% year-on-year). The second-largest export destination was the Americas, with €1.04 billion (+20.7%). Notably, just ahead of the potential implementation of import tariffs in the United States, sales there surged to €406.8 million, up 8.9%.

In this context, it appears that many companies opted to bring forward shipments to avoid the expected tariff hikes. This is further supported by March figures alone, when export volumes reached €8.8 billion, up 6.6%.