Catalan exports rose a record 13.8% in August

Catalan exports grew by 13.8% in August in comparison to the same month last year and were worth €4.5188 billion, the highest figure in the historical series for the month of August, reported this Thursday the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Catalan sales of goods abroad accounted for 25.6% of the total of Spain. Spanish exports also rose, by 8.9%, reaching a total of €17.646 billion (also a record figure for the month of August). As indicated by the Ministry, the sectors that contributed to this increase in sales were mainly capital goods, which increased by 28.6% to €860.1 million; food, beverages and tobacco, which experienced a growth of 13.8% and totalled €813 million; and the chemical sector with a rise of 9.3% earning  €1.1986 billion.

The increase of Catalan exports was higher than the EU average (+12%) and well above from that of countries such as France (+2.3%) and the UK (+1.2%). However, this increase fell below that of countries such as Germany (+14.2%) and Italy (+29.4%).

In all four Catalan Provinces, an increase in exports was registered
Out of the four Catalan provinces, Barcelona – where two thirds of the Catalans live – led the increase in exports, with a 13% rise (representing €3.4235 billion in international sales). The Province of Tarragona (Southern Catalonia) follows with a 19.8% increase, totalling €553.8 million. Finally, in Girona (North-Eastern Catalonia) exports went up by 12.2% (€321.7 million) and Lleida (Eastern Catalonia) saw a 7.7 % increase, attaining €219.7 million from sales abroad.

Imports increase by 5.5% in annual terms
As for imports, in August they reached in Catalonia €5.5582 billion, representing an increase of 5.5% compared to the same month in 2015. Catalonia imports accounted for 27.5% of state purchases abroad. Given these data, the trade balance of Catalonia abroad recorded a deficit of 1.0393 billion euros in August, a 19.8% decrease compared to the same month in 2015.

Regarding imports, Girona is the Province which recorded the highest increase, with a 13.7% rise (€166.5 million), followed by Lleida (+9.9%, €69.5 million) and Barcelona (+9.5%, €4.607 billion), while imports to Tarragona fell by 16 %, to €751.1 million.

From January to August, Catalan exports increased by 2.1%
In relation to the cumulative period of January-August, Catalan exports rose by 2.1% in comparison to the same period last year, reaching €42.8366 billion. During the first eight months of the year, Catalonia’s sales of goods accounted for 25.6% of all exports from the state. Imports also grew by 1.9% from January to August, totalling just under €51 billion. Thus, the trade deficit stood at €8.1405 billion, an increase in the deficit of 0.9% compared to the same period in 2015.