Exports from Andalusia reached €14,113 million between January and April 2022, which is the highest figure recorded for the first four-month period of the year since there have been comparable records (1995). The increase recorded by the Spanish average was 23.2%. International sales grew by 27.7% in April to €3,914 million.
These data are derived from the figures of the Foreign Trade Statistics of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism, prepared for Andalusia by the Observatory for the Internationalisation of the Andalusian Economy of Extenda-Andalusia Export and Foreign Investment. The progress of the Andalusian foreign sector is reinforced by the growth of sales to 19 of its first 20 markets in the first four months of the year, especially to some strategic markets in Asia, America, and Asia, with which it gains in the diversification of destinations, such as Saudi Arabia, the United States, China, and Morocco; but also thanks to the progress in important European destinations such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Turkey.
Likewise, in the industrial chapters, the naval sector, chemical products, and foundry products stand out. In addition, there has been sustained growth in the agri-food sector, including olive oil.
Imports by Andalusia also increased in the first four months of the year to 14,252 million, which brings the coverage rate close to balance, at 99%, just 138 million short of the trade balance. In the first four months of the year, Spain invoiced 120.925 billion in sales and 143.735 billion in purchases abroad, generating a trade deficit of 21.811 billion.
In the first four months of 2022, Andalusia increased sales in 17 of its 20 most exported chapters. It is worth highlighting the growth of exports in the chapter boats and other floating devices, which reached 268 million, entering the Top 10 most exported chapters, with 1.9% of the total; Cereals, up to 144 million, and Ceramic Products, up to 134 million.
Within the top 10 chapters, the growth of other industrial areas that join the naval sector stands out, such as fuels and mineral oils, first exported with 2,332 million; miscellaneous products of chemical industries, which rises to sixth place with 543 million; foundry, iron, and steel, seventh with 540 million; plastics and their manufactures, twelfth, with 280 million; aircraft and spacecraft, eleventh, with 429 million; and minerals, fifth, with 545 million.
The growth of Andalusian exports in this period is reinforced by the steady progress of Andalusia’s agri-food and beverage industry, which increased sales in its main export areas, such as vegetables, the second most important export sector for Andalusia in the first four months of the year, with €1,937 million.
In this period, only exports of copper and copper products fell in the Top 10, to 477 million, 3.4%, and those of machinery, apparatus, and electrical equipment, to 448 million.
In the first four months of 2022, the Andalusian foreign sector continues to take steps towards the diversification of markets, since although sales in Europe have increased notably, up to 9,736 million, growth is even stronger in the rest of the continents, increasing in Asia, up to 1,435 million; in America, where it exports to the value of 1,414 million; and in Africa, where it reaches 992 million.
Andalusia’s sales have advanced in this period in 19 of its top 20 world destinations, with growth in non-European markets standing out. Saudi Arabia is the fastest growing of the top 20, with Andalusia multiplying its exports by five to 317 million, due to the strong increase in sales of the naval sector, making it Andalusia’s tenth-largest market.
Within the top ten markets, the increase in sales to the United States, first non-European destination and fifth in the world, to 987 million; Morocco, second non-European market and eighth in the world, to 635 million; and China, third non-European and tenth in the world, to 441 million.
Other countries in which there has been a significant increase in sales are Japan, the thirteenth destination, where sales rose to 226 million, followed by Turkey, up to 213 million.
Germany continues to be the world’s leading destination, with 1,499 million; France is second, with 1,332 million; and Italy third, with 1,271 million. Fourth is Portugal, with 1,075 million; sixth, the Netherlands, with 973 million; seventh, the United Kingdom, with 846 million; and ninth, Belgium, with 524 million (3.7%).
All the provinces grew, led by Cádiz and Huelva.
