Catalan exports for first half of 2015 break all records, reaching €32 billion
Catalan companies sold abroad some €31,899.9 million worth of goods and services between January and June this year, which represents a 7.16% increase on the figures from the first six months of 2014, according to information released on Tuesday by the Spanish Ministry for the Economy and Competitiveness. Catalan exports have never before reached such a high sales volume for a six-month period. Not only this, the level of international sales registered during June alone also broke all previous records for this month, coming in at €5,662.1 million. Indeed, almost month after month Catalonia's export records were broken during the first half of this year and the Catalan economy has seen exports rocket during the last 3 years. In Spain as a whole, international sales have also broken all previous records in the first half of 2015, reaching 125,122.9 million, a 4.9% growth on figures from the first 6 months of 2014. Thus, the Catalan economy generated 25.49% of Spain's total exports, while representing 19% of its GDP and 16% of its population.
Barcelona (ACN).- Catalan companies sold abroad some €31,899.9 million worth of goods and services between January and June this year, which represents a 7.16% increase on the figures from the first six months of 2014, according to information released on Tuesday by the Spanish Ministry for the Economy and Competitiveness. Catalan exports have never before reached such a high sales volume for a six-month period, with the previous record being the €30.43 billion recorded for the second half of 2014. Not only this, the level of international sales registered during June alone also broke all previous records for this month, coming in at €5,662.1 million. It is also the third-highest volume ever recorded for a single month, after the €5.91 billion from March 2015 and the €5.67 billion from July 2014. Indeed, during the first half of this year, almost month after month Catalonia's export records have been broken and the Catalan economy has seen exports rocket during the last 3 years.
Spanish exports are also breaking records
In Spain as a whole, international sales have also broken all previous records in the first half of 2015, reaching 125,122.9 million, a 4.9% growth on figures from the first 6 months of 2014. Such a high volume of exports has never before been seen in Spain, according to the Ministry's data series, which started in 1971.
Taking into account Catalonia's figures, the Catalan economy generated 25.49% of Spain's total exports, while representing 19% of its GDP and 16% of its population.
Catalan imports reached €37.81 billion, a 5.83% increase
Imports from Catalonia reached €37,814.9 million in the first half of 2015, which represents a 5.83% increase on figures from the same period in 2014. At the same time, exports increased by 7.16%, reaching €31,899.9 million. This means that Catalonia's trade balance registered a deficit of €5,915 million, a 0.78% reduction on the €5,961.5 million deficit from the first half of 2014.
In Spain as a whole, imports totalled €136,603 million for the period January to June, 4.2% more than the figures registered during the first half of 2014. In the first 6 months of 2015, Spanish exports grew by 4.9% on last year's figures. Spain's trade balance registered a deficit of €11,480.4 million, a 3.4% reduction compared to a year ago.
Chemical and automotive sectors lead Catalan exports
The chemical sector has been the sector contributing the most to Catalonia's exports, representing 26.6% of the total for the January-June 2015 period and reaching €8,497.5 million (a 5.7% increase on figures from the same period in 2014). It is followed by the car manufacturing industry, with €5,402.1 million in international sales and representing 19.9% of Catalonia's total exports. Furthermore, this industry’s level of international sales has increased by 13.9% on figures from the first half of 2014. Finally, capital goods manufacturers sold €5,328.1 million abroad (a 0.4% increase on the figures from the first 6 months of 2014), which represents 16.7% of Catalonia's total exports.