Catalan industrial exports up 2.2% in 2013 but high-technology sales down 0.4%
Catalan exports of industrial products amounted to a total of €54.96 billion last year and registered an average increase of 2.2% on 2012 figures. International sales have risen in all levels of technology except the high-technology sector, which registered a 0.4% decrease over the previous year, amounting to a cumulative value of €5.26 billion in 2013. According the Catalan Institute of Statistics (IDESCAT), such a decrease was due to a 4.9% drop of high-technology exports towards the EU-28 while sales to the rest of the world increased by 4.6% over the previous year. On top of this, there was an 11.1% drop in exports of computer, electronic and optical equipment while sales in the pharmaceutical sector only increased by 4.1% during the same period.
Barcelona (ACN).- Catalan exports of industrial products amounted to a total of €54.96 billion last year and registered an average increase of 2.2% on 2012 figures. International sales have risen in all levels of technology except the high-technology sector, which registered a 0.4% decrease over the previous year, amounting to a cumulative value of €5.26 billion in 2013. According the Catalan Institute of Statistics (IDESCAT), such a decrease was due to a 4.9% drop of high-technology exports towards the EU-28 while sales to the rest of the world increased by 4.6% over the previous year. On top of this, there was an 11.1% drop in exports of computer, electronic and optical equipment while sales in the pharmaceutical sector only increased by 4.1% during the same period.
Industrial products of medium-high technology produced in Catalonia have reached a cumulative exports value of €27.47 billion in 2013, a 2.2% increase over the previous year. Such a figure is due to the 5.2% increase in exports of chemical products while the sales in electrical equipment, machinery and vehicles have fallen by 0.3% compared to 2012. Exports towards the EU countries have increased by 1.7% and sales to the rest of the world by 3.3%.
Industrial products of medium-low technology have registered a cumulative sales value of €7.77 billion, representing an increase of 1.1% compared to 2012. Exports towards the EU countries have decreased by 4.1% but sales to the rest of the world have risen significantly, by 10.3%, over the previous year.
Products of low-technology have reached a cumulative sales value of €14.46 billion and a 3.8% increase thanks to the rise in exports of food and textile products. This time around, exports towards the EU-28 have increased by 7.4%, while sales to the rest of the world have fallen by 3%.
Imports of industrial products increased, except in medium-low and high technologies
Regarding imports, in 2013, industrial products imported by Catalonia have reached a cumulative value of €57.63 billion, representing a 1% decrease compared to the previous year.
The purchases of industrial products of medium-high technology have registered the highest increase (+5%), followed by low-technology goods with a much milder rise (+0.1 %). For both technology levels, purchases from other EU countries have increased while imports from the rest of the world have fallen.
In contrast, imports of medium-low technology products have decreased by 14.2% and high-technology goods by 3.8% over the previous year. Such decreases have been registered in Europe and especially in the rest of the world.
After strong 2nd and 3rd quarters, exports have decreased in the last quarter of 2013
Catalonia’s exports of industrial products accounted for €13.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013. The Autonomous Community consequently registered a 2% annual decrease, in spite of achieving a 6% growth in the third and second quarters of the year and only posting a 1.3% decrease in the first quarter. Products in the medium-low technology range registered the sharpest decline in the fourth quarter (-8.3%), followed by high-technologies (-4.1%). The medium-high and low technology levels accounted for decreases by 0.6% and 0.2%, respectively.
In contrast, imports registered an annual increase of 5.4% in the fourth quarter, the highest increase in 2013 (after posting a 2.3% rise in the third quarter, a 1.6% increase in the second and a 12% drop in the first). Purchases have increased in all technology levels except the medium low range (-7.3%).