Heavy rain costs businesses an estimated €117.5 million

Pimec, a Catalan federation of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), estimates the economic impact of the recent heavy rains on businesses in the Vallès Oriental, Barcelonès, Baix Llobregat, Vallès Occidental and Maresme counties at €117.5 million.

According to a survey published Thursday by the Catalan SME Observatory, 76.3% of the companies surveyed were affected by the storm, 43.3% directly and 33% indirectly.

Vallès Oriental accounts for nearly half of the impact, at €54.8 million, while wages for hours not worked amount to €46.1 million. Pimec is calling for "strengthened" aid for SMEs and the self-employed.

The impact was particularly severe in Vallès Oriental, where 84.3% of surveyed companies reported suffering the consequences of the heavy rains, followed by Baix Llobregat (81.8%) and Barcelonès (77.8%). In Maresme and Vallès Occidental, the figures were lower, at 55.6% and 52.6%, respectively.

Regarding the effect on operations, 45.3% of the affected companies had to halt or reduce activity for at least one day. Another 54.7% experienced access or mobility problems, 41.9% had employees unable to reach their workplace, and 27% suffered damage to facilities, machinery or stock. 

Almost one in five affected companies, or 18.9%, are still not operating normally.

Of the estimated €117.5 million impact, €46.1 million is wages for approximately 1.8 million hours not worked, €37.3 million is lost activity that cannot be recovered, €28.9 million is material damage, and €5.1 million is extraordinary costs, such as cleanup and debris removal logistics. 

Pimec noted that losses linked to the halt in activity represent 71% of the total impact and are generally not covered by insurance.