Catalan trade sets a new historical record for the fourth consecutive year, as exports increase by 3.1% for 2014 and account for over 60 billion euros. The closing figures for 2014 were announced during the presentation of Catalonia’s International Action Plan 2015, which was delivered by the General Council of the Catalan Chambers of Commerce who attributed much of the success to Catalan companies entering emerging markets. Furthermore, in 2014, Catalan growth rate exceeded, not only Spain’s (2.5%), but it also surpassed the average in the Euro area (1.8%) as well as the EU average growth rate (1.3%). Catalonia, therefore, continues to be Spain’s top exporting autonomous community as it accounts for 25.1% of total exports and positioning itself at the forefront of Southern Europe in terms of internationalization efforts, opening up to foreign and emerging markets, such as Brazil, Turkey, China and Russia, and generating sustainable wealth.

 

In terms of specific industries, when comparing the figures with previous years, growth has been more evident in the automotive industry, accounting for over 9 billion euros and a growth rate of 6.8%, the chemical industry, with a total volume reaching 16 billion euros and a 3.5% increase, and the capital goods industry which represented more than 10.5 billion euros and an increase of 2.5% in growth.

 

According the Catalan Minister for Business and Labour, Felip Puig, there are almost 16,000 Catalan firms that regularly export to foreign markets, proving that efforts to internationalize Catalonia’s commercial activity are an actual “structural factor” rather than a short-term trend in the Catalan economy.