The Minister of Economy, Finance, and European Funds, Carolina Spain, has highlighted the «intense work» carried out in the last six years to strengthen and diversify commercial markets in strategic destinations, «which has allowed Andalusian companies to achieve historical export records» and «has also put us in a better position to face the new tariff policies imposed by the United States.» She emphasized that in 2024, Andalusia was the only region among the four major exporters that grew, and the largest increases in sales were seen in other continents, with Oceania leading the way (a 50.9% increase in sales), Africa with 5.5%, and Asia with 4.5%.
As detailed, among the top three growing destinations are China, with a 16.2% increase, where Andalusian companies reached exports worth 1.317 million euros (3.3% of total foreign sales), and Morocco, which saw a growth of 12.5%, reaching 1.986 million euros (4.9% of the total). However, the country with the highest increase in Andalusian product sales in 2024 was Belgium, with a 37.7% increase, reaching 1.254 million euros (3.1% of the total).
The Minister of Economy detailed that Andalusia’s primary markets continue to be the major countries in the European Union, «which have continued to maintain solid growth.» Specifically, Germany is the top destination, with an 8.1% growth and a turnover of 4.624 million euros (11.5% of the total), followed by France with 4.150 million euros (10.3%) and a 0.6% increase; Italy with a 10.4% increase, reaching 3.722 million euros (9.3%); and Portugal (4th), with 3.564 million euros (8.9%) and a slight decrease of 0.7%. Next in line are United Kingdom, with exports reaching 2.203 million euros (5.5%) and a 2% increase, and Netherlands, with 1.683 million euros (4.2%), registering a decrease of 2.8%.
Carolina Spain recalled that the Government of Juanma Moreno has launched an ambitious package of measures to facilitate the internationalization of Andalusian companies through the Andalusia TRADE Agency, endowed with 63.4 million euros for services and incentives during the 2021-2027 period, which «has allowed us to take a very significant qualitative leap and develop strategies for Andalusian products to gain weight in new destinations, thus anticipating the new tariffs imposed by the United States.»
Among other measures implemented, the Minister highlighted the expansion of the international Andalusia TRADE network, which already operates in 75 countries across five continents and has 42 offices in as many countries; the creation of a new call for incentives for internationalization, endowed with 11.5 million euros, to promote international prospecting trips and participation in fairs and exhibitions, whose regulatory bases will be approved shortly, and the development of a support and promotion program.
In this regard, the Andalusian Economy Minister detailed that in 2024, Andalusia TRADE organized over 1,000 internationalization actions, with a total of 5,853 participations by 2,094 companies. Thus, the various advisory, support, training, and promotion actions enabled Andalusia to exceed 40.100 million euros in exports in 2024, with a four percentage point increase above the country as a whole (Andalusia’s 4.2% growth compared to Spain’s 0.2% growth from 2023).
For Carolina Spain, this continued effort to strengthen the internationalization of companies «has positioned Andalusia as the second region contributing the most to the country’s export growth.» In fact, it is the only region that grew among the four major exporters, which together account for three out of every five euros exported by Spain. Thus, while Andalusia’s exports grew by 4.2%, Catalonia’s exports declined by 0.5%, Madrid by 5.4%, and Valencia by 2.7%.
Coordinated Action with the Autonomous Communities
The Minister of Economy also explained that her department continues to analyze the impact of the tariff war between the United States and European products and the EU’s response to this new scenario, which will have repercussions on various economic sectors in the community as Andalusia is the second largest exporting region to the North American market.
Thus, in 2024, the United States consolidated as the fifth destination for Andalusian products and the first non-European one, accounting for almost 8% of total exports and sales of 3.140 million euros.
At this point, the Minister extended a hand to the Spanish Government to «ensure all administrations work together,» although she emphasized that «any response must be coordinated and agreed upon with the communities to ensure that support reaches affected companies.» She also advocated for the Government to implement a plan to support and provide relief to the most affected sectors.
24.3% Increase in Exports in Malaga
Regarding provincial data, the Economy Minister noted that exports from Malaga to the USA grew by 24.3% in 2024, reaching 308 million euros, making the United States the fourth destination for its products, accounting for 9.4% of the total.
The province of Malaga has established itself as the sixth largest exporter in Andalusia to the market, with 9.8% of the total, and the 19th nationally with 1.7% of the total. According to Andalusia TRADE data, the main products were, in order: olive oil with 222 million euros, 72% of the total and a 28% increase, followed by optical and photographic instruments and apparatus with 25.2 million euros, 8.2% of the total; machinery and electrical appliances with 15 million euros (4.9%) and a 26.9% increase; beverages, alcoholic beverages, and vinegars with 6.6 million euros (2.2%) and a 29.4% increase; and timepieces and their parts with 5.5 million euros (1.8%) and a 2.7% increase.