The exports of Castilla y León increased by 16.9% year-on-year in the month of April

• It is the community that experienced the highest year-on-year variation in its foreign sales, reaching 1,378 million. Imports totaled 1,307 million • By sector, the automotive sector occupies the first place. It represents 36.7% of the total and has had an increase of 51.1% compared to the previous year • By provinces, Valladolid leads the ranking of transactions with 500 million. In relative terms, the most significant increase has been achieved in the province of Palencia due to the car

June 16, 2023.- The exports of Castilla y León increased by 16.9% year-on-year in the month of April being the community that experienced a greater rate of variation in its sales compared to the previous year. According to foreign trade data from the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade, sales in Castilla y León in April reached 1,378.8 million euros. According to these data, imports totaled 1,307.0 million, resulting in a positive balance of 71.8 million. The trade balance closed in positive terms and recorded a coverage rate of 105.5%. The data indicate that Europe remains the main market for Castilla y León. By sector, the automobile occupies the first place.

By province, during the month of April 2023, the highest value of exports was recorded in Valladolid (500.4 mill €), followed by Burgos (283.2 mill €) and Palencia (255.7 mill €), followed by León (142.8 mill €), Salamanca (64.5 mill €), Segovia (50.1 mill €), Soria (39.8 mill €), Zamora (26.0 mill €) and Ávila (16.3 mill €).

In relative terms, the most significant increase has been achieved in the province of Palencia (113.0%) due mainly to the automotive sector, with a lower export volume being Ávila (28.2%) and Valladolid (16.8%). On the contrary, 3 provinces have suffered a decline in their export figures: Zamora (-33.9%), Soria (-17.2%) and Salamanca (-6.5%).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Data from April confirm that Europe remains the main market for Castilla y León (82.0% of the total), and there is a recovery in activity compared to the previous year, since sales to this area have grown by 22.2%. France, Portugal, Italy and Germany are listed as the most important destinations. In the case of sales to the euro zone (66.4% of the total), they increased by 19.5%, while those destined for the rest of the European Union (5.4% of the total), increased by 13.1%. In parallel, sales to the rest of Europe show an increase of 50.5% compared to the same month of the previous year, representing 10.2% of foreign sales of Castilla y León. In April, the United Kingdom continues to be the main customer in the area, with 4.4% of the total, and an increase of 28.9%. Sales to Turkey are in second place with an increase of 126.8%.

Outside Europe, exports from Castile and Leon were developed as follows: Oceania (24.5%) and Asia (excluding the Middle East) (22.3%). On the other hand, sales decreased in the Middle East (-24.7%), Africa (-20.3%), Latin America (-17.9%), and North America (-3.9%). In the American continent (7.7% of the total), exports ranked second, so there has been a decrease of 11.2% compared to the same month of the previous year. Notable exports to the US account for 3.8% of the total, as well as to Mexico (1.0%) and Brazil (0.9% of the total).

In the Asian continent, exports from Castilla y León remain in third place, with 7.4% of the total and an increase of 13.1% compared to the same month of 2022. This is due to the increase in the area of Asia, excluding the Middle East, of 6.4% of the total, and 22.3% compared to last year. There has been an increase in sales to China (13.1%), this being one of the main customers (1.4% of the total) only surpassed by South Korea (1.5% of the total) although there has been a decrease in sales compared to the same period last year (-3.0%).

The main African trading partner remains Morocco (0.9% of the total) and sales to this country have decreased by 29.2% compared to the same month last year. In South Africa, sales increased by 90.1% compared to 2022, which is 0.6% of the total.

DISTRIBUTION BY SECTORS

By sector, in April 2023, there was an increase in exports in Castilla y León of 16.9% compared to the same month in 2022. The automotive sector is back in first place (36.7% of the total), with an increase of 51.1% compared to the previous year; followed by non-chemical semi-invoices (18.5% of the total) and a growth of 20.3%, mainly due to the sale of other semi-invoices.

The food, beverages and tobacco sector is the third largest export sector, accounting for 17.3% of the total and a decrease of 4.9%. Exports of other foods, meat products, and dairy and eggs predominate. Followed by capital goods (11.2%), which decreased by 3.4% and chemicals (9.5%), which rose by 1.7%.