Aragonese exports halt their upward trend and fall by 4,66% in May, dragged down by the decline in the automotive sector.

FOREIGN TRADE IN ARAGON

Aragon's foreign trade marked a clear turning point in May, registering a sales volume of €1.361 billion . The slowdown in the automotive sector contrasted sharply with the strong performance of capital goods exports in a month that, thanks to a drastic reduction in purchases, managed to restore a trade surplus.

---

The dynamism of Aragon's international business has slowed. After a strong start to the year, Aragon's exports closed May 2026 with a total volume of €1.361 billion , representing a year-on-year decrease of 4,66% compared to the same month of the previous year. These figures confirm a clear change in the trend of the regional economy's internationalization.

The main culprit behind this slowdown is the automotive sector . After registering exceptional performance in the early months of the year—with growth rates exceeding 50%—this industry has completely stalled. Despite remaining the spearhead of Aragon's export sector, accounting for 27,45% of total sales, it recorded an 8,11% drop in May.

This decline has not been an isolated phenomenon. The general trend has been downward across the region's main economic sectors: the agri-food sector suffered a 9,90% drop , semi-manufactured goods fell by 2,41% , and consumer goods plummeted by 13,45% . The major exception to this downward trend has been capital goods , which have emerged as the only sector maintaining a clearly positive performance. This sector now accounts for 17,00% of Aragonese exports after registering a remarkable growth of 10,32%.

Evolution by markets: America and Oceania on the rise

The geographical analysis of exports reveals an asymmetrical pattern. Traditional markets have shown weakness, with widespread declines in sales to Europe (-3,22%) , Africa (-13,29%) , and especially Asia , which experienced a sharp drop of 32,85%.

On the other side of the coin are the transoceanic regions, which have provided a boost to Aragon's foreign trade. Exports to the Americas increased by a remarkable 14,69% , while Oceania experienced an exponential jump of 168,60% . Despite these developments, the core of trade destinations remains heavily concentrated in Europe. Markets such as France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom , and Poland continue to lead purchases, closely followed by Morocco, the United States , and China.

Recovery of the trade surplus

Regarding imports , May 2026 reflected a very sharp contraction of 20,78% , placing the value of purchases at €1.179 billion . This sharp drop in foreign acquisitions has had a positive side effect: it has allowed Aragon to recover its surplus and maintain a positive trade balance of €182 million , thus reversing the negative balance it had experienced during the previous two months.

The decline in imports has generally affected the region's main suppliers. However, two key exceptions stand out, having managed to avoid the downturn and maintain positive growth: China , which has consolidated its position as Aragon's leading supplier with a 2,48% increase , and Turkey , the sixth-ranked supplier, which saw its sales to the region surge by 20,99%.