Catalan exports in 2002 reached €36.206,9 million, representing 27,7% of the country's total exports. Maintaining sales levels compared to 2001, despite the sluggish economic activity in Catalonia's main export markets, demonstrates the region's capacity to access new markets.
Catalonia's main trading partners are the countries of the Eurozone, primarily France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
During 2002, the largest increase in Catalan exports occurred in the countries of the new Europe, with a growth of 16,3%. Slovakia stands out with a growth of 35%, followed by Poland (23%) and the Czech Republic (17%).
Likewise, in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, the growth in foreign sales has been 17,5% compared to the previous year, 25% in Ukraine and 24% in Russia.
NAFTA region, Northeast Asia and the Maghreb
China, with an increase of 48%, has been a clear example of the growth of Catalan exports to the Northeast Asian region.
Australia and New Zealand also stand out as destinations, where growth has exceeded 10%.
In the Maghreb area, the dynamism has been most evident in Algeria (19%), Tunisia (9%) or Morocco (8%).
Sales to NAFTA countries have increased due to higher exports to Canada (12%) and Mexico (11%). Sales to the United States have grown by 5%.
OECD countries receive 84% of Catalan exports and, despite the weakening of trade relations with countries like Germany - due to its internal crisis - Catalan exports to these countries have experienced a slight increase.
In the MERCOSUR area, Catalan companies have not increased exports due to the precarious financial situation of countries such as Argentina or Brazil, as is the case with the EU countries, ASEAN (Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore or Vietnam), and EFTA (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein).
perspectives
According to the European Commission, in 2003 exports from the entire State could increase by 3%.
The performance of Catalan exports in the first four months of 2003, with an increase of 4,63%, confirms the recovery of export dynamism. This trend is supported by the results of the survey on the export climate for the first quarter of 2003, according to which the majority of business owners report positive expectations for the next twelve months.
Evolution
Over the past fifteen years, Catalonia has undergone a significant process of internationalization. Its level of openness has increased from 19% in 1986 to 33% in 2002, surpassing the EU average of 28,6%.
The growth of exports in the period 1986-2002 - with an annual average of 13,4%, while the world average has been 8,2% - has placed Catalonia among the most dynamic regions in Europe.
On the other hand, in recent years, the dependence of the Spanish market on Catalan GDP has been decreasing, as the weight of exports relative to sales in Spain has increased.
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