The Spanish food and drinks industry had its best ever year in 2016, breaking production, export and employment records.
Figures released this week by the Spanish Federation of Food and Beverage Industries (FIAB) reveal the growing popularity of the country’s exports, up by 8.4% year-on-year.
The food and drinks industry now represents 11% of the country’s total goods exports, with a value of €27 billion.
Spain is the sixth highest food and drinks exporter in the EU and the tenth highest globally. The FIAB predicts that if this upward trend continues, the country will overtake competitors such as Belgium or Italy in the near future.
Meat products are Spain’s highest exports with a value of €4.42 billion, followed by olive oil (€3.34 billion), fish products (€2.9 billion) and wine (€2.75 billion).
The majority of products are sent within the EU, but exports to China surged by 49% last year. Exports to Japan and the US also increased by 16% and 20% respectively.
FIAB Director general Mauricio García de Quevedo praised the positive figures: “The food and beverage industry is strengthened year after year as Spain’s primary industrial sector, offering a great development to our economy and our country, as well as maintaining stable employment.
“This substantial improvement is fundamental to continue providing growth and being competitive in any global market.”
The value of Spanish food and drinks products also rose by 1.3% last year, reaching €96 billion. Furthermore, the number of people employed in the country’s food and drinks sector has gone up for 42 months consecutively. Last year it increased by a record 3.4%, reaching 480,000.
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