Catalan exports set a new historical record in 2022, totaling 94,926 million euros, which represents a growth of 17.9% compared to all of 2021, according to data from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. Catalan sales abroad accounted for 24.4% of the total for the State.
Thus, the forecasts made by the Generalitat at the end of last year were exceeded, when it estimated an export growth of 16%, up to 93,000 million euros. If only December is taken into account, Catalan exports reached 8,296.9 million euros, 23.9% more and 25.8% of the total. In the State as a whole, sales abroad increased by 22.9%, to 389,208.9 million euros.
Catalan exports also far exceed, specifically by 28.5% more, the 2019 data, the year before the pandemic, when 78,853 million euros were registered and represented a new record then.
Regarding imports, during 2022 they totaled 111,798.9 million euros, that is, 23.6% more and 24.4% of the total for the State, where they totaled 45,321.2 million euros. In this way, the trade balance in Catalonia has worsened, going from -9,860.2 million euros in 2021 to -16,872.2 million euros in 2022, reports ACN.
As for the most exporting sectors, chemical products represented 30% of exports, with 28,434.1 million, 19.8% more; followed by capital goods, with 15,024.4 million, 12.5% more than in 2021 and 15.8% of the total. In third place, food, beverages and tobacco grew by 15.2%, to 14,242 million and represented 15% of the total Catalan exports in 2022.
If only December is taken into account, the 178.2% increase in the automotive sector stands out, which added exports abroad worth 1,605.5 million, 19.4% of the total. The sector that registered the most sales abroad, however, was that of chemical products, with 2,195.2 million, 7.7% more and 26.5% of the total.
By demarcation, all of them registered growth throughout 2022. Barcelona, which concentrates 18.9% of foreign sales in the entire State, exports reached 73,751.2 million, a 19.6% increase; while in Girona, they increased by 21.2%, to 7,787.5 million. In the regions of Lleida, exports increased by 15.6%, to 2,901 million, and in those of Tarragona by 5.4%, to 10,486.8 million.