Girona’s exports have started the year on a good footing and during the month of January they have grown by 18.6%. According to the statistics published periodically by the Ministry of Industry, companies in the demarcation have made sales abroad worth 590.17 million euros. Above all, this increase can be explained by the good performance of the agri-food sector, which has grown by 46% in exports. And more specifically, because of the momentum that the meats have taken again abroad. Conversely, however, another of the driving sectors of Girona’s economy, the chemical industry, will start to decline in 2023. Its companies, which include pharmaceutical companies, recorded a 23% drop in exports this January.
After closing 2022 with a new historical record, in which they grew up to 22% and exceeded 7.7 billion euros, Girona’s exports start this 2023 also on the rise. According to the statistics of the Ministry, during January the companies of the demarcation have exported products worth 590.17 million euros. Transferred into percentages, this represents an increase of 18.9% compared to the same month in 2022 (when at the time they stood at 497.51 million euros).
Two realities
Behind this increase, however, two realities are hidden. Because while there are sectors that maintain cruising speed, there are also others that have clearly gone down. If you pass the magnifying glass and analyze in detail, percentage-wise the one that has grown the most in sales is the agri-food sector. Specifically, their companies close January having exported a value of 264.8 million euros, which when translated into percentages represents an increase of up to 46.3%.
And within the agri-food sector, the pre-eminence of the meat sector remains indisputable. Not only because it concentrates the bulk of its exports, but also because over the last few months – once the brake was overcome by China – it has clearly gone up.
The companies in the cluster close January having exported 155.55 million euros in carcasses and animal carcasses. Which represents up to 42% more compared to the same month in 2022 (when sales abroad stood at 110.91 million euros).
In parallel to meat, another of the driving sectors of Girona’s economy, that of machinery manufacturers, also closes January with an increase in exports. In this case, 9.1% (from 34.37 million euros in January 2022 it now goes to 37.53).
Chemicals, down
The good tonic registered by meats and machinery, however, does not transfer to another sector that is the mainstay of the economy in the demarcation: chemicals (which includes pharmaceuticals). In fact, this January, their companies closed the month exporting products worth 78.1 million euros, which represents up to 23.2% less compared to last year.
And above all, the industry where this decline has been most noticeable is, precisely, pharmaceuticals. Because if in January 2022 it made exports worth 42.57 million euros, at the beginning of this 2023 the figure has dropped to 33.49 million euros. That is, 21.32% less.
France, main market
In terms of destinations, due to proximity and as usual, France continues to be the main foreign market for Girona products. This January, from the demarcation there were exports worth 166.26 million euros (last year, they were 132.59). This destination is followed, in that order, by Italy (51.14 million euros), Germany (44.62 million euros) and Portugal (36.24 million euros).
China, fifth destination
China is the fifth destination for Girona products. This January, 28.24 million euros were exported there (which is a slight increase compared to the same month in 2022, which closed with 27.84 million euros). In Asia, however, it is noteworthy the boost that sales to Japan have had, which is the seventh market for Girona products – behind the United Kingdom – and where it has exported to a value of 16, 27 million euros (when in January 2022 the figure stood at 11.67 million euros).