The Spanish external sector closed 2025 with a year-on-year growth of 0.7% in merchandise exports, which reached 387.092 million euros, the second best annual record of the historical series, according to customs data collected in the Monthly Foreign Trade Report of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business, prepared by the Secretary of State for Trade.
Imports amounted to 444.146 million euros, representing an increase of 4.6% compared to the previous year. Throughout the year, non-energy product exports increased by nearly 2%, while the energy deficit recorded a reduction.
By sectors, capital goods, food, beverages, and tobacco, along with chemical products, were the main contributors to the growth of foreign sales. Capital goods represented 19.4% of the total exported, with a special focus on industrial machinery and electrical appliances. Food, beverages, and tobacco accounted for 19.3% of exports, with notable contributions from fruits, vegetables, legumes, and meat products. Chemical products represented approximately 17% of the total.
In terms of trade balance, the largest surpluses were recorded in food, beverages, and tobacco (1,546.5 million euros), other goods (288.9 million), non-chemical semi-manufactures (189.4 million), automotive sector (181.9 million), and raw materials (32.4 million).
The geographic analysis reflects a growing diversification of destinations. Spanish exports increased by 6% in Africa and 3% in Asia, while overall exports to the European Union grew by 5%. In contrast, sales to the United States fell by 8%, in a context marked by the introduction of tariffs.
Throughout the year, 62% of exports were directed to the European Union-27 and 38% to non-EU markets. The trade surplus with the EU reached 19.762 million euros in 2025, while the deficit with third countries decreased.
The largest bilateral surpluses were recorded with Portugal (17,380.1 million euros), France (17,341.6 million), and the United Kingdom (14,164.8 million). Additionally, exports to countries with which the EU maintains active Free Trade Agreements grew, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, Chile, South Korea, and Vietnam.
The base of regular exporters continued to expand for the fifth consecutive year. In 2025, 46,230 companies were recorded that exported more than 1,000 euros and did so continuously over the previous three years, representing an increase of 10.4% over the last five years.
In December, exports reached 30,161 million euros, 1.4% more year-on-year and the second highest historical record for that month. Imports amounted to 35,734.1 million euros, also the second highest for a December.
By sectors, in December, surpluses in food, beverages, and tobacco (1,546.5 million euros), other goods (288.9 million), non-chemical semi-manufactures (189.4 million), and the automotive sector (181.9 million) stood out.
Regarding destinations, exports to the European Union represented 60% of the total monthly and grew by nearly 5%, with historical highs for a December in seven member countries, including Slovakia, Poland, Portugal, and the Czech Republic. Sales to non-EU destinations reached 40% of the total and recorded historical highs for the month in markets such as the United Kingdom, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.