Press releases

All press releases

Trade | 11/21/2024

Spain highlighted the importance of advancing regional agreements, including key arrangements with Mercosur and Southeast Asia, during the Trade Ministers meeting.

The State Secretary for Trade has attended the formal meeting of the Foreign Trade Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels in order to analyse European trade policy and its contribution to the economic security of the European Union. Spain defended balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth, stressing the need to diversify the EU's trade relations, especially regarding key regions such as Mercosur and Southeast Asia. The future of trade relations with the United States was addressed. Spain reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a constructive bilateral relationship and strengthening the transatlantic alliance. At the post-meeting working lunch, the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was discussed, with a special interest being shown in areas such as subsidies for fisheries and agriculture as well as the dispute settlement mechanism.
Trade | 11/18/2024

Exports of goods continue their growth path in September and rise 1.9% year on year

In September 2024, exports totalled 31,597 billion euros, marking the second-highest value ever recorded for the month. Adjusted for seasonality and calendar effects, exports grew by 2.0% year on year. At an international level, Spanish exports put in a better performance than the main European economies, such as Germany and France, which registered year on year decreases of 0.3% and 4.3% respectively. The trade deficit continues to decrease by 14.3% year on year in September, thanks to the fact that the energy deficit, which accounted for more than half of the total deficit, fell by 37.6%. In the accumulated amount of the year, merchandise exports totalled 286,805 billion euros, the second-highest figure in the historical record for this period. The surplus with the European Union increased by 32% year on year to 2.6056 billion euros, being uninterrupted since January 2017. The base of regular exporters is strengthened, increasing by 4.8% to reach 44,838 regular exporters, surpassing the total recorded figure for all of 2023. In September, surpluses were recorded in the food, beverages, and tobacco sector (1,157 billion euros), the automotive sector (1,019 billion euros), and non-chemical semi-manufactures (633 million euros) were particular highlights
Trade | 10/19/2024

Spain defends an open and rules-based trade policy in the international context

The Secretary of State for Trade attended the Foreign Affairs Trade Council meeting in Budapest to review the progress of the European Union's trade agreements with strategic partners Spain advocates for a European Union (EU) trade policy that fosters multilateralism, diversifies trade relations, and protects European interests Trade relations with the Asian region, particularly China, have been discussed. Spain stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue with China, aiming for a trade rebalance that benefits both sides while safeguarding the competitiveness of European companies During the working lunch following the meeting, discussions centred on the EU's investment protection policy, with a focus on fostering an investment environment that is both attractive and secure.
Trade | 10/18/2024

The foreign sector maintains its strong position in August with a year on year increase in goods exports of 2.5%

Exports in August 2024 reached 26.8 billion, the second-largest value for August and 2.5% higher than the same month in the previous year. Compared internationally, exports performed better than the Euro Zone and EU-27 as a whole (with year on year decreases of -3.3% and -2.5%, respectively). Adjusted for seasonality and corrected for the calendar effect, exports grew by 5.8% year on year. Sectors with the highest multiannual export increases in August were raw materials (37.3%), chemicals (17.0%) and non-chemical semi-manufactured goods (7.8%). In the cumulative totals for the year, goods exports reached 255.2 billion euros, the second highest figure in the historical series for this period, and the trade deficit dropped 7.6% compared to the same period in 2023. Surplus with the European Union rose by 71% year on year to 2.95 billion euros, continuing its streak since January 2017. In the cumulative totals for the year to August 2024, the base of regular exporters was consolidated, increasing 4.9% to 44.4, already above the figure for 2023 as a whole
Trade | 10/3/2024

The Secretary of State for Trade highlights Spain as a destination for foreign investment in green energy projects.

Spain consolidates its position as a key industry hub for the expansion of green energies in the European Union.
Trade | 9/20/2024

The trade deficit in July 2024 drops 34.4% year on year to 3.21 billion

The energy deficit maintains its downward trend with a 17.5% drop year on year in July, combined with a 53.8% reduction in non-energy deficit. Spanish foreign trade continues to show its resistance in a complex international context. Spanish goods exports exceeded 33.2 billion euros in July, a record for the month with a 9.3% year on year increase Compared internationally, Spanish goods exports grew with more intensity in July than their Euro Zone and EU-27 counterparts (year on year increases of 7.4% and 7.2% respectively), and even those recorded by the three main EU economies The sectors with the highest year on year growth for exports in July were raw materials (27.6%), food, beverages and tobacco (14.4%), durable consumer goods (13.5%) and energy products (13.1%) Trade surplus with the European Union increased in July to 2.19 billion euros, continuing its streak since January 2017 In the cumulative totals to July 2024, the base of regular exporters was consolidated, increasing 4.9% to 43,971 In the cumulative totals for the year, exports of goods reached almost 228.38 billion euros, the second highest figure in the historical series from January to July
Trade | 9/17/2024

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise promotes international collaboration to strengthen economic and trade relations

The Minister of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, Carlos Cuerpo, and the Secretary of State for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla, have brought together foreign ambassadors and diplomatic representatives to strengthen economic and trade relations. The public-private collaboration and the support offered by the network of commercial and economic offices have been highlighted to ensure that the internationalisation of the Spanish economy continues to grow.
Trade | 9/16/2024

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business shows its support for the trade sector in its digital, sustainable transformation

The Secretary of State for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla, met today with the main retail trade associations in Spain to address the sector's challenges. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business conveyed the government's commitment to the retail sector in its process of adapting to technological, sustainability and consumer protection challenges, in order to achieve a more competitive sector adapted to the needs of the 21st century. Retail trade is a basic pillar of the Spanish economy. It accounts for about 5% of GDP and generates nearly two million jobs.
Trade | 9/11/2024

Spain and China commit to building a more balance economic and trade relationship.

The Secretary of State for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla, has accompanied the president of the government of Spain on his official visit to China, which has had many business-focused events on the agenda. One of the objectives of the trip is to strengthen trade and economic relations in order to promote a more balanced partnership. In the framework of this visit, a meeting of businesses was held, as was the second meeting of the Spain-China Business Council, where Spanish and Chinese companies were able to share joint business opportunities. An agreement was signed to create a permanent mechanism for cooperation and dialogue on trade and investment matters, and another agreement was adopted for trade cooperation in services and the digital economy. In addition, the Spanish delegation visited the Kunshan technological business cluster, an industrial park where many Spanish companies have production plants to support their international projects in Asia.
Trade | 9/5/2024

The Government supports the Spanish dairy sector and defends their interests in international markets

Secretary of State for Trade Amparo López Senovilla met yesterday with the main associations representing the dairy industry in Spain. Spain is one of the European Union’s biggest milk producers with an annual production of more than 7 million tonnes in 2023. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business has addressed China’s investigation of imported European dairy products with the sector and is committed to continue working to defend Spanish interests, also through the European Commission.
Trade | 9/4/2024

Spain strengthens collaboration with Latin America and the Caribbean through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business, through the State Secretariat for Trade, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) to strengthen economic cooperation, as well as promoting sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. This agreement establishes a collaborative framework in order to boost funding of projects in developing countries and sectors of common interest with the support of the Company Internationalisation Fund (FIEM). The FIEM will allow non-refundable financing of studies that are contracted with the BCIE with the potential for generating future projects, as well as the refundable financing of projects awarded to Spanish companies in Latin America. This collaboration helps to strengthen Spain's support for the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which promotes connectivity and global economic recovery through investments linked to the digital, climate and energy, transportation, education and research, and health sectors. The FIEM, which in 2023 funded up to 72 projects, is a tool managed by the State Secretariat for Trade to support the internationalisation of Spanish companies.
Trade | 8/19/2024

In June, the Spanish economy recorded a non-energy trade surplus of 958 million euro, the largest in the past 16 months

Spanish foreign trade continues to show its resistance in a complex international context. Spanish exports of goods hit 33 billion euros, growing by 3.2% year on year when adjusted for seasonality and corrected for the calendar effect In gross terms, exports barely fell by 3% compared with the same month in the previous year, showing greater resilience than the euro zone and the European Union, which fell by 7.4% and 7.3%, respectively The sectors with the highest year on year growth for exports in June were energy products (27.7%), raw materials (16.8%) and other goods (6.4%) The trade deficit decreased by 70% in June compared with the same month from the previous year. The energy deficit maintained the downward trend of recent months, and in June fell to the lowest level since January 2021. The trade surplus with the European Union increased in June to 4.04 billion euros, continuing its streak since January 2017 The base of regular exporters was consolidated in the first half of 2024, increasing by 4.8% to 43,281 In the cumulative totals for the year, exports of goods reached 195.1 billion euros, the second highest figure in the historical series for the first half of the year
Trade | 7/26/2024

The World Trade Organization reaches a new agreement on e-commerce

The agreement establishes 15 essential rules on digital trade, based on the principles of non-discrimination and covering areas such as electronic authentication, online consumer protection, cybersecurity and personal data protection. The agreement seeks to standardise the legal frameworks for e-commerce in the signatory countries, facilitate electronic transactions and provide greater security and confidence for users.
Trade | 7/24/2024

Spain strengthens its business and trade relations with Iraq

Cesce signs a cooperation agreement with Iraq to boost Spanish companies in the Asian country The Secretary of State for Trade meets with an Iraqi delegation to analyse opportunities for business and trade collaboration.
Trade | 7/19/2024

The Spanish economy registers a non-energy trade surplus of 630 million euros, its highest level in the last 15 months.

The foreign sector continues to show strong dynamism, growing by 2.3% in May, compared with the declines of the main European economies and the Union as a whole (-3.5%). The trade deficit fell by 25% in May compared to the same month of the previous year. In the year-to-date, exports of goods reached 162,136.7 million euros, the second best figure in the historical series for the period from January to May. The highest growth in exports for the month of May occurred in the food, beverages and tobacco sector (9.1%), consumer manufacturing (4.4%) and the automobile sector (1.5%). The trade surplus with the European Union grew to €3,381.1 million and has remained uninterrupted since January 2017 In 2024, the base of exporting companies was consolidated, increasing by 4.9% to 42,335 companies exporting regularly.
Trade | 7/15/2024

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business presents the 2023 National Domestic Trade Awards

The State Secretary for Commerce, Amparo López Senovilla, presented these awards in Valencia, where she acknowledged the transformation and modernisation work being carried out by the trade sector. The 'Association of Merchants of the Historic Centre and Ensanche' of Valencia was awarded in the open shopping centre category; the ‘Dang Dang, SA-Indi & Cold' store from San Sebastián was awarded in the small business category; and the Madrid City Hall was awarded in the National Award for City Hall category Domestic trade in Spain accounts for 13% of GDP and employs more than three million people. Moreover, the State Secretary for Trade has visited the Port of Valencia, a logistics centre and of national and international importance, and has held a meeting with Valencian companies to highlight the benefits of entering international markets. The Generalitat Valenciana exported more than 38 billion euros worth in 2023, representing 10% of total national exports..
Trade | 7/12/2024

Cesce secures financing of 31 million euros from Banco Santander, EBN and ICO for PLD Space's MIURA 5 rocket

Banco Santander and EBN Banco act as co-lead banks of this syndicated loan, in which the Instituto de Crédito Oficial [Official Credit Institute] (ICO) also takes part. This action is part of the PERTE Aerospace programme, within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. The operation is covered under Cesce's Strategic Investment Policy and has legal advice from Deloitte and Watson Farley & Williams. The funds will go towards PLD Space's MIURA 5 space launching programme, as well as to expanding the company's industrial capabilities and its corporate expansion.
Trade | 7/8/2024

The Government shows its support for the pork sector and defends its interests in international markets

The State Secretary for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla, met with the different associations today that represent the pork sector and industry in Spain Spain is the European Union's main exporter of pork products, with 7.5 billion euros in 2023 Moreover, the European Union is the world's largest exporter of pork and pork by-products. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business has addressed with the sector the investigation that China has opened to review imported pork products from the European Union and has committed to continue working in defence of Spanish interests through the Commission European Spain defends Spanish companies competing on equal terms with other countries and in a balanced manner, within the framework of the World Trade Organisation.
Trade | 7/1/2024

The EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement takes effect

The agreement will create trading opportunities for Spanish companies in the African continent and includes leading commitments regarding sustainability.
Trade | 6/28/2024

Spain is committed to expanding the presence of Spanish companies in Australia

The State Secretariat for Trade has participated in the Business Meeting on the occasion of the visit of the European-Australian Business Council to Spain
Trade | 6/25/2024

The Council of Ministers appoints Julián Conthe Yoldi, Director-General for Trade Policy at the State Secretariat for Commerce

He has experience in international trade, both in the Spanish Government and the European Union. He is part of the State Trade Professionals and Economists Senior Corps since 2010. To date, Conthe has carried out functions linked to the European Funds in the Ministry of Finance and Public Service
Trade | 6/20/2024

The State Secretariat for Trade and COFIDES show their commitment to the Diversity Charter

Fundación Diversidad and COFIDES successfully celebrate the “Diversity, equality and inclusion in companies and public institutions'’ conference
Trade | 6/17/2024

Spanish exports grow by 15.8% year on year in April 2024 to 33,990 million euros, a historical best for the month

Foreign trade in Spain shows greater dynamism than the main economies in our environment: Our exports grew above those of our main partners in April, partners such as Germany or France, and even above other exporting powers such as the United States, Japan and China. In April, top levels for the month were achieved in food, beverages and tobacco, capital goods, automobile sector, consumer manufacturing and durable consumer goods sectors. The trade surplus with the European Union increased to 2,888.6 million euros and has remained uninterrupted since January 2017. Exports to the European Union-27 increased by 13.6% year on year and to non-EU destinations by 19.8%. Exports reached record figures for the month for 18 of the community destinations, including the four main clients worldwide (France, Germany, Italy and Portugal) as well as in the four main non-EU clients (United Kingdom, United States, Morocco and Turkey). Concerning the accumulated amount of the year, goods exports reached 127,420 million euros, the second best figure in the historical series for the first four months of the year. The number of regular exporters grew by 4.8% in the January-April 2024 period to 40,828 exporters.
Trade | 6/13/2024

Spain and Turkey intensify their trade relations and mobilise joint investment

Within the framework of this meeting, a Business Meeting was held with more than 300 companies in attendance, and five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed to boost and strengthen bilateral relations, three of them being from ICEX, COFIDES and CESCE.
Trade | 6/11/2024

Presentation of the 10th edition of the White Paper on Spanish Video Game Development

The Secretary of State for Trade has addressed the programmes implemented by ICEX-Invest in Spainto foster the growth of the audiovisual Spanish audiovisual and video game industry
Trade | 6/10/2024

Spain strengthens its commercial ties with Cambodia and is promoting new opportunities for business collaboration

The State Secretariat for Trade has organised this forum together with ICEX, the Chamber of Commerce and CEOE to strengthen commercial and business relations between the two countries.
Trade | 6/3/2024

Spain strengthens trade relations with China and promotes the presence of Spanish companies in the Asian country

The Minister of Economy, Commerce and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, together with the Chinese Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, have chaired the 29th Spanish-Chinese Mixed Economic and Industrial Commission, in which the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, has also participated . Both countries have committed to the creation of a permanent Cooperation and Dialogue Mechanism in trade and investment matters to address opportunities and resolve problems and barriers faced by companies from both countries. A meeting was held with a wide representation of Spanish companies from various sectors to highlight their activity and promote new business opportunities in the Chinese market. The Government of Spain has highlighted the need to continue advancing its relations with China through a commercial and investment approach.
Trade | 5/31/2024

Spain reaffirms its commitment to Latin America and the Caribbean within the framework of the European 'Global Gateway' program

The Secretary of State for Commerce has organized a work day to explain this initiative of the European Union and bring Spanish companies closer to the opportunities it offers in the Latin American region. The Global Gateway Strategy will mobilize an investment of up to 300 billion euros until 2027 in projects linked to the digital, climate and energy, transportation, education and research, and health sectors.
Trade | 5/22/2024

Spain boosts its business and trade relations with Colombia

The Secretary of State for Trade has accompanied the Minister of Economy, Trade and Business on his visit to the Andean country in order strengthen commercial ties, as well as supporting the Spanish companies present. Spain establishes itself as the second largest foreign investor in the country
Trade | 5/20/2024

Spanish exports reach 93,430 million euros in the first quarter of the year, the second best figure in the historical series

In March 2024, the trade balance registered a deficit of 2,026.2 million euros, the best figure in the last 30 months, with the exception of March 2023. The non-energy component of the trade balance increases its surplus from 32 million euros last February to 444.4 million euros in March, the highest value in the last 11 months. In the first quarter of the year, the trade surplus with the European Union reached 7,710.8 million euros and 8,341.1 million euros with the euro zone. This surplus has been maintained uninterruptedly with our trading partners since 2016 and 2017, respectively. Exports reached 31,450 million euros in March, the third best figure in the historical series for the third month of the year and in line with the average of the last five years. In March, exports reached record figures for some important markets such as Turkey, Mexico and India, which proves greater market diversification.
Trade | 5/17/2024

Cesce reaches a net profit of 59 million euros in 2023

The insurance company has had fifteen consecutive years of profits and the State account has been in surplus for 28 years, according to the data presented at its General Shareholders' Meeting. Once again, Cesce has proven to be the most solvent insurer among the main Spanish and European companies in the credit and surety insurance industry.
Trade | 5/16/2024

Cesce receives TXF's award for the best Export Credit Agency (ECA) in the world

The award recognizes the Spanish ECA for the performance of its activity on behalf of the State to cover the risks associated with the operations that Spanish companies carry out abroad. The State account managed by Cesce covers political, extraordinary and non-marketable risks of our internationalized companies, with the support of the Internationalization Risk Reserve Fund (FRRI), which is attached to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise.
Trade | 5/14/2024

The Council of Ministers appoints Amparo López Senovilla, Secretary of State for Commerce and Aida Fernández, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business

López Senovilla takes over from Xiana Méndez after six years as Secretary of State.
Trade | 5/3/2024

Spain defends open, more inclusive, sustainable and rules-based global trade

Within the framework of this meeting, the Secretary of State for Commerce participates in several debate tables to address the promotion of free trade and market diversification for greater economic resilience Spain supports trade policies that promote inclusion and harness the potential of women to drive economic growth
Trade | 5/1/2024

EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement enters into vigour

The agreement will create trading opportunities for spanish companies in the region and includes commitments indo-pacífico pointers in the area of sustainability.
Women and Internationalization | 4/23/2024

ICEX celebrates the second edition of ¡SAL! to promote internationalization in women's

The day aims to facilitate the creation of a community so that women who lead companies can support themselves in the field of internationalization The common thread of the activities of this second edition has been the use of new technologies
Trade | 4/23/2024

The Council of the International Cocoa Organization holds its 5th World Conference in Brussels

Cocoa reaches record prices at a time of shortage. The forthcoming entry into force of the EU regulation on deforestation and due responsibility for the environment and human rights requires due diligence from all operators bringing cocoa and other commodities into the EU, such as palm oil, cattle, timber, coffee, rubber and soybeans.
Trade | 4/23/2024

The Synthetic Indicator of Export Activity (ISAE) grows for the second consecutive quarter and reaches its highest value since the first quarter of 2022.

There's an anticipated positive trend in the order book, along with a slight upward trajectory in export prices Perception regarding hiring personnel has improved
Trade | 4/19/2024

The trade deficit was reduced by 5.3% in the first two months of 2024 due to the improvement in the balance of energy and non-energy goods.

The non-energy deficit decreased by 17.3%, reaching 435.6 million euros in the first two months of the year compared to the same period in 2023, while the energy deficit decreased by 4.3%, to 5.643 billion euros, compared to the deficit of 5.894 billion euros in the same period of the previous year. This improvement in the trade balance is further explained by the significant reduction in the trade deficit with non-EU countries, which decreased by almost 19.9% to 11.221 billion euros. The trade balance with the European Union continues to be in surplus in the first two months of the year, reaching 5.1421 billion euros. Spanish exports reached nearly 62 billion euros in the first two months of 2024, the second-best figure in the historical series. In February 2024, exports achieved record numbers for the month in many of our main markets, such as France, Germany, Portugal, or Poland, and outside the European Union in the United Kingdom, Turkey, or Mexico. The number of regular exporters grew by 5% year-on-year in the January-February period of 2024, and their exports accounted for 95.9% of the total. Looking at the monthly data, the trade deficit reduced by 4.7% in February to 2.350 billion euros, while the non-energy balance showed a surplus of 32.7 million euros. The automotive, food, beverages, and tobacco sectors, as well as durable consumer goods, consumer manufactures, and capital goods, experienced the highest growth, also reaching historical export highs for the month.
Trade | 4/18/2024

Spain and the netherlands are strengthening their trade and energy partnerships

The secretary of state for trade accompanies SS.MM. los Reyes in his visit to the netherlands to strengthen the commercial ties and cooperation in respect of green energy and new technologies In the framework of this visit, the secretariat of state for trade, through ICEX Spain export and investment and in collaboration with the spanish chamber of commerce and CEOE, have organized a meeting to discuss business opportunities in the areas of cybersecurity and technological finance
Trade | 4/16/2024

The Government is promoting the attraction of foreign investment in Spanish companies through the FOCO Co-Investment Fund, endowed with 2 billion euros

The Council of Ministers has approved the agreement regulating the development of the activity and functioning conditions of the Co-Investment Fund (FOCO) The objective of this Fund is to attract foreign investment and to foster productive modernisation, sustainable growth and the ecological and digital transition of the Spanish economy. The Co-Investment Fund (FOCO) is one of the new financial instruments included in the latest Addendum to the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, endowed with 2 billion euros until 2026 and whose management has been entrusted to COFIDES The Fund will mainly make capital investments in private companies that undertake investment projects in national territory. FOCO investments will always be made jointly with a foreign co-investor, which can be both public financial institutions and foreign private institutional investors.
Trade | 3/20/2024

Foreign investment in Spain reached 28.22 billion euros in 2023, reaching the average of the last five years

Foreign investment in Spain aimed at enhancing productive capacities and employment has grown by 12 per cent compared to 2022, at 5.68 billion of euros The sectors that received the most investment were wholesale trade, telecommunications, electricity and fuel. In regard to countries, the United States was the first issuer of investment flows to Spain (28.9%), followed by the United Kingdom (13.1 per cent), Germany (10.6 per cent) and France (9.2 per cent). Investments from other countries, such as Australia, Switzerland, Canada and Mexico, increased in importance, therefore demonstrating the diversification of confidence in the Spanish economy. Spain is incredibly attractive for international investors, consolidating an investment attraction of around 30 billion euros annually, compared to 20 billion euros 10 years ago, in 2014.
Trade | 3/15/2024

VI meeting on Foreign Trade

Stresses the resilience of the external sector of Spain at a time of international incetidumbre and geopolitical tensions
Trade | 3/11/2024

Spain strengthens its commercial and business alliances with Brazil and Chile

The President of the Government of Spain has undertaken an official visit to these two countries to reinforce commercial ties and investments with Latin America. The Minister of Economy, Trade, and Business, and the State Secretariat for Trade have accompanied them on this visit along with a delegation of Spanish companies to explore new business opportunities.
Trade | 3/8/2024

Commerce launches an explanatory guide for the presentation of foreign investment declarations

It gathers the latest developments introduced after Royal Decree 571/2023 on foreign investments and the recent ministerial order ECM/57/2024 that regulates the application procedures
Trade | 3/7/2024

Collaboration with Ukraine: technical seminar on the railway sector

Bilateral collaboration between the two countries is strengthened in the railway sector with the participation of leading companies and entities of the sector.
Trade | 3/6/2024

The thirteenth Ministerial conference of the WTO concludes with progress on investment, trade in services and e-mail

The commitment to re-establish a fully functioning dispute settlement system by the end of 2024 is reaffirmed. The "e-commerce moratorium" is renewed, keeping international digital transactions tariff-free until the next Ministerial Conference. The Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement is finalized and the use of "special and differential treatment" provisions by developing countries is enhanced. The entry into force of the Joint Initiative on Domestic Regulation, which will facilitate international trade in services, is welcomed.
Trade | 3/4/2024

The Minister of Economy, Commerce and Business announces the launch of two ICEX programs to promote the participation of women in the internationalization of the economy

The minister has announced the new program 'Internationalizing Women' that will offer detailed information on norms, uses and customs, by markets and countries with a gender perspective, to facilitate the presence of women in new markets Carlos Cuerpo has pointed out the launch of a second edition of DESAFÍA to promote entrepreneurship among women, with an immersion program for start-ups in the most important entrepreneurship ecosystems in the world
Trade | 3/4/2024

Foreign companies established in Spain foresee a positive evolution of their investments, sales, employment and exports in 2024.

88% of these companies estimate that their investments will continue or increase this year, despite the complex international context. Foreign investors are particularly positive about Spain's infrastructure, market size, human capital, quality of life and labor market.
Trade | 2/21/2024

The Secretary of State for Trade presents the awards of the sixth Technological Ideas Contest for retail trade

These awards aim to distinguish those projects that include innovative and technology-based solutions to boost retail commercial activity. In the last edition, 19 technological ideas have been recognized for improving the shopping experience and the sustainability of proximity trade through artificial intelligence and digital tools.
Trade | 2/19/2024

Spanish merchandise exports reach 383.7 billion euros, the second best year in the historical series and the trade deficit is reduced by more than 40% in 2023.

The merchandise trade deficit is reduced by some 31 billion euros in 2023, based on the maintenance of non-energy exports and the fall in energy imports, in particular gas In 2023 the Spanish foreign sector has reached the second best export data of the historical series, with a slight fall of 1.4% (-5.5 billion €) compared to the historical peak of last year In a context of international uncertainty, Spanish exports have shown robustness and resilience, with a softer fall than the EU27 (-2.5%) and the euro area (-3.3%) Non-energy exports have increased by 0.7% (+2.5 billion euros), partially compensating for the fall in the energy segment, of 20.6% (-7.9 billion) Compared to pre-pandemic levels (2019), exports grew by 32.3% In the last year, exports to many of our major European markets, as Germany, Italy or Poland have reached record figures, despite the economic slowdown of the European Union in 2023. Exports to other markets such as the United Kingdom, Morocco and Turkey have also set a record Historical highs are reached in the export of food, automobiles and non-chemical semi-manufactures Also highlights the weight of exports of high-tech goods (10.9% of the total) and medium-high (41.9%) The agri-food sector has the largest trade surplus of the balance, 14.1 billion euros in 2023, growing 13%, reflecting its strength and competitiveness The number of regular exporters grows by 1,7% in the last year, accumulating an increase of 27% since 2010, standing at about 44,000 Spanish exporting companies in 2023
Trade | 2/16/2024

Government launches 'Connected Commerce' platform to boost digital transformation and retail competitiveness

The initiative offers training, communities and resources to promote the digital transformation of the retail sector, which constitutes about 5% of the GDP of the Spanish economy, with more than 1.9 million members of the Social Security 'Connected Commerce' offers tools to help businesses adapt digitization and green transition and collects the aid and subsidies offered to the sector from the different administrations The platform will also stimulate the creation of a national collaboration network between entities, retail administrations and individuals With the launch of this platform, the Government strengthens its support to local trade so that it can face the challenges generated by new consumer habits, the new sales channels and the green transition The Government has allocated €415 million of European Recovery Plan funds over the last three years to support improving the competitiveness of business, through three market support lines and the Technology Fund
Women and Internationalization | 2/6/2024

Trade celebrates the 5th meeting of the 'Women and Internationalization' Working Group

An assessment has been made of the progress made during the five years of the group's activity and the initiatives to continue promoting gender equality in international trade activity.
Trade | 2/6/2024

Trade addresses the priorities of the EU trade policy to promote the economic security of the EU

The Secretary of State for Trade chaired this Commission to explain the main lines of work for the current year.
Trade | 2/2/2024

The government renews its commitment to the Canary Islands to promote the internationalization of its economy.

The central and Canary Island governments have held the third meeting of the Advisory Board for the Strategic and Commercial Promotion of the Canary Islands (CAPECC). The CAPECC's main objective is to promote the Canary Islands' foreign trade and attract foreign investment to the archipelago. The State Secretariat for Trade and the Canary Islands Department of Economy recently renewed the annual agreement to promote the internationalization of the Canary Islands' economy, endowed with €500,000. The volume of goods exports from the Canary Islands in the period from January to November 2023 reached €2.125 billion, with the European Union and Africa standing out as the main target markets.
Trade | 1/23/2024

Spain supports a resilient European trade policy open to multilateralism in order to face the current international context.

EU trade ministers met in Brussels to discuss the priorities of European trade policy in the current international environment, with the aim of having greater strategic autonomy, as well as promoting the diversification of global value chains. Spain advocates a definitive push to close pending EU trade agreements such as those with Mercosur and Mexico in order to achieve greater diversification, to reinforce security of supply and to open up new markets for Spanish companies. The current state of the Red Sea crisis has been analysed and possible impacts on international trade are being monitored. Spain considers that one of the priorities for the forthcoming 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is to promote the reform of this organisation in order to establish the rules of the international trade game based on clear and fair rules.
Trade | 1/22/2024

Secretary of State for Trade meets Minister-President of Lower Saxony

The trade balance between Spain and Lower Saxony in the year 2022 was 1,327 million euros Spain's trade balance with Lower Saxony in 2022 was 1,327 million euros
Trade | 1/18/2024

Spanish exports maintain their dynamism and exceed 354.7 billion euros by November 2023, the second best figure in the last decade

In a context of international uncertainty, foreign trade in goods is evolving better than that of the main European economies, reflecting the competitiveness of Spanish companies and their strong positioning in international markets. Compared with pre-pandemic levels (2019), exports in the cumulative figure up to November are up 32.6% and imports are up 31.8%. The trade deficit was reduced by nearly 42% from January to November 2023, and fell to €37.158 billion, €26 billion less than in the same period in 2022. The trade deficit is down by nearly 42% from January to November 2023 and fell to €37.158 billion, €26 billion less than in the same period in 2022. In the January-November 2023 period, exports to many of our main markets, such as Germany, France and Italy, have reached record figures, as have exports to other markets such as the United Kingdom, Morocco and Turkey. The automotive, capital goods and food, beverages and tobacco sectors were those that contributed most to the annual rate of change of exports in the first eleven months of 2023, reaching a historic volume of exports. In November, the non-energy balance showed a surplus of 137 million euros.
Trade | 1/11/2024

The Minister of Economy, Trade and Enterprise highlights the strength of the Spanish economy and the attractiveness of our country for foreign investment.

Carlos Cuerpo stresses the dynamism of the labour market and the robustness of the foreign sector as two key levers for a more balanced and dynamic economy, that will in turn generate confidence in international markets. The minister highlighted the important role of the Recovery Plan for the evolution of the Spanish economy and the optimal implementation of these European funds for the transformation of the country. The government has launched a co-investment fund (FOCO) to attract foreign investment, in order to promote projects linked to the transformation of Spain's productive structure, which will be endowed with 2,000 million euros. The Secretary of State for Trade closed the 'Spain Investors Day' forum, where she explained how foreign investment in Spain has been a key element in driving the modernisation of the economy and the generation of employment. Spain ranks 13th in the world ranking of countries with the highest stock of inward foreign investment, and there are almost 20,000 foreign companies established in Spain across all sectors.
Trade | 12/27/2023

The Government earmarks nearly 2 million euros to boost commercial activity in Ceuta and Melilla

The Council of Ministers has today approved the award of a 950,000 euro grant to each of the regional cities to create programmes to boost the commercial sector. This aid will improve the competitiveness of trade in Ceuta and Melilla, generate quality employment and boost urban development. In Ceuta, discount voucher programmes will be implemented in commercial establishments to encourage consumer and tourist purchases. In Melilla, aid will be distributed to SMEs and the self-employed to help transformation at the point of sale.
Trade | 12/27/2023

The government launches the creation of a new fund with 2 billion euros to attract foreign investment in Spain in strategic sectors

The Joint Investment Fund (FOCO) will promote projects that promote the transformation of the Spanish production model, such as those linked to green energy, digital transformation, sustainable mobility, biotechnology and sustainable agriculture The Joint Investment Fund (FOCO) is one of the new financial instruments included in the Addendum to the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, whose management has been entrusted to the public company COFIDES In addition, the government reinforces aid to small and medium-sized enterprises for their internationalisation with the extension of 100 million euros more for SMEs and small export and investment projects under the Fund for the Corporate Internationalisation Fund (FIEM) Three operations have also been approved under the FIEM for projects of great interest for the internationalisation of the Spanish economy, two of them in Africa, which will boost Spanish presence and investment in this continent
Trade | 12/20/2023

Foreign investment in Spain amounted to €21.232 B in the first nine months of 2023

In the third quarter, investment increased by 54% compared to the previous quarter. Total foreign investment grew by more than 6.9% relative to the 2018-2022 average. The sectors with the highest investment were services, industry and construction. Spain is the fifth country in the world that has received the most new Foreign Direct Investment projects in the world in the January-October 2023 period.
Trade | 12/19/2023

The European Union has suspended duties on US products until March 2025

The length of the suspension is good news for EU and US producers and consumers. It is expected to come into force on 1 January 2024. The EU should continue to seek the permanent elimination of US duties on European steel and aluminium.
Trade | 12/12/2023

The retail industry gains dynamism and sales increase 6.5% through October 2023

Retail sales at constant prices increased by 4.5% year on year in October 2023. The number of contributors to Social Security in the retail industry reached 1,917,989 in November, a historic high for this month. The retail trade sector is an important source of employment for women; 62.9 % of workers are women. All retail industry indices have improved: sales, employment and confidence indicators.
Trade | 11/22/2023

Council and European Parliament approve regulation to protect EU from economic coercion by third countries and extension of trade preferences for developing countries

Two important legislative acts in the field of common commercial policy are signed in Strasbourg.
Trade | 11/20/2023

Trade rewards the Spanish business sector's effort and innovation in its digital transformation

Xiana Méndez handed out these awards which recognise technological solutions driven by the retail sector to improve its competitiveness
Trade | 11/17/2023

Spanish exports as of September exceed €287.5 B

The trade deficit was reduced to €29.596 billion in the January-September period. The sectors which contributed positively to the year-on-year growth rate for exports from January to September 2023 were the automotive, equipment and food, drink and tobacco industries. The autonomous communities with the greatest growth in exports in the period were Castile and León, Catalonia and La Rioja. Héctor Gómez: The dynamism of Spanish exports compared to imports means the trade deficit has fallen by up to 44%. One of this Government's priorities has been to strengthen and increase our exporting companies and to make Spain an attractive country for foreign investment.
Trade | 11/15/2023

Africa, full of opportunities for Spanish companies

The State Secretariat for Trade has updated its ‘Horizonte África’ strategy to increase the presence of Spanish companies and promote investment in the African continent. Trade relations between Spain and Africa have increased: Spanish exports to this continent have exceeded €21 B in the past year. Over the three years this strategy has been in place, 56 transactions financed by the FIEM (Fund for International Expansion of Business) have been approved.
Trade | 11/14/2023

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism and the European Commission analyse tools for accessing international markets

A new edition of "Market Access Day" is being held in Madrid.
Trade | 11/14/2023

Spain contributes €2 million to the WTO's Fisheries Financial Mechanism

Héctor Gómez, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism: Spain, as a leader in production and fishing tradition, demands to know that the product consumed does not come from illegal practices. The Secretary of State for Trade, Xiana Méndez, presented the Spanish contribution to the WTO Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Trade | 10/31/2023

The Spanish Secretary of State for Trade discusses the Middle East situation with the Spanish business sector

The Spanish Secretary of State for Trade has met with companies to provide information on the current state of international trade in this region
Trade | 10/27/2023

EU members discuss boosting trade in environmental services to combat climate change

Madrid has hosted the Informal Meeting of Experts from the EU Services and Investment Trade Policy Committee. During the Committee's investment session, experts discussed the future of investment protection agreements.
Trade | 10/25/2023

Spanish trade representative participates in the World Trade Organisation Senior Officials' Meeting

The aim of the meeting is to move work forward in the run-up to the forthcoming 13th WTO Ministerial Conference.
Trade | 10/24/2023

Aid of up to 28,000 euros to assist SMEs with their internationalisation

Through the International Mentoring part of the programme set up by the Secretary of State for Trade through the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and financed by Next Generation Funds. SMEs involved in the programme will put together an Internationalisation Plan with the help of a mentor from a large company.
Trade | 10/23/2023

The Council has adopted a regulation to protect the EU from economic coercion by third countries

The new legislation, known as the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), seeks to act as a deterrent and, ultimately, to facilitate the adoption of response measures by the EU to defend the interests of the EU.
Trade | 10/23/2023

Three- and 12-month export prospects are favourable

The evolution of external demand and international competition in terms of quality stand out as the factors with the greatest influence on export activity. The Synthetic Indicator of Export Activity (SIEA, Spanish acronym ISAE) for the third quarter of 2023 stands at -5.3 points.
Trade | 10/20/2023

EU trade ministers advocate for trade openness and greater economic resilience

During the Informal Meeting of Trade Ministers for the European Union (EU), held in Valencia, a pledge was made to move towards economic security in which free trade agreements play a key role. Héctor Gómez: "We have laid the foundations for ensuring greater security and confidence in international markets. We still need multilateral order based on clear trade rules. Europe must be at the forefront of the fight against protectionism and economic unilateralism”. The Ministers from the 27 Member States have agreed to develop a comprehensive approach that promotes economic resilience of the European Union.
Trade | 10/19/2023

Spanish exports grow by 1.8% up to August and reach more than 250 billion euros

The trade deficit was reduced to 25.758 billion euros during the first eight months of the year. Exports in the automotive, capital goods and food sectors continue to perform well. Héctor GómezThe reduction of the trade deficit is very good news for Spanish trade; the country must continue to work to become more and more competitive..
Women and Internationalization | 10/10/2023

ICEX and Red.es launch a new edition of the programme "DESAFÍA San Francisco"

The preparatory day was attended by the Secretaries of State for Trade and for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence, as well as the CEOs participating in the programme The challenges, risks and lessons of internationalisation as an element of scalability for Spanish technology start-ups were analysed
Trade | 10/10/2023

Retail sales at constant prices increase 7.0% year on year in August

The average number of Social Security affiliates increased by 1.3% year on year in September 2023 to 1,937,647 Registered unemployment in retail trade decreased by 6.5% year-on-year in September 2023 Spain's retail confidence indicator is higher than that of the main European economies
Trade | 10/6/2023

International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) elects Spain's Rafael Soriano Ortiz to chair its International Council

Recognition for the active role of the EU and Spain in international trade of this product
Trade | 10/6/2023

EU Council Group on 'Export Credits' meets in Madrid

Experts discussed the market situation, recent and expected regulatory changes, as well as the future of a European strategy on export credit. With participation from the Spanish Secretary of State for Trade and the Director General for International Trade and Investment.
Trade | 10/5/2023

Oman Investment Authority and COFIDES agree to set up the Spain Oman Private Equity Fund (SOPEF) II

Both entities are extending their collaboration following the successful outcome of the first fund, created in 2018, which represents a total aggregate amount of 300 million euros for boosting the internationalisation and expansion of Spanish companies in agreed target markets.
Trade | 9/28/2023

Sovereign wealth funds grow by 11% to $11.6 trillion by 2022

The sectors in which sovereign wealth funds have diversified; they are now more evenly distributed across technology, industrials, real estate, financials and healthcare Sovereign wealth funds are shifting their investments from conventional oil-related industries to green technologies There were 376 deals in 354 unique transactions, with an investment value of USD 95.2 billion in 2022
Trade | 9/28/2023

EU-Japan agreement adds 9 more Spanish protected geographical indications

With this new extension, Spain now has a total of 42 protected geographical indications
Trade | 9/25/2023

Cesce launches its new coverage to facilitate the acquisition of essential raw materials by Spanish companies operating internationally

Through Direct Guarantee or Bank Guarantee policies, Spanish companies operating internationally can acquire essential raw materials for their industrial activity under better conditions (lower prices and longer contracting terms) Fernando Salazar, president of de Cesce: The new coverage fits in perfectly with our strong commitment to promoting the success of all Spanish companies and the internationalisation of the Spanish economy.
Trade | 9/21/2023

Spanish exports grew by 3.3% as of July and exceeded €230 billion

The trade deficit was reduced to 21.32 billion euros in the period from January to July The automobile industry, capital equipment and food sectors performed especially well in terms of exports
Trade | 9/20/2023

Spain welcomes the meeting of the Informal Working Group on Export Controls

Consisting of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Spain
Trade | 9/19/2023

Cesce launches a line for export operations to Ukraine

The new coverage, which has been allocated 30 million euros, will be awarded through Cesce's Supplier Credit Insurance Policy, aimed at insuring Spanish exporting companies against the risk of default or termination of the agreement by its foreign customer
Trade | 9/14/2023

Trade recognizes the work of individuals, associations and companies for their support of Spanish business

In three categories: domestic trade, foreign trade and women and internationalisation
Trade | 9/12/2023

The Japanese trade aid programme to strengthen the business sector will mobilize 313 million euros

A total of 356 projects submitted during the three calls made from 2021 to 2023 will receive support from Next Generation EU The grants will go to three courses of action for sustainable urban markets, sustainable markets in rural areas and strengthening the commercial sector in tourist areas
Trade | 9/11/2023

Retail sales at constant prices increased by 7.7% in July 2023

The number of Social Security affiliates increased by 1.3% year on year in August 2023 to reach 1,977,177 Registered unemployment in the retail trade fell by 6 per cent year on year in August 2023
Trade | 8/25/2023

State Secretary for Trade present at the Trade and Investment Ministerial meeting in Jaipur

Spain supports an open, fair international trading system based on multilateralism
Trade | 8/17/2023

Spanish exports peaked and grew by 4.7 per cent in the first six months of 2023

The trade deficit fell by nearly half to 16.420 billion euros in the first semester compared to 31.963 in the same period last year. The energy balance revealed a surplus of 285 million euros Héctor Gómez: Foreign trade is one of the engines of our economy, and Spanish companies are notable for their competitiveness, quality and innovation
Trade | 8/11/2023

Competitiveness in the Spanish economy increases in the second quarter of 2023

Improved competitiveness vis-à-vis the Spanish UE-27 and OECD
Trade | 8/10/2023

Retail sales increased by 6.8% in June 2023

The number of Social Security affiliates increased by 1.1% in July 2023 to reach 1.977.797, a historic peak in any month Registered unemployment in the retail trade declined by 5.6% year on year in July 2023, to the lowest unemployment figure of the series Héctor Gómez This is a very positive news, which highlights the good health and strength of our internal market and the overall economy
Trade | 7/26/2023

Cunext Group signs a Syndicated Loan in the framework of its Strategic Investment Plan for Córdoba

The CESCE state account offers coverage through its innovative "Strategic Investment Policy for Internationalisation"
Trade | 7/21/2023

Trade leads a Spanish business mission to support reconstruction in Ukraine

Xiana Méndez: Spanish companies are committed to Ukraine, and will play an important role in its recovery
Trade | 7/21/2023

EU Member States give the Commission the green light to negotiate an agreement on critical minerals with the US

The agreement will strengthen the international supply chain for critical minerals, a key sector for the ecological and digital transition. The objective is to grant European suppliers of essential minerals the same treatment as American suppliers when obtaining certain subsidies within the framework of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Trade | 7/20/2023

The Council renews and broadens temporary trade liberalisation measures with Moldova

The regulation will temporarily suspend all tariffs and contingents in force in the European Union on imports from Moldova for one year
Trade | 7/20/2023

The spanish exports increased by 6.4% until may record levels,

The trade deficit has continued to decline to 47 per cent in the first five months of the year The autonomous communities with higher growth in their exports were castile and Leon, La Rioja and Catalonia Héctor Gómezthe strength of spanish companies exporting their good positioning in international markets make them more dynamic exports and imports.
Trade | 7/18/2023

COFIDES is designated as one of the sovereign investors with best practices in governance and sustainability worldwide

It took fifth position out of a total of more than 200 public investors from around the world and first position at European level. It was the institution with the third-highest level of annual return in 2022.
Trade | 7/17/2023

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism is looking for the best technological ideas for revitalizing the retail trade

The prizes are worth €34,000, to be shared between the four winning ideas Deadline for entries is 14 August 2023
Trade | 7/14/2023

The eu is taking the next step in the wto against us tariffs on spanish olives

The objective of the enforcement procedure is initiated claim to Us to comply with the judgement of the wto Panel and to eliminate unwarranted their tariffs on black olives in spain.
Trade | 7/7/2023

SMEs can opt for €20,000 in aid for international certification of their products and services outside the EU

This is the first line of action of the Secretary of State for Trade's Internationalization Mentoring and Support Program launched by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. The goal is to provide exporter SMEs with access to new markets and clientes to reduce regulatory risks The programm is funded Next Generation Funds under the Plan for Recovery, Transformation and Resilience
Trade | 7/6/2023

Spain is gaining market share in attracting foreign investment and is situated at the 12th position at the global level

Spain raised five posts in the list of destinations of foreign direct investment and received $35 billion in 2002 Spain is the third european country that received more foreign investment in the past year
Trade | 7/4/2023

Government modernises investment regulations, strengthening legal certainty for investors and companies

This new Royal Decree ensures that investment control regulations are applied in a clear and predicable manner, in accordance with the principle of legal certainty Héctor Gómez: Attracting foreign investment to Spain has been instrumental in advancing the modernisation of the economy and creating productive, stable and high-quality employment
Trade | 6/30/2023

Trade hosts the "Second Economic, Commercial and Industrial Dialogue" between Spain and Japan

The Secretary of State for Trade and the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry signed an agreement to drive business and trade relations between the two countries
Trade | 6/27/2023

Commerce presents its priorities for the upcoming Spanish Presidency of the EU to the sector.

With the aim of strengthening trade relations with Latin America, Spain will push to accelerate the closing of the Chile, Mexico and Mercosur agreements
Trade | 6/26/2023

Commerce awards the decorations of the Orders of Isabella the Catholic and Civil Merit.

Xiana Méndez: "You are a true example of the vocation of public service, collaboration, generosity and dedication."
Trade | 6/20/2023

Foreign investment in Spain up 20.3% in the first quarter of 2023

Industry tops the investment rankings Héctor Gómez: The Government's economic policy is key to generating confidence abroad, as demonstrated by the today's data. Legal certainty and solid economic growth reflect Spain strong position
Trade | 6/20/2023

European Commission announces the conclusion of negotiations of the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement

The Agreement will create business opportunities for Spanish companies on the African continent and includes pioneering commitments in the area of sustainability
Trade | 6/15/2023

Spanish exports up by 9.2% year-on-year to April, an all-time high

Trade deficit falls by 50% in the first four months of the year Héctor Gómez: In the first quarter, the deficit has halved thanks to Spanish exports
Trade | 6/13/2023

Trade allocates over 9 million euros for the internationalization of SMEs

Through the 'Mentoring and Support for the Internationalisation of SMEs' programme of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce The deadline for applications is 30 September 2023
Trade | 6/12/2023

Retail sales at constant prices increased by 5% year-on-year in April 2023

The average number of Social Security affiliates increased by 1.2% year-on-year in May 2023 to 1,906,880 The full report is available in this section of the Commerce web portal
Trade | 6/9/2023

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism will mobilize over 8.7 billion from the addendum to the recovery plan to strengthen PERTEs and tourism plans

For Héctor Gómez, this is the boost that will enable a giant leap forward to be made in the transformation of Spanish industry and the modernisation of our productive network Two new funds of 2.4 billion euros have been created, managed by Cofides to generate sustainable investments
Trade | 6/8/2023

Trade participates in OECD Ministerial Council Meeting

The Director-General of Trade Policy has been present at the meeting on ‘Trade policies for more resilient and inclusive growth’ Spain promotes an open, transparent and inclusive rules-based global trading system
Trade | 6/7/2023

Minister Héctor Gómez strengthens trade relations with the United States ahead of the EU presidency

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism receives his US counterpart to discuss important issues such as agreements with Latin American countries, the Spanish presidency of the EU and the bilateral cooperation reached in the last visit of Pedro Sánchez to the White House Héctor Gómez: Strengthening EU trade relations with the USA will be a priority of the Spanish presidency in order to ensure economic growth and innovation in both countries The Spanish Government appreciates the US commitment to reform the World Trade Organization
Trade | 6/7/2023

Spain-Morocco Business Meeting identifies investment and business cooperation opportunities

58 Spanish companies from the water, environment, automotive, food value chains, education, renewable energy and transport infrastructure sectors participated The Spain-Morocco Business Meeting was opened by the Secretary of State for Trade, Xiana méndez, and the Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour
Trade | 6/7/2023

Council of Ministers approves the establishment of two new public funds, FOCUS and FIS, to be managed by COFIDES

The Co-investment Fund (FOCUS) will be endowed with 2 billion euros and it will aim to attract foreign direct investment in projects that promote the transformation of the Spanish productive model The Social Impact Fund (FIS) will be endowed with 400 million euros and will help to strengthen impact investment in Spain
Trade | 5/31/2023

Trade hosts 10th Spain-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Joint Commission

Xiana Méndez: Bilateral trade has reached a record high, and Spanish exports to Kazakhstan have grown by an impressive 74%
Trade | 5/30/2023

Foreign investment in Spain increased by 4%, reaching €529.877B

Emplloyment associated with the foreign investment received increased by 2.9% Spanish investment stock abroad grew by 9.5%, surpassing €538.9B
Trade | 5/26/2023

Spain took up the Presidency of the Trade Council of the EU after Sweden

One of the objectives of the spanish presidency will be to speed up the trade agreements with Mercosur, Chile and Mexico
Trade | 5/19/2023

Cesce achieves a net profit of €75.1M in 2022 and establishes its roadmap for the coming years

Héctor Gómez, Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, attended the insurance company's Shareholders Meeting. The insurance company has recorded fourteen consecutive years of profitability, and the State's account has maintained a surplus for 27 years, according to data presented at its General Shareholders Meeting. Cesce has proven to be the most financially sound insurer among the prominent Spanish and European companies in the credit and surety insurance industry. The company sets an ambitious roadmap for the coming years with the Cesce 2025 Impulse Plan and its Sustainability Master Plan, respectively.
Trade | 5/18/2023

The trade deficit reduced by around 57 per cent in the first quarter of the year

Spain exports increased by 14.6% January-March 2023 Héctor Gómez: The figures for the first quarter of the year are very positive for exports, which is undeniably the driving force behind economic growth and the creation of jobs in Spain
Trade | 5/12/2023

Price-competitiveness of Spain's economy improved in the first quarter of 2023

To the Secretary of State for Trade, this index shows that 2023 started with new price-competitiveness gains compared to the rest of the European Union and OECD
Trade | 5/10/2023

Retail sales at constant prices increase 9.7% year-on-year in March 2023

The average number of Social Security affiliates increased by 1.1% year-on-year in April 2023 to 1,894,444, the highest figure on record for the month of April
Trade | 5/9/2023

Spain strengthens trade relations with Tunisia

In the framework of the ‘Business Meeting España-túnez’, Xiana Méndez visited the country to meet with authorities and companies for strengthening trade and investment relations
Trade | 5/8/2023

Trade allocates nearly 544,500 euros to boost the opening in foreign markets

Two new aids are announced: one for exporters and the other for geographical indications The application period is open until October 31, 2023
Trade | 4/26/2023

Spain and Brazil strengthen commercial ties through a Business Meeting

The governments of Spain and Brazil have expressed their confidence in being able to close the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur
Women and Internationalization | 4/25/2023

Trade commits to internationalisation for women

At the ICEX headquarters a workshop was organized to strengthen the creation of a community of women in business internationalization and increase their presence in the field
Trade | 4/25/2023

First leaflet to explain the international trade quality standards for bananas

The brochure has been prepared by the Subdirectorate of Inspection, Certification and Technical Assistance from Foreign Trade, with the collaboration of ASPROCAN
Trade | 4/20/2023

Exports up to February reach a new record high with an interannual increase of 12.8%

Héctor Gómez: Trade flows remain at historical figures, which points to the excellent position of our companies in international markets The trade deficit was reduced to 2.465 billion in February
Trade | 4/18/2023

The Synthetic Indicator of Export Activity (ISAE) increases in the first quarter of 2023, amounting to 3.2 points

Improved outlook for exporting companies' current order backlog and its expected evolution
Trade | 4/14/2023

The 12th Spanish-Indian Joint Commission reinforces the trade and investment relations between the two countries

Xiana Méndez chairs the Joint Commission and participates in various business meetings to promote the presence of Spanish companies in India India is a priority trading partner and is a PASE Country (Country with Strategic Sectoral Performance)
Trade | 4/10/2023

Retail sales at constant prices increased by 3.5% year on year in February 2023

The number of Social Security affiliates increased by 0.7% year on year in March 2023 to reach 1,875,782, the largest number reached in the month of March
Trade | 3/23/2023

CESCE is financing 923.4 MW of the MacIntyre wind farm, developed by ACCIONA Energía

With its subsidiary in Australia, ACCIONA Energía is increasing its installed capacity with this 923.4 MW wind farm, which will be part of the largest wind farm in Australia and one of the largest in the world CESCE is supporting this project with a syndicated loan of 1,098 million Australian dollars from Santander, CaixaBank, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, HSBC, ING and J.P. Morgan
Trade | 3/17/2023

Xiana Méndez "Trade drives the economy and generates employment in our country"

The Secretary of State for Trade has mobilised €415 million between 2021 and 2023 for the transformation and improvement of the sector's competitiveness
Trade | 3/16/2023

2023 started with an increase in Spanish exports and a decline in the trade deficit

In January, exports grew 16.2% year on year to €30,921 million, reaching record levels for this month The trade deficit has fallen approximately 40% compared with January 2022
Trade | 3/14/2023

New call opened to strengthen the business sector with €107 million

In the past two years, trade has mobilized close to €208 million for 227 projects to improve commercial activity Reyes Maroto: With these programmes the government is strengthening its support for local businesses to improve their competitiveness
Trade | 3/10/2023

Retail sales at constant prices increased by 7.1% in January 2023

The number of average Social Security affiliates increased by 0.2% year on year in February 2023 to reach 1,868,85 The full report is available on the link: https://comercio.gob.es/ComercioInterior/indicators/Paginas/indicadores-comercio-interior.aspx
Trade | 3/8/2023

Call for nominations for the 2023 National Domestic Trade Awards is now open

The deadline for nominations is open until 9 May, inclusive
Trade | 3/3/2023

The Ministry of Trade welcomes the I Spain-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission which will strengthen trade and investment relations

Driving cooperation in industry and in the fields of energy, infrastructure, transport, agriculture and tourism
Trade | 2/27/2023

The Government mobilized 258 million euros in 227 projects to improve the competitiveness of the business sector

The Ministry has assigned 62% of total investments under the Recovery Plan for the period 2021-23 The four lines of state aid are aimed at sustainable markets, markets in rural areas, commercial activity in tourist areas and the Tech Fund
Trade | 2/23/2023

Xiana Méndez: The United Arab Emirates is a hub for the expansion of Spanish companies to the Middle East, Asia and Africa

The Secretary of State for Trade visited the international Gulfood and IDEX trade fairs, showing her support for Spanish companies
Trade | 2/16/2023

Spanish exports exceeded €389,000 million in 2022, reaching a record high

Reyes Maroto: Foreign trade remains a driver of economic growth and employment in our country. The Spanish exporting activity shows greater dynamism than that of all European economies together In 2022 the external sector accounted for almost half of Spanish GDP growth, contributing 2.6 percentage points The export base in Spain reached a new record high in 2022, exceeding 43,000 regular exporters for the first time
Trade | 2/10/2023

Price competitiveness of the Spanish economy improves in the fourth quarter of 2022

Spanish competitiveness improved in all geographic areas throughout the year 2022
Trade | 2/9/2023

Employment in retail trade grew by 2.2% in 2022, the highest rate of the entire series

The retail trade confidence indicator in Spain (European Commission) improved 2.9 points in January 2023 and has a positive value (1.5 points) Retail trade increased sales by 0.8%
Trade | 2/8/2023

Spain and Angola, new economic and trade opportunities for Spanish companies

The Secretary of State for Trade organized Angola-Spain business meeting "Building a future together"
Trade | 2/1/2023

The Secretary of State for Trade highlights the role of the Galician businesses and their commitment to international markets

Xiana Méndez also visited the Tui municipal market that was the beneficiary of €1.3 M from one of the grants from the line of help for markets as part of the recovery Plan