Press release 03/01/2013
Exports from the Basque Country were down by 6.6% in the fourth quarter of 2012
Basque exports fell by 3.7% in 2012 overall
Exports from the Basque Country posted a nominal decrease of 6.6% in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to EUSTAT data. They totalled 5,419 million euros compared to 5,803 million the previous year.
In contrast, there was a nominal increase in imports to the Basque Country of 1.2% in the fourth quarter, where they stood at 3,995 million euros. If only non-energy imports are considered, for the same period there was a decrease (-10.3%), valued at 2,459 million euros.
The net balance was positive and showed a trade surplus of 1,424 million euros, with a coverage rate of exports over imports of 135.7%. If energy products are excluded, the non-energy trade balance registered a surplus of 2,114 million, 19 million less than that registered in the fourth quarter of 2011. The non-energy coverage rate went from 177.8% in 2011 to 186% in 2012.
Exports destined for the European Union diminished 22.2% with regards to the same period of 2011. Amongst these, those destined for France (-37.5%), Germany (-10.7%) and the United Kingdom (-8.5%) stood out. Outside the EU27, it is worth mentioning the increases in exports to the United States (43.9%), Singapore (735.6%) and Mexico (42.5%).
Imports from the European Union were down by 5.1%, with those coming from Germany (-10.5%) and France (-13%) particularly standing out, whilst there were increases in those coming from the Netherlands (27.3%), Belgium (2.5%) and Portugal (26.7%). From the rest of the world, it is worth mentioning increases in exports originating from Russia, Mexico, Venezuela, Angola y Algeria, all energy related, and the decreases in imports originating from the United States (-51.4%) and China (-13%).
By customs duty groups, and in relation to exports, it is worth mentioning, in the first place, that of the 21 sections, 9 experienced growth and 12 experienced downturns, which were concentrated in the largest sections, given that they accounted for 91% of the total. For the group of sections that saw decreases those registered in Transport Material (-10.3%), Metals & Manufactured(-9.4%) and Electrical Material (-3.3%) all stood out for their size , as did the decreases in Mineral Products (-8.8%).
An analysis of the largest duty section, Mineral Products, revealed a strong increase of 27.3%. However, the rest of the large sections registered significant downturns, such as Electrical Material (-10.9%), and Metals & Manufactured, which registered a fall of 2.5%.
The greatest decrease in exports was in Álava. This decrease stood at 11.4%, being recorded above all in the largest customs sections: Transport Material (-25.8%), Metals & Manufactured (-7.4%), Electrical Material (-3%) and Plastics & Rubber (-12.1%). Of imports to Álava, which registered a decrease of 20%, those of Metals & Manufactured (-23%) and Electrical Material (-20.1%) stood out amongst the most important customs duty sections.
Exports in Bizkaia decreased by 7% with regards to the same period of the previous year, essentially due to the downturn in exports of Mineral Products (-8.9%), Metals & Manufactured (-17.6%), Electrical Material (-2.7%) and Rubber & Plastics (-25.7%); only Transport Material amongst the largest sections broke the trend, with a strong increase of 41.4% that was not able to compensate for the general propensity downwards. In the fourth quarter of 2012 there was a rise of 12.3% registered in imports, due to the fact that the two largest sections also grew considerably, Mineral Products (30.7%) and Metals & Manufactured (12.2%), despite the decrease of Electrical Material (-3.1%) and above all Plastics & Rubber (-40.6%).
Exports in Gipuzkoa registered a decline of 2.3%. Exports of Electrical Material (-3.7%) and Transport Material (-10%) were the main reasons for this drop, given that the second largest section in this province, Metals & Manufactured, posted a slight increase of 1.4%. Imports in Gipuzkoa were down by 12.3% due to the drop experienced in the two most noteworthy sections, Metals & Manufactured and Electrical Material, with each posting a decrease of 10.2% in the quarter.
In 2012 exports in the Basque Country were down by 3.7% and imports by 9.4%
Exports of the Basque Country, in 2012, stood at 20,303 million, that is, 774 million less than in 2011, which was a percentage decrease of 3.7%.
Imports of the Basque Country stood at 15,508 million euros, a drop of 1,602 million compared to the numbers recorded in 2011, with a decrease of 9.4%.
The Basque trade balance (exports less imports) of the 2012 financial year translated into a surplus of 4,794 million euros, which meant an increase in the same of 828 million with regards to 2011. Following this trend, the coverage rate increased by 7.7 percentage points, going from 123.2% in 2011 to 130.9% en 2012.
The trade balance of non-energy products stood at 8,179 million euros, against 7,599 million in 2011. Following the same pattern, the coverage rate of non-energy products improved, going from 168.4% in 2011 to 181.1% in 2012.
By geographical areas, special mention should be made of the trade balance with the European Union, which went from a surplus of 5,721 million euros in 2011 to 5,019 million in 2012. For its part, the coverage rate lost 4.2 percentage points, going from 171.8% to 167.6%.
By countries, it should be pointed out that almost half (49%) was orientated towards five of them: France (17.1%), Germany (14.2%), United States (6.5%), United Kingdom (6.5%) and Italy (4.7%). Likewise, there were five countries that accounted for half of imports, with this percentage being broken down in the following way: Russia (13.6%), Germany (12.3%), France (10.2%), Mexico (7%) and Italy (5.7%).
On analysis of the data for exported products (groups), it should be pointed out that the first 10 in the ranking accounted for 40.4% of exports. Amongst these were three belonging to the Transport Material duty section: Vehicle parts and accessories, Passenger cars for 5 to 10 people and Goods transport vehicles accounted for 15.2% of total exports. In first place in the ranking was Petroleum Oil(8.4%), belonging to the Mineral Products customs group. In third place was New Rubber Tyres (5%). Two items from the Metals & Manufactured section appeared in the first 10: Tubes (2.8%), Profiles (2.6%) and Iron or Steel Bars (1.3%).
Practically all imports by customs sections, 17 out of 21, experienced negative percentage variations compared to 2011. Amongst the sections of greatest monetary volume, the decreases in Plastics & Rubber (-18.4%), Metals & Manufactured (-15%) and Mineral Products (-9.6%) stood out.
Analysing the territorial scope it must be pointed out that, in 2012, the evolution of exports was negative in two out of the three provinces, with a decrease of 8.2% in Bizkaia and 4.3% in Álava. Gipuzkoa, for its part, obtained growth of 2.9%.
For imports, the most significant event is their negative evolution for the three Provinces. The greatest drop was in Gipuzkoa, 12%, followed by Bizkaia, which stood at 9.5%, and finally Álava, with a decrease of 5.6%.
For further information:
Basque Statistics Office
C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Tel: +34-945-01 75 00 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 E-mail: eustat@eustat.eus
Contact: Patxi Garrido
Tel+34-945-01 75 13 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01
Further press releases on Foreign Trade Statistics of the Basque Country
Database on Foreign Trade Statistics of the Basque Country