Press release 19/08/2021

FOREIGN TRADE STATISTICS (ECOMEX). June 2021

Exports increased by 23.9% in the first half of 2021 in the Basque Country and exceeded 12,460 million euros

In June 2021, exports of goods from the Basque Country registered a rise of 15.6%

During the first quarter of 2021 exports of goods from the Basque Country increased by 23.9% (2,405 million more than in the same period of the previous year) and reached 12,466 million euros, according to Eustat data. This figure is still below that of the first half of 2019, the year before the pandemic, when this figure rose to 13,054 million euros.

The accumulated total of imports rose to 9,701 million, that is, 1,867 million more than that registered in the same period of the previous tax year, up 23.8%.

During the first six months of 2021 foreign trade in the Basque Country generated a positive balance of 2,765 million euros, equivalent to a coverage rate of 128.5% (the Basque Country exports more than it imports), more than the majority of the countries in the EU-27.

Provinces

Exports of goods from Bizkaia were the most active in the Basque country during this period, with an accumulated total of 4,977 million euros and growth of 27.8%. In Álava growth stood at 24.0% (3,601 million euros) and in Gipuzkoa it was 19.1% (3,889 million euros).

In relation to imports, Bizkaia saw an increase of 19.7% and imported goods to the value of 5,246 million euros, followed by Álava with 2,249 million, up 32.6%, and Gipuzkoa with a contribution of 2,207 million and a growth rate of 25.7%.

Products

Considering the type of product, it was Non-energy Products, with a year-on-year increase of 2,420 million, which most contributed to the growth in exports. Energy Products, down 14.6 million, represented a slight reduction in the aforementioned growth. Imports of Energy products rose by 17.7% and those of Non-energy Products were up 25.4%.

Destination countries

The ranking of countries to which Basque Country exports were sent, in this period, was topped by Germany, with 16.8% of the total exported, followed by France (16.0%), the United Kingdom (6.7%), the United States (6.0%) and Belgium with 5.4%. These five countries accounted for half of Basque exports.

Activity Branches A86

Of the largest activity branches by export volume, of particular note was the increase in exports of Iron and Steel products (31.7%), exceeding that exported during the previous year by 318 million, reaching 1,325 million euros.

There was also considerable growth in exports related to Production of Non-ferrous Metals (56.1%), Rubber Products (25.1%) and Machinery for general, agricultural and other specific uses (16.2%). However, the branch with the highest volume of exports was that of products relating to Manufacture of motor vehicles (2,798 million and 22.4% of the total), which at the end of the first half of 2021 registered growth of 28.0% in respect of the same period of the previous year.

Largest customs duty groups

A more detailed look reveals that only 2 of the top 25 customs duty groups returned negative rates: Refined Petroleum Oils (-9.5%) and Seamless tubes and hollow profiles made of iron or steel (-29.5%). In the remaining customs duty groups, the rates were positive, with the following standing out due to their significance and specific weight: Passenger cars with fewer than 10 seats (26.4%), Goods Transport Vehicles (27.9%), New Rubber Tyres (18.9%) and Vehicle parts and accessories (40.1%).

FOREIGN TRADE IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY IN JUNE 2021

Exports of goods from the Basque country registered an increase of 15.6% in June 2021, of particular relevance was the upturn in Electrical Equipment, Machinery & Devices (12.4%) and, above all, in Metals and Manufactured (59.6%). There was also notable growth in Mineral and Energy Products (38.7%) and Chemical Products (54.4%). However, exports of Transport Material were down 77.3 million euros (-13.7%) in respect of June 2020. As a whole, exports stood at 2,185 million euros compared to 1,891 million in the same month of the previous year.

Imports saw growth of 50.2% in June 2021, with a total of 1,824 million euros. Energy imports increased by 178.8%, and Non-energy imports were up by 34.6%.

Provinces

Gipuzkoa accounted for the greatest increase (37.1%) in relation to exports, due to the rise in Metals and Manufactured (78.7%), Electrical Equipment, Machinery & Devices (28.8%) and Transport Material (39.0%). The increase in Bizkaia was 25.6% due to the rise in Metals and Manufactured (62.8%) that, with an increase of 121 million, this month accounted for 35.3% of the total exported from this province. In Álava the balance was negative: exports were down 15.0% following the noticeable drop in Transport Material (-37.1%), 145 million down on the same month of the previous year.

As regards imports, it was Bizkaia that accounted for the highest growth (58.6%), due to the rise in acquisitions of Mineral and Energy Products (175.9%) that, with an increase of 242 million, this month accounted for 37.7% of the total imported by this province. In Gipuzkoa the increase in the total volume of imports was 43.9% due, in part, to the rise (46.7%) in imports of Metals and Manufactured; the balance was also positive in Álava: purchases of goods rose by 38.1% following the upturn in Electrical Equipment, Machinery & Devices (30.0%) and in Metals and Manufactured (61.7%).

Activity Branches A86

Analysing the largest activity branches, and in relation to exports, standing out this June were the increases in exports of Iron & Steel Products (80.9%), Non-ferrous Metals (100.8%), Metallic Articles (22.3%) and Coke Plants & Oil Refining (42.7%), as well as the decrease in exports of products relating to the Manufacture of motor vehicles (-17.6%). This latter activity branch (first in the ranking) fell significantly in Álava (-38.2%), down 143 million on the previous year, although it rose in Bizkaia (37.6%) and, to a greater extent, in Gipuzkoa (70.5%).

In relation to imports, it can be seen that the largest activity branch in terms of volume, Extraction & Petroleum Industries (14.3% of the total), saw an increase of 142.6%, as occurred in other branches including Coke Plants & Oil Refining (295.8%) and Iron & Steel Products (69.4%).

Largest customs duty groups

A more detailed look reveals year-on-year falls in exports of what are traditionally three of the largest customs duty groups: Passenger cars with fewer than 10 seats (-54.5%), Goods Transport Vehicles (-41.5%), and New Rubber Tyres (-22.0%). At the other end of the scale are Vehicle parts and accessories (65.7%), Refined Petroleum Oils (45.8%), Iron or Non-Alloy Steel Sections (142.3%), Railway or Tramway Vehicle Parts and Vehicles for transporting more than 10 people, including the driver with increases of 328.2 % and 1,634.0%, respectively.

Destination customers

In June, five countries (France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and Belgium) were the Basque Country’s biggest customers, absorbing 49.8% of total Basque exports. Three of them belong to the EU-27, an entity that accounts for 65.8% of exports.

For further information:

Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Basque Statistics Institute C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.es Tel.: 945 01 75 62