Spain’s Main Exports and Imports: Key Trade Products and Partners

Quick Overview

Spain exported €387.1 billion in goods and imported €444.1 billion in 2025. Its largest trade sectors include machinery, food, chemicals, vehicles, energy and consumer goods. France leads Spain’s export markets, while Germany and China are its largest import suppliers.

Spain’s Foreign Trade at a Glance

Spain has one of Europe’s most diversified trading economies, combining advanced manufacturing with major automotive, pharmaceutical, chemical, food and consumer-goods industries.

In 2025, Spanish goods exports increased by 0.7% to €387.1 billion, while imports rose by 4.6% to €444.1 billion. This produced a goods trade deficit of approximately €57.1 billion and an export coverage rate of 87.2%.

Spain Trade Figures

During the first four months of 2026, exports increased by 2% compared with the same period in 2025. Imports grew by only 0.3%, helping narrow the trade deficit from €19 billion to €16.8 billion.

Businesses moving goods internationally can compare available routes using the freight cost calculator and estimate delivery schedules with the transit time calculator.

What Are Spain’s Main Exports?

Spain’s largest export sectors are capital goods, food and beverages, chemicals, vehicles and intermediate industrial products.

Main Spanish Export Sectors in 2025

Capital Goods and Machinery

Capital goods were Spain’s largest export sector in 2025, generating approximately €75 billion.

Major products include:

• Industrial machinery
• Electrical equipment
• Engines and mechanical components
• Railway equipment
• Aircraft and aircraft parts
• Precision instruments
• Telecommunications equipment

Industrial machinery alone generated approximately €19.1 billion, while electrical apparatus accounted for another €16.4 billion.

Machinery and industrial equipment are commonly transported by FCL shipping because of their weight, dimensions and handling requirements. Smaller equipment shipments may be suitable for LCL shipping.

Food, Beverages and Agricultural Products

Food, beverages and tobacco generated €74.7 billion, representing 19.3% of Spain’s goods exports.

Leading categories included:

Spain is internationally recognized for exports such as olive oil, wine, citrus fruit, vegetables, pork, seafood and processed food.

Temperature-sensitive products may require reefer containers, cold storage and destination-specific sanitary documentation.

Pharmaceuticals and Chemical Products

Chemical exports reached approximately €66 billion in 2025, increasing by 5.2%.

Important categories included:

• Medicines: €21.2 billion
• Plastics: €13 billion
• Essential oils, cosmetics and perfumery products: €11.3 billion
• Organic chemicals: €8.5 billion
• Other chemical products: €6.1 billion

Medicine exports grew by 14.3% during the year. Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and high-value chemicals may be shipped by air freight when speed, security or temperature control is essential.

Vehicles and Automotive Components

The automotive sector exported approximately €49.4 billion in 2025.

This included:

• Cars and motorcycles: €36.5 billion
• Automotive components: €13 billion

Spain remains a major European vehicle-manufacturing base, with production clusters in Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia, the Basque Country, Navarra, Aragón and Castilla y León.

Although automotive exports fell by 7.1% in 2025, vehicles and components still represented 12.8% of all Spanish goods exports.

Ceramics, Metals and Industrial Materials

Spain also exports substantial volumes of:

• Ceramic products and tiles
• Iron and steel
• Non-ferrous metals
• Paper
• Plastics
• Construction materials
• Industrial components

Ceramic exports were worth approximately €5.6 billion in 2025. The industry is particularly important in Castellón and the Valencian Community.

What Are Spain’s Main Imports?

Spain imports machinery, chemicals, energy products, vehicles, electronics, textiles and food products to support domestic manufacturing and consumer demand.

Main Spanish Import Sectors in 2025

Machinery, Electronics and Equipment

Capital goods were Spain’s largest import sector, reaching €105.3 billion in 2025.

Important categories included:

• Industrial machinery: €24.8 billion
• Electrical equipment: €23.6 billion
• Office and telecommunications equipment: €21.7 billion
• Transport equipment: €13.1 billion
• Precision instruments: €7.9 billion

Imports of capital goods increased by 9.5%, reflecting demand for industrial technology, electrical systems, computers, production equipment and telecommunications products.

Oil, Gas and Energy Products

Spain imports crude oil and natural gas because domestic production does not meet national energy demand.

Energy imports totaled €53.5 billion in 2025, including:

• Petroleum and petroleum products: €40 billion
• Natural gas: €11.6 billion
• Coal and electricity: €1.9 billion

Spain also exports refined petroleum products after crude oil is processed through its domestic refinery network.

Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals

Spain imported €72.1 billion in chemical products during 2025.

Major categories included:

• Medicines: €26.6 billion
• Plastics: €15 billion
• Organic chemicals: €9.8 billion
• Other chemical products: €7.1 billion
• Cosmetics and perfumery materials: €7 billion

Medicines alone increased by 15.8%, making pharmaceuticals one of Spain’s most valuable import and export categories.

Vehicles and Automotive Parts

Automotive imports reached €46.3 billion, including:

• Cars and motorcycles: €27.8 billion
• Vehicle components: €18.5 billion

Imported automotive components support Spanish assembly plants, while imported finished vehicles complement domestic production.

Textiles and Consumer Goods

Consumer-manufacture imports totaled approximately €50.8 billion.

Textile imports accounted for €27.7 billion, including €22.4 billion in clothing. Spain also imports footwear, furniture, appliances, toys, electronics and other consumer products.

China, Türkiye, Bangladesh, Vietnam and other Asian and Mediterranean manufacturing markets are important sourcing locations for these products.

Spain’s Main Export Markets

The European Union remains the primary destination for Spanish goods. In 2025, EU countries received 61.8% of Spain’s exports, while Europe as a whole accounted for 73.9%.

Top Export Destinations in 2025

France is Spain’s largest export market, particularly for vehicles, food, machinery and industrial products.

Portugal and France also generate strong cross-border road freight demand, while the United Kingdom, United States, Morocco and markets in Latin America require a combination of ocean and air freight.

Businesses shipping to North America can consult the guide to freight from Spain to the United States.

Spain’s Main Import Partners

EU countries supplied 49.4% of Spain’s imports in 2025. Asia supplied 22.3%, while the Americas accounted for 13%.

Top Import Origins in 2025

Germany supplies Spain with vehicles, machinery, electrical equipment, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

China is Spain’s largest Asian supplier and a major source of electronics, electrical equipment, machinery, clothing, toys, furniture and consumer products. Imports from China reached €50.2 billion in 2025, while Spanish exports to China totaled approximately €8 billion.

Companies sourcing from Asia can review the China-to-Spain freight guide for ocean and air shipping options.

Spain’s Trade With the United States

In 2025, Spain exported approximately €16.7 billion in goods to the United States and imported €30.2 billion from the U.S.

Common Spanish exports to the U.S. include:

• Medicines
• Olive oil
• Wine and beverages
• Cosmetics and personal-care products
• Ceramic products
• Machinery
• Electrical equipment
• Automotive components

Common U.S. exports to Spain include:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Crude oil and natural gas
• Aircraft and aircraft parts
• Industrial machinery
• Chemicals
• Electrical equipment
• Agricultural products

Importers can compare shipping options through the United States-to-Spain trade lane.

Shipping Cargo to and From Spain

Spain’s position between the Atlantic and Mediterranean makes it a strategic gateway for trade with Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Main Container Ports in Spain

Important commercial ports include:

1. Port of Valencia — A major Mediterranean container gateway serving central and eastern Spain.
2. Port of Algeciras — Strategically located near the Strait of Gibraltar for east–west and Europe–Africa routes.
3. Port of Barcelona — A major container, automotive and consumer-goods gateway for Catalonia and southern Europe.
4. Port of Bilbao — An Atlantic gateway serving northern Spain and industrial supply chains.

Exporters and importers can compare services through the ocean freight to Spain page or explore the complete ports directory.

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is usually the most economical option for heavy, bulky or high-volume cargo.

Available services include:

• FCL for full-container shipments
• LCL for smaller commercial consignments
• Refrigerated containers
• Open-top and flat-rack equipment
• Port-to-port and door-to-door services

Air Freight

Air freight is generally suitable for:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Urgent components
• Electronics
• Medical equipment
• Perishable products
• High-value merchandise
• Time-sensitive samples

Spain’s principal air cargo gateways include Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Zaragoza and Vitoria.

References

• Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise — Foreign Trade Report, December 2025 — Full-year export and import totals, product sectors and trading partners.
• Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise — Foreign Trade Report, April 2026 — Latest available 2026 year-to-date trade figures and sector performance.
• DataComex — Spanish Foreign Trade Statistics — Official database for Spanish trade by product, country and region.
• U.S. Census Bureau — Trade in Goods With Spain — U.S.-reported bilateral merchandise-trade statistics.