Andalusian Agri-food Sector Exports Reach €9.326 Billion in the First Half of the Year

Andalusia is home to almost 5,800 agri-food businesses, representing 19% of the region’s industrial fabric, generating 18% of industrial gross value added, and accounting for 24.3% of employment in the sector. These figures position the agri-food industry as Andalusia’s leading industrial activity and one of the main economic drivers of its rural areas, according to information from the Regional Government of Andalusia.

The sector’s international performance further reinforces this position. During the first half of the year, Andalusian agri-food exports reached €9.326 billion, representing a 0.8% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. Export volumes amounted to almost four million tonnes, according to data from the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. This figure represents 23.4% of Spain’s total agri-food exports, meaning that almost one in every four euros generated by the country’s agri-food export sector originates in Andalusia.

Almería tops the provincial ranking both in terms of export value and volume. By destination market, Germany remains the leading export market, accounting for 19.7% of total exports and generating more than €1.833 billion during the semester, an increase of 4.3% compared with the same period of the previous year.

While private companies play a significant role, the cooperative model remains a cornerstone of this productive structure. According to Agri-food Cooperatives of Andalusia, 60% of the region’s agri-industrial turnover is generated through cooperatives, a model that underpins a substantial share of production and marketing activities across rural Andalusia.

Looking ahead, the Regional Government of Andalusia is working on the Andalusian Agri-food Industry Strategy 2030, a framework designed to guide the sector’s development and strengthen its competitiveness over the coming years.