Manufacturing industry in figures
This section includes a series of analyses of Spanish manufacturing industry in comparison with other neighbouring countries and the European Union.
GDP per capita
Source: OECD
Since 2007, the average income of Spaniards has been falling relative to most countries, especially relative to the EU.
Exports of goods as a share of GDP
Source: OECD
Ninety per cent of exported goods are manufactured goods. Spain is in an intermediate group of countries, but losing ground to the EU-26.
Balance of trade balance as a share of GDP
Source: OECD
Spain significantly reduced the trade deficit between 2007 and 2020, but in 2021 and 2022 it increased again to 2009 levels, mainly due to net imports of energy products.
Gross value added of the manufacturing sector as a share of total Gross Value Added
Source: OECD
The weight of the manufacturing sector in Spain is low and is losing ground with respect to the EU-26.
Gross Value Added of manufacturing sub-sectors
Source: EUROSTAT
The food, beverages and tobacco, metal products, vehicles and transport equipment, and rubber and plastics subsectors account for more than half of the total GVA of the manufacturing sector (55% in 2019).
Comparison with EU-26 of the main manufacturing sub-sectors
Source: EUROSTAT
Between 2000 and 2019, and of the 4 most relevant sectors, Spain's only growth rate is higher than that of the EU-26 in the food, beverages and tobacco sector, a sector of low technological intensity, although of strategic importance for the supply of food to the population.
Comparison with EU-26 of average technology intensity weighted by weight of manufacturing sub-sectors
Source: EUROSTAT
Between 2000 and 2019, the average technology intensity of the Spanish manufacturing sector, which was already lower than that of the EU-26 in 2000, has continued to lose ground.
Manufacturing firms engaged in innovation activities
Source: EUROSTAT
Spain is in the group of European countries with the lowest percentage of companies in the manufacturing sector that carry out innovation activities.
Technology investment in the manufacturing sector
Source: EUROSTAT
Spain is one of the EU countries where a lower percentage of companies in the manufacturing sector invested in machinery, equipment or software (new or upgraded) in 2018.
Investment in innovation as a share of manufacturing industry revenues in Spain
Source: INE
The average percentage of investment in innovation as a percentage of manufacturing firms' revenue is low. The most innovation-intensive manufacturing sectors are computer, electronic and optical products, pharmaceuticals and other transport equipment.