This Alicante exports begins to feel the consequences loss of purchasing power by almost all consumers. european markets as a result of inflation. A particularly felt shoe industry, He almost dried up the good streak he caught last year and managed to extend it until January.
According to data released by Icex this Thursday, firms in the province traveled abroad during February. €622.1 million, 7% more compared to the same period last year. A positive figure a priori, but one that represents a considerable value Slowing from 13.7% recovery Experienced in Alicante export 2022 set and in relation to the 19% increase in January of the same year.
In addition, the figure also remains below 9.7% of the overall increase in international shipments across the country and barely surpassing the inflation level, which closed February at 6.1%, meaning the actual volume of goods shipped increased slightly.
As a result, thanks to good data in January, the accumulated figure for the first two months of the year still reaches 1.227 million, an acceptable increase of 12.9%.
When the data are analyzed on a sectoral basis, it can be verified that a significant part of this development stems from the slowdown in the sector. shoeexceeding the export grow 27% in the first month of the exercise, to only 2.4% in February. Despite this, it continues to be the most sold Alicante product abroad. 131.3 million euro.
“The data confirms what companies are telling us and we are afraid. Given the loss of purchasing power, Consumers prioritize the purchase of basic necessities The president of the Valencian Footwear Entrepreneurs Association (Avecal) explains: Marian Canoe, is aware of the concern that the industry is approaching in the coming months. In particular, together slowdown in European marketsshoemakers also perceive lower sales in their other major foreign markets, United States of America.
Despite this slowdown, the footwear industry is certainly not the hardest hit, as there are a few industries that show direct negative numbers. In this situation, the industry aluminumDecreasing its sales by 3.29% to 27.7 million units in February; detailing marble1% falling; and above all, toy, leaving a quarter of its sales at this beginning of the year. While it’s true that it’s an insignificant amount of time for the turnover of this business, which has accumulated most of its sales over Christmas, it’s still a bad sign.
The positive part comes from the side. agriculture sectorexperienced speed up your sales abroad, after a faltering start in January. Thus, exports of pulses and vegetables increased by 25% and reached 65.7 million units; while those in fruit reached 49 million with an increase of 8.8%, and only canned goods increased by 5.5% to 24.9 million, remaining below the increase in inflation.
Some data provided by beautiful campaign recorded by artichoke In Vega Baja in recent months, as confirmed by the president of Asaja Alicante, jose vincent andreuThe positive development in the prices of oranges and lemons also supported them. “The prices are very good. Due to the limitations to improve the condition of the Mar Menor, the harvest was frozen in Lorca and less was planted in the Cartagena field, which has helped us,” says the agriculture representative.
With countriesIt shows the slowdown in consumption in markets such as GermanThe second largest client of businessmen from Alicante, barely 4.3% growth or decline from last year Italy (-3.3%) and Poland (16.2%). Likewise, exports are subject to sanctions. RussiaWith a 57.6% decrease in exports to this country and diplomatic conflict, AlgeriaIt’s where companies in the state jumped from 12.9 million sales in February last year to just 1.6 million this year. Another worrying fact is, United States of AmericaWith an increase of 1.4%, which is a real decline when inflation is taken into account, which contrasts with the strong growth this market has enjoyed until recently.
Of course, for now, good performance of sales France (+25.2%), Portugal (+20%) or United Kingdom (+18.6%) saves the situation. In any case, the reality is that the outlook for the coming months is more uncertain than ever.