Alicante’s exports again show a setback in May, marking the second straight month of decline despite certain regional increases. This trend contrasts with growth seen in many European markets, where shipments to Italy and the Netherlands contracted, and shipments to Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Latin America faced notable drops. The May performance weighed on the province’s foreign trade results, mirroring a national pattern.
ICEX data released on Thursday show Alicante-based companies recording foreign sales of 619 million euros in May, down 4.7 percent from May of the previous year. This marks the second consecutive monthly decline after a 6.3 percent drop in April.
In contrast, the year’s first quarter delivered positive momentum, with cumulative exports totaling 3,149 million euros, up about 6 percent from the previous year.
A worker harvests lemons in a field.
Nationwide, May foreign shipments amounted to 33,942 million euros, a 3.1 percent decrease, aligning with the same drop rate observed for Alicante. Yet the year-to-date figure continues to rise, up 6.4 percent to 165,968 million euros.
Sector-wise, the decline in overseas sales was broad-based, with a few exceptions. The agri-food sector stood out, maintaining strength since the start of the year.
Fruit exports rose by 13 percent in May to 68.5 million euros as a favorable campaign for citrus continued, aided by sales of strawberries and other red fruits grown in the province, according to ICEX data. Vegetable exports climbed 12 percent to 42 million, and processed products, including canned goods, edged up 1 percent to 26.9 million.
manufactures
In manufacturing, notable gains were seen in knitwear exports, up 89 percent to 5.4 million, and other clothing categories, up 115 percent to 9.8 million. Plastic products such as packaging and pipes also showed resilience, finishing the month with a modest 0.2 percent increase to 42.4 million units.
Alicante’s exports to the United Kingdom have doubled since Brexit took effect, reflecting shifting trade flows and market dynamics in Europe.
On the downside, several traditional industrial products posted declines. Footwear, the largest segment in Alicante’s manufacturing, fell 12.5 percent, totaling 90.5 million in May and bringing the year-to-date figure to 582.6 million, with a marginal decline of 0.9 percent overall.
Industry sources, including the Avecal business association, warned of a potential slowdown in consumer demand as higher interest rates and inflation weigh on households globally, with fashion products often feeling the first impact.
A Futurmoda issue image accompanies the report.
Other product groups showed softer performance: furniture exports dropped to 11.8 million, down 15.6 percent; toys fell 10.6 percent to 10.8 million; and aluminum products declined 21.6 percent to 34.2 million, with lower metal prices contributing to the slide. Marble shipments fell by 25 percent to nine million, even as raw block shipments increased.
Looking at major markets for Alicante, May brought improvements in most European countries, with Germany purchasing Alicante products for 81 million euros (up 12.5 percent), France adding 93 million (up 3.3 percent), Portugal at 60 million (up 20 percent), and the United Kingdom near 40.5 million.
Elisa Carbonell of ICEX noted that the UK remains a very interesting market despite Brexit, even as other European economies posted mixed results. Italy and the Netherlands, for instance, recorded significant declines, while Algeria faced a diplomatic rift that led to a 70 percent drop in shipments. Other markets posted softer performances, including Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia, contributing to a broader global pressure on trade dynamics.
In sum, while some sectors and markets show resilience, current trends point to a cautious export environment for Alicante. The mix of regional recoveries and ongoing external pressures continues to shape the province’s trade performance through the middle of the year, underscoring the need for diversified markets and adaptive strategies across product lines.