America is emerging as a critical escape route for the province’s exports, especially as Europe faces ongoing instability from war, inflation, and energy concerns in Ukraine. Local markets are holding firm for now, but indicators suggest pressure is building, and attention is turning toward North American demand. So far, the signals are positive. Alicante-based companies have boosted sales to the United States by 25 percent in the first eight months of the year, reaching approximately 300 million euros. All of this unfolds within a broader pattern of rising foreign trade for the province, despite the challenging global climate.
Data from the Provincial Directorate of Commerce show that exports from Alicante reached 4,687 million euros by the end of August, up from 3,955 million in the same period last year. The footwear sector has been a key driver of growth in recent months, with overseas sales rising from 765 million last year to 901 million in these eight months. The agri-food sector also trends upward, highlighted by 390 million euros in processed fruit and nuts and 184 million euros in canned vegetables and fruit, up from 309 million and 167 million a year earlier. The only segment showing some weakness is legumes and vegetables, with 328 million compared to 384 million in the prior year.
Other notable performers include plastic materials and their manufacturing, which reached 301 million euros compared with 254 million a year ago; aluminum and its producers at 272 million versus 199; and machinery and mechanical devices with 124 million, up from 105. The toy sector also posted a modest gain, reaching 91 million in eight months, just a touch higher than the same period in 2021.
Among the most striking developments is the destination mix for exports, especially the sharp rise in sales to the United States. The U.S. market has long favored Alicante’s main sectors, particularly footwear, but recent conditions have increased its prominence as European markets confront volatility and slower growth.
Exports to Germany, the province’s largest customer within Europe, show resilience, climbing from 599 million last year to 678 million this year, while other European figures also improved from 458 to 522 million. Yet the broader outlook hints at a slowdown, with cautions linked to political developments in France and the financial uncertainty triggered in the United Kingdom by policy changes under the new government.
The efforts by Alicante companies to expand in the United States are yielding notable results in this environment, aided in part by more favorable tariff policies for footwear in the U.S. market.
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Marián Cano, president of the Valencian Footwear Entrepreneurs Association, notes that the United States—America’s largest non-EU market for the industry—saw an 18 percent growth to August. He describes the U.S. market as strategic for international expansion and growth plans. He emphasizes that roughly 300 million potential consumers in the United States create an attractive arena for Spanish-made footwear in the mid-to-high range sought by buyers there.
Salvador Navarro, president of the Valencian Community Business Confederation, confirms a persistent push by companies to enter the U.S. market, noting that conditions in Europe are more challenging after two difficult quarters of recession and ongoing economic adjustments.
Overall, Alicante’s export effort is adapting to a global context where the United States offers a robust platform for growth, while European markets demonstrate turbulence. The province’s producers are leveraging product quality, specialization, and favorable trade policies to sustain momentum across multiple sectors, including footwear, processed foods, and industrial goods.
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