Exports from Alicante rebounded in July, climbing to 628 million euros after a dip the previous month. Notably, the shoe sector—traditionally the sector with the steepest decline—led the resurgence with a strong international sales performance. The July uptick underscores how a single industry can drive overall export momentum even when other sectors struggle on the global stage.
Official figures from the Ministry of Industry, Labor and Tourism show a broader easing in some export segments while the province’s shipments as a whole regained traction. The broader environment remains unsettled by inflation and uncertainty across international markets, largely linked to the war in Ukraine. The earlier drop in June, when the uninterrupted growth trend that began in January faltered by eight percent and totalled 596 million, raised alarms about the volatility facing exporters.
July’s 628 million euros not only marks a return to growth but also stands as the strongest monthly result since the start of the year, even surpassing May’s 649 million euros. The shoe industry emerged as the primary driver of this revival, contributing 128 million euros, up from 89 million in the prior month. This sector’s performance stands out as one of the few that managed to move forward in a challenging climate. In parallel, fruits and nuts rose from 49 million to 53 million in June, making them the only agri-food category to grow, while toy games advanced from 11 million to 15 million, signaling diversification within consumer goods exports.
On the other hand, some categories experienced declines. Legumes and vegetables fell from 28 million to 22 million, and canned vegetables slipped from 27 million to 25 million. The situation was similar for plastic materials and their manufacturers, which dropped from 42 million to 40 million, and for aluminum products, which declined from 39 million to 38 million. These movements illustrate the uneven nature of export performance across Alicante’s industrial mix during this period.
Alicante’s export activity remains notably higher than pre-pandemic levels observed in 2019. During the first seven months of this year, the province shipped 4,195 million euros, up from 3,226 million euros in the same period of the year before the epidemic. The continued resilience reflects a combination of recovering global demand and strategic sectoral strengths that have kept regional exports viable even as international conditions remain fluid. The data point to a landscape where some industries rebound quickly while others adjust to shifting market realities, but overall export momentum persists through the year as trade channels adapt and new opportunities emerge. (Source: Ministry of Industry, Labor and Tourism)