In Alicante’s economic story, a familiar proverb rings true: every cloud has a silver lining. The current trade picture shows a stretch of headwinds, but it also reveals opportunities. The recent data reflect a dip in the trade balance, narrowing the surplus by about 20 percent over the year. Yet the uptick in Chinese imports offers relief for many sectors, helping fill gaps in components and raw materials that disrupt production lines. Metals and footwear are among the beneficiaries, while some finished goods rise as competitive pressure for local firms. Exports continue to grow, though with a gentler pace.
The Provincial Directorate of Commerce reports a marked rise in imports and a more cautious expansion in exports. During the first ten months of the year, goods arriving in the Alicante region totaled 4,962 million euros, up from 3,919 million in the same period last year. Overseas sales reached 5,886 million, higher than 4,536 in 2021 but with slower momentum. The trade surplus fell from 1,151 million to 923 million in the same comparison, underscoring the shifting balance between incoming and outgoing trade.
China continues to lead the surge in imports, maintaining its position after a phase of slower activity tied to strict internal COVID controls. As restrictions eased and the disease waned, sales to Alicante rose by 31.6 percent in these ten months, bringing the total value to 1,348 million euros. Italy ranks second, with a 20.8 percent increase and 384 million euros in trade. The composition of these imports highlights a trend: footwear rose 36.9 percent, aluminum products 62.5 percent, and a notable uptick in plastic materials. Some items span several industries, reflecting the interconnected nature of modern supply chains.
Among the products imported, shoes lead the gains, followed by aluminum components and plastics. The rise in materials used across multiple sectors signals a broadening demand and renewed activity across the region’s manufacturing base.
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Behind the numbers, the import surge brings both relief and challenge for local industry. Luis Rodríguez, president of the Federation of Metal Entrepreneurs (Fempa), notes that delays in orders for components and raw materials from China have gradually shifted toward a more regular pattern. This easing helps restore normal production timelines, though it also highlights the need for firms to consider relocation strategies to mitigate future disruptions and move toward sustainable operations.
Marián Cano, president of the Valencian Footwear Entrepreneurs Association (Avecal), ties the import uptick mainly to smoother logistics with China and higher industry activity. He emphasizes that rising demand from companies helps explain the growth in imports. However, he cautions that some imports reflect final products from Chinese manufacturers competing on price, underscoring the importance of niche markets and value-added offerings for local firms.
The arrival of clothing also rose by 42 percent. Pepe Serna, president of national and regional textile associations, warns this could pose competitive pressure for producers, especially in Catalonia. In the Valencian Community, much of the textile sector is tied to home fabrics, which could influence regional dynamics and investment decisions.
In parallel, the export landscape shows resilience in shoes and food products, while metals and textiles face softer demand.
Economist Ignacio Jiménez Raneda from the University of Alicante cautions that higher imports should not be alarming for most firms. He argues that strong companies focused on quality can absorb competition from cheaper imports, and the trade balance should be interpreted with nuance rather than alarm.
Looking at export performance through October, growth reached 16.1 percent. Footwear exports rose by 16.9 percent, totaling 1,124 million euros, and fruits and vegetables climbed 4.7 percent, reaching 501 million euros. Plastic materials advanced 16.9 percent to 375 million, aluminum and its components grew 33.1 percent to 344 million, and toys added 0.8 percent to 132 million.