It has long been viewed as one of the more open provinces, a place with strong outward trade that stands out in export activity across the country. In reality, Alicante’s foreign sector is marked by a few large players and many smaller firms that often struggle to grow toward a regional or national scale.
Last year, total shipments from the province to international markets surpassed 7 billion euros. More than half of that volume, precisely 52.4%, was concentrated among just one hundred companies. The pandemic and its disruption to global trade have intensified this trend, and since 2019 the share held by these 100 largest firms has risen from 49.9%.
Data from the Icex Spanish Exporters Profile also highlights the small size of most Alicante exporters. Nationally, an exporter invoices an average of 2,053,000 euros for international shipments, while Alicante exporters barely exceed 706,000 euros on average.
“It’s partly a cultural issue—an extremely fragmented business landscape. There is little practice of cooperation and unity. When two brothers take over a family business, they often split the operation instead of expanding it”, notes Pablo Gómez, CEO of Oftex, a firm that helps businesses grow internationally, reminding readers that company size frequently correlates with competitiveness.
Only 1.8% of all Spanish sales abroad come from Alicante
Even with robust export sectors like footwear and agri-food, Alicante accounted for only 1.8% of Spain’s total exports last year, down from 3% at the start of the century. The province dropped from ninth to eighteenth place in the national exports ranking over the past two years, according to Icex data.
Although the total number of exporters recorded by ICEX reached 10,006, that figure includes every operator touching customs. The meaningful data point is the regular exporters—those who consistently sell abroad. ICEX defines this category as firms maintaining a steady foreign presence for four consecutive years.
On the bright side, last year Alicante saw a rebound in the number of regular exporters after declines tied to the 2020–2021 pandemic period. The province gained 2.0% to 2,622, though this remains below the 2,735 exporters recorded in 2019, and still below the year prior.
Two cranes rise over the port of Alicante, symbolizing ongoing activity and resilience.
In any case, the decline in regular exporters did not stop total export volumes from rising, as firms holding their share increased their quotas. Today’s concentration is higher than before, reflecting a market where a core group holds substantial influence.
When looking at products, Alicante shows diversification. The province features a strong cohort of footwear exporters and a similarly sized group in machinery and mechanical devices—though this does not imply all are manufacturers. There are also more than 800 plastics firms and around five hundred food industry entities among the most active players.
Recovery of the footwear industry brings exports to historical levels at 7.068 million
Looking ahead to 2023, Pablo Gómez predicts another year of growth for the foreign sector, helped by an improving global situation. He notes that tensions stemming from the Ukraine conflict have eased, supply chains have gradually stabilized, and transportation costs have fallen, creating a more favorable outlook. While a full rebound is not guaranteed, there is some uncertainty tied to consumer demand.
New paths to the Russian market
Sanctions against Russia have hit many Alicante exporters hard, reducing the regional exposure to that market by about half—from 296 to 149 exporters, according to Icex. Gómez explains that many of these firms relied on large volumes with Russia and began routing shipments through countries like Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan to circumvent the Brussels veto. Initially this caused collection delays of up to 60 days, but procedures have since been streamlined and payments now arrive in roughly 15 days.