The trade deficit stood at 15.822 billion euros through June, down 3.6% from the same period in 2023, according to figures published today by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise.
Exports from Spain declined by 2.4%, reaching 195.105 billion euros, while imports fell by 2.5% to 210.927 billion euros.
With these numbers, the coverage rate — the share of imports that can be paid for with exports — rose slightly by 0.1 percentage points in the first half, to 92.5%.
Excluding energy, the deficit was very close to balance, standing at just over 138 million euros, while the energy deficit dropped by 6.1%, to 15.6841 billion euros.
Among exporting sectors, the strongest surplus came from food, beverages and tobacco, totaling 10.6091 billion euros, followed by the automotive sector with 4.8452 billion and nonchemical semi-manufactures at 3.5078 billion.
Exports directed to the euro area represented 62.5% of the total, while shipments to non-EU destinations accounted for 37.5% of the total.
Within the European Union, a surplus of 18.0182 billion euros was recorded in the first six months of the year, while the trade deficit with non-EU countries declined to 33.8407 billion euros.
By country, the largest surplus was with France at 12.165 billion euros, followed by Portugal with 7.1969 billion and the United Kingdom with 7.1065 billion.
By autonomous communities, the most notable year-over-year export growth was seen in Canary Islands at 24.2%, Extremadura at 14%, and Castile and Leon at 8.4%.
Regarding the June data, exports totaled 32.968 billion euros, down 3%, while imports fell by 7.3% to 33.6817 billion euros.
Thus, the trade deficit was reduced by 70%, to 712.9 million euros, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise.