Andalusia's exports achieved a value of €28.617 billion between January and August 2026, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 5.8%. This figure is 2.6 percentage points above the national average increase of 3.2%, and it also exceeds the growth rates of the other two leading exporting regions in Spain, Catalonia (2%) and Madrid (0.6%).
As a result, Andalusia, together with the Valencian Community, is one of the largest contributors to Spain's export growth in 2026, each adding 0.6 percentage points. The region remains third in overall sales, accounting for 10.8% of the national total.
This positive outcome is attributed to strong performance in European markets, where exports grew by 9.6%, and to the diversification of trade with Asia, which has now surpassed America as the second-largest continental destination for Andalusian exports, representing 10.2% of total sales (€2.903 billion), an 11.7% increase compared to the first eight months of 2025.
Data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, compiled by Andalucía TRADE, reveals that August—the most recent month for which data is available—also showed favourable results for Andalusia. Exports grew by 16.1% compared to August 2025, reaching €2.918 billion, which is 2.7 percentage points higher than the average growth rate in Spain (13.6%).
Meanwhile, Andalusia's imports also increased by 12.1% from January to August, resulting in a coverage rate of 93.2%. Although this indicates a deficit of €2.105 billion, it is eight points above the Spanish average, which has a coverage rate of 85.2% and a deficit of €45.818 billion. The primary cause of this deficit, both in Andalusia and Spain, is the uncontrolled rise in energy prices driven by international conflicts, particularly concerning oil.
When examining the non-energy trade balance, Andalusia's external sector demonstrates a highly positive situation in 2026, with a non-energy surplus of €4.855 billion and a coverage rate of 125.9%. This stands in contrast to the national average, which continues to face a non-energy trade deficit of €25.104 billion, with a coverage rate of 90.6%—more than 35 points below that of Andalusia.
The leading sector in sales and the one with the highest growth is linked to industry. The category of fuels and mineral oils accounts for the largest share, generating €3.992 billion (13.9% of the total) and experiencing a growth of 24.9%. The most significant growth among the top ten categories is seen in metal ores, slags, and ashes, which increased by 46% compared to the same period last year, amounting to €1.529 billion and positioning it as the fifth-largest category in sales, with 5.3% of the total.
Vegetables represent the second-largest sales category in Andalusia, achieving their best record since comparable data began in 1985 for the January to August period, with €3.260 billion (11.4% of the total) and a year-on-year increase of 12.1%. This allows the region to lead vegetable sales in Spain, commanding 48% of the national total.
The Asian market is providing notable diversification for Andalusian exports, now accounting for €2.903 billion and an 11.7% increase, which represents 10.2% of total sales, half a percentage point above the accumulated figure from America, which stands at €2.785 billion, a 2.2% decrease.
Seville leads in sales, while Málaga shows the most significant growth. The diversification of export destinations is complemented by a diversification of sales origins, with six of the eight Andalusian provinces reporting growth, four of which achieved record highs, and five maintaining a positive trade balance. Notably, Málaga experienced a 12% increase compared to the first eight months of 2025, allowing it to rise to fifth place in the ranking, with €2.544 billion in exports, representing 8.9% of the total for Andalusia.
