A growing, dynamic and innovative industry

With over 119 billion euros in turnover (2% of GDP) and a labor force of nearly 500,000 people, agri-food is the main activity in Spain’s manufacturing industry.

Spain is the fourth agri-food power in Europe in turnover, after France, Germany and Italy, accounting for 9% of the European agri-food industry value added.

By sub-sector, meat with 26%, leads the food industry in Spain, followed by the beverage, fats and oils, and fruit and vegetable processing sectors

In Spain, the consumption of agri-food products per capita has increased significantly in the last year, returning to 2015 figures and amounting to 1.5 billion euros per year. Spanish consumers tend to buy fresh products like meat, fruit and vegetables and fish. Dairy products are also bought regularly. 76% of purchases are made at superstores, supermarkets or discount stores. The online channel (even at 1.2% of the total) is experiencing substantial growth.

The agri-food industry shows tremendous dynamism at the international level with 11 years of trade surplus, more than 31,000 companies and over 30 billion euros in exports.

The Spanish food industry’s very notable entry into the international market accounts for 9.3% of total EU-28 exports. France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the UK, the United States and China are among the 10 countries that consume Spanish food the most.

Finally, tourism and gastronomy are very important to the industry. Spain is a tourism powerhouse that attracts more than 83 million visitors who, along with national consumers, result in 253,444 food and beverage establishments.

Spanish gastronomy, thanks to innovation, is internationally renowned, a fact that is evidenced by Spain having more restaurants among the top 50 worldwide, than any other country.