Valladolid, Jul 20 (EFE).- Castilla y León was the Community that increased its exports the most between January and May, with a rebound of 18.9 percent.
In those five months the Community sold abroad for 6,964.5 million euros, according to the Ministry’s monthly foreign trade report published this Thursday and collected by EFE.
The trade balance with a surplus of 446 million until May
Between January and May, the Community imported 6,518.5, 20.9 percent more than in the same period of 2022.
With this, its foreign trade balance closed in the first five months of the year with a surplus of 446 million euros, 19.1 million less than the data for the first five months of last year.
In the national group, the trade deficit fell in the first five months of the year by 47% year-on-year, to 14,065 million euros.
This is due to the reduction in imports and a growth in exports that has led to a new all-time high of 165,969 million.
It also led the export increase in May
After closing 2022 as the only negative community in this export indicator, Castilla y León maintains a good tone in its exports so far in 2023.
In May it exported for 1,565.8 million, 14.6 percent more than in that month of 2022, also the largest increase in the autonomous community in that month.
The value of exports increased in 13 autonomous communities until May and fell in the rest.
Castilla y León led the way (18.9%), followed by La Rioja (16.8%) and Catalonia (15.0%).
And the greatest interannual decreases were registered in the Canary Islands (-23.7%), Andalusia (-6.2%) and Cantabria (-3.2%).
The automobile sector exported 32.1% of the regional total
By sectors, the automobile sector exported 2,239.1 million euros in the first five months of the year, 32.1 percent of the regional total.
In addition, automotive exports were 41.3 percent more than in the same period of 2022.
Non-chemical semi-manufactures followed, with 1,388.1 million, 19.9 percent of the regional total, and a 31.8 percent increase.
Food exports grew 14.5 percent
As for the Food, beverages and tobacco sector, it was the third in export importance in those first five months of the year.
That sector exported 1,292.7 million, 18.6 percent of the regional total and 14.5 percent more than in the same period of 2022.
All the provinces, except Salamanca, exported more until May
All the provinces of the Community exported more in the January-May period than in the same period of 2022, except Salamanca, which sold 12 percent less, up to 401.9 million.
In absolute data, Valladolid was the most exporter in those first five months, with 2,456.8 million, followed by Burgos with 1,537.7 and Palencia with 1,068.7.
León exported for 732.7 million, Segovia for 288.9; Soria for 249.7; Zamora for 142.8; and Ávila for 85.3 million.EFE