Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Basque Country's manufacturing sector produced 2.5 million tons of primary steel, accounting for 15% of Spain's total steel output.
- The machine tool industry in Basque Country exported €1.2 billion worth of products in 2023, with 85% destined for international markets.
- Basque aeronautics sector manufactured 1,800 components for Airbus A350 aircraft in 2022, contributing to 10% of global supply chain.
- In 2022, Basque manufacturing employment stood at 180,000 workers, 28% of total regional employment.
- Automotive industry employed 45,000 people in 2023, with 15% in R&D roles.
- Steel sector jobs numbered 12,500 in 2022, average wage €38,000 annually.
- Total industry turnover €75 billion in 2022, 35% of Basque GDP.
- Manufacturing GVA €28 billion in 2023, growth 4.2% YoY.
- Automotive sector revenue €18 billion in 2022, profit margin 6.5%.
- Basque industry exports €32 billion in 2023, 70% of total sales.
- Automotive exports €12.5 billion in 2022, 75% to EU.
- Machine tools exported €1.2 billion to Germany alone in 2023.
- R&D projects industry 1,250 in 2022, €1.8 billion funding.
- Patents filed by Basque industry 850 in 2023, 60% manufacturing.
- Innovation expenditure €2.5 billion in 2022, 3.2% sales.
Basque industry excels in manufacturing, exporting globally while investing heavily in innovation.
Economic Indicators
- Total industry turnover €75 billion in 2022, 35% of Basque GDP.
- Manufacturing GVA €28 billion in 2023, growth 4.2% YoY.
- Automotive sector revenue €18 billion in 2022, profit margin 6.5%.
- Steel industry EBITDA €1.2 billion in 2023.
- Aeronautics turnover €4.5 billion in 2022, ROI 12%.
- Machine tools sales €2.8 billion in 2023, 8% market share EU.
- Energy equipment revenue €6.2 billion in 2022.
- Shipbuilding contracts value €1.5 billion in 2023 order book.
- Chemicals GVA €2.1 billion in 2022, 7% growth.
- Investment in industry fixed assets €3.4 billion in 2023.
- Productivity index manufacturing 115 (EU=100) in 2022.
- Energy intensity of industry 0.25 toe/€1000 GVA in 2023.
- R&D expenditure industry €2.2 billion in 2022, 2.8% of turnover.
Economic Indicators Interpretation
Employment Data
- In 2022, Basque manufacturing employment stood at 180,000 workers, 28% of total regional employment.
- Automotive industry employed 45,000 people in 2023, with 15% in R&D roles.
- Steel sector jobs numbered 12,500 in 2022, average wage €38,000 annually.
- Aeronautics cluster had 25,000 employees in 2023, 20% engineers.
- Machine tool firms employed 8,000 workers in 2022, turnover per employee €250,000.
- Energy equipment sector jobs: 15,000 in 2023, 10% female workforce.
- Shipbuilding yards employed 4,500 in 2022, with 30% under 35 years old.
- Chemical industry workforce: 18,000 in 2023, absenteeism rate 3.2%.
- Metal transformation employed 22,000 in 2022, training hours per worker 40 annually.
- Elevator sector jobs: 6,000 in 2023, 25% international staff.
- Unemployment rate in manufacturing: 5.8% in 2022, below national average.
- R&D personnel in industry: 12,000 in 2023, 7% of total employees.
- Apprentice programs trained 2,500 youth in manufacturing in 2022.
- Female employment in industry rose to 22% in 2023 from 18% in 2019.
- High-skill jobs (engineers): 35,000 in Basque industry 2022.
- Basque manufacturing GVA per worker: €85,000 in 2023.
- Sector turnover per employee in machine tools: €280,000 in 2022.
Employment Data Interpretation
Manufacturing Output
- In 2022, the Basque Country's manufacturing sector produced 2.5 million tons of primary steel, accounting for 15% of Spain's total steel output.
- The machine tool industry in Basque Country exported €1.2 billion worth of products in 2023, with 85% destined for international markets.
- Basque aeronautics sector manufactured 1,800 components for Airbus A350 aircraft in 2022, contributing to 10% of global supply chain.
- In 2023, the energy equipment sector produced 500 wind turbine components, generating €450 million in revenue.
- Shipbuilding industry in Basque Country delivered 3 vessels totaling 120,000 GT in 2022.
- Automotive parts production reached 15 million units in 2023, with 70% exported from Basque factories.
- Chemical industry output in Basque Country was €3.8 billion in 2022, focusing on specialty polymers.
- Metalworking sector fabricated 800,000 tons of forged components in 2023 for automotive use.
- Elevator manufacturing produced 12,000 units in 2022, with exports to 50 countries.
- Paper and cardboard production totaled 450,000 tons in Basque Country in 2023.
- Rubber products industry output value was €1.1 billion in 2022, serving tire manufacturing.
- Food processing industry in Basque Country processed 300,000 tons of canned fish in 2023.
- Textile sector wove 50 million meters of technical fabrics for industrial use in 2022.
- Glass manufacturing produced 200,000 tons of flat glass for automotive in 2023.
- Cement production reached 1.8 million tons from Basque plants in 2022.
- Furniture manufacturing output was €650 million in 2023, with 40% exported.
- Plastic injection molding produced 10 million parts for electronics in 2022.
- Wire and cable production totaled 150,000 km in Basque Country in 2023.
- Precision engineering machined 5 million components for medical devices in 2022.
- Additive manufacturing (3D printing) output value €120 million in 2023.
Manufacturing Output Interpretation
R&D and Innovation
- R&D projects industry 1,250 in 2022, €1.8 billion funding.
- Patents filed by Basque industry 850 in 2023, 60% manufacturing.
- Innovation expenditure €2.5 billion in 2022, 3.2% sales.
- Collaborative R&D centers 45 in Basque Country 2023.
- Automotive R&D investment €450 million in 2022.
- Aeronautics tech transfer projects 120 in 2023.
- Machine tools digitalization projects 200, €150 million 2022.
- Green energy R&D €300 million in industry 2023.
- AI implementations in manufacturing 350 firms 2022.
- Sustainability certifications ISO 14001: 1,200 factories 2023.
- CO2 reduction initiatives 500 projects, 20% cut since 2015 2022.
- Circular economy investment €250 million in 2023.
- Robotics adoption 65% of metal firms in 2022.
- Basque industry renewable energy use 35% of total 2023.
- Water recycling rate industry 92% in 2022.
R&D and Innovation Interpretation
Trade and Exports
- Basque industry exports €32 billion in 2023, 70% of total sales.
- Automotive exports €12.5 billion in 2022, 75% to EU.
- Machine tools exported €1.2 billion to Germany alone in 2023.
- Aeronautics exports €3.8 billion in 2022, 90% international.
- Steel products shipped €2.1 billion abroad in 2023.
- Energy equipment exports to US €800 million in 2022.
- Chemicals exported 1.2 million tons value €2.9 billion 2023.
- Elevator exports €450 million to Asia in 2022.
- Imports of raw materials for industry €15 billion in 2023.
- Trade balance industry +€17 billion surplus in 2022.
- Top export market Germany 22% of Basque industry exports 2023.
- France received €6.8 billion Basque industrial goods in 2022.
- US imports from Basque industry €2.4 billion in 2023.
- Mexico automotive parts imports €1.1 billion from Basque 2022.
- China machine tools imports €650 million in 2023.
Trade and Exports Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1EUSTATeustat.eusVisit source
- Reference 2EUSKADIeuskadi.eusVisit source
- Reference 3HESAhesa.eusVisit source
- Reference 4NAVANTIAnavantia.esVisit source
- Reference 5ACEVASCOUNTRYacevascountry.comVisit source
- Reference 6CLUSTERINDUSTRIALclusterindustrial.eusVisit source
- Reference 7OTARITAKotaritak.eusVisit source
- Reference 8INEine.esVisit source
- Reference 9CLUSTERTEXTILEclustertextile.eusVisit source
- Reference 10UNECEunece.orgVisit source
- Reference 11PLASTICSINDUSTRYplasticsindustry.orgVisit source
- Reference 12ADDITIVEMANUFACTURINGadditivemanufacturing.mediaVisit source
- Reference 13AFMafm.esVisit source
- Reference 14ECec.europa.euVisit source






