While you may know Castilla-La Mancha for its iconic windmills and Manchego cheese, its thriving industrial sector, which contributed €18.4 billion to the regional economy in 2022, is the modern engine quietly powering Spain's heartland.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the manufacturing sector in Castilla-La Mancha contributed 12.5% to the regional GDP, with a total output value of €18.4 billion.
- The food and beverage industry produced 2.1 million hectoliters of wine in Castilla-La Mancha in 2023, accounting for 13% of Spain's total wine production.
- Ceramic tile production in Castilla-La Mancha reached 45.2 million square meters in 2022, representing 22% of national output.
- Manufacturing employment in Castilla-La Mancha stood at 145,000 workers in 2023.
- Unemployment rate in industry sector was 11.2% in 2022.
- Food industry employed 38,500 people in 2023.
- Exports from Castilla-La Mancha industry totaled €12.6 billion in 2023.
- Food and beverage exports reached €4.2 billion in 2022, 33% of total industrial exports.
- Aerospace exports: €1.8 billion in 2023, mainly to EU countries.
- Industrial investment in Castilla-La Mancha reached €2.8 billion in 2023.
- FDI inflow into industry: €650 million in 2022.
- R&D expenditure in manufacturing: 1.8% of GDP in 2023.
- CO2 emissions from industry reduced by 18% since 2015 to 4.2 million tons in 2023.
- Renewable energy use in industry: 35% of total consumption in 2022.
- Waste recycling rate: 82% in manufacturing 2023.
Castilla-La Mancha's diverse manufacturing sector drives significant regional economic growth and employment.
Employment and Labor
- Manufacturing employment in Castilla-La Mancha stood at 145,000 workers in 2023.
- Unemployment rate in industry sector was 11.2% in 2022.
- Food industry employed 38,500 people in 2023.
- Aerospace sector jobs totaled 12,000 in Albacete in 2022.
- Average industrial wage was €28,450 annually in 2023.
- Female employment in manufacturing reached 42% in 2022.
- Temporary contracts in industry comprised 25% of total in 2023.
- Chemical sector employed 8,200 workers in 2022.
- Automotive parts jobs: 15,000 in 2023.
- Ceramics industry workforce: 9,500 in 2022.
- Steel sector employment: 4,200 in Puertollano 2023.
- Pharmaceutical jobs: 5,800 in 2022.
- Renewable energy manufacturing employed 3,100 in 2023.
- Textile employment: 7,200 in 2022.
- Metalworking jobs: 22,000 in 2023.
- Dairy industry workforce: 6,500 in 2022.
- Canned goods employment: 12,000 in 2023.
- Plastics sector jobs: 10,500 in 2022.
- Furniture manufacturing employment: 8,900 in 2023.
- Glass industry workforce: 4,800 in 2022.
- Leather goods jobs: 3,200 in 2023.
- Paper industry employment: 5,100 in 2022.
- Youth employment (under 30) in industry: 18% of total in 2023.
- Training programs completed: 2,500 industrial workers in 2022.
- Part-time jobs in manufacturing: 12% in 2023.
- Industrial accidents rate: 3.2 per 1,000 workers in 2022.
Employment and Labor Interpretation
Castilla-La Mancha's industrial sector reveals a land of robust staples and soaring ambitions, where nearly 150,000 workers—including a surprisingly modern 42% women—forge everything from the food on our plates to the planes in our skies, all while navigating the persistent challenges of temporary contracts and an unemployment rate stubbornly stuck in double digits.
Exports and Trade
- Exports from Castilla-La Mancha industry totaled €12.6 billion in 2023.
- Food and beverage exports reached €4.2 billion in 2022, 33% of total industrial exports.
- Aerospace exports: €1.8 billion in 2023, mainly to EU countries.
- Wine exports volume: 850,000 hectoliters in 2022.
- Ceramic tiles exported 35 million m² in 2023, valued at €250 million.
- Olive oil exports: 120,000 tons in 2022/2023.
- Automotive parts exports: €2.1 billion in 2023.
- Chemicals exports grew 12% to €1.1 billion in 2022.
- Steel products exports: 500,000 tons valued at €400 million in 2023.
- Pharmaceuticals exports: €280 million in 2022.
- Machinery exports: €900 million in 2023.
- Textiles exports: €150 million in 2022.
- Glass containers exports: 800 million units in 2023.
- Furniture exports: €200 million in 2022.
- Plastics exports: €350 million in 2023.
- Dairy products exports: €180 million in 2022.
- Canned vegetables exports: 500,000 tons in 2023.
- Main export destination: Germany with 18% share in 2022.
- EU market share of exports: 65% in 2023.
- Imports of industrial raw materials: €8.9 billion in 2022.
- Trade balance surplus: €3.7 billion in 2023.
- Latin America exports growth: 15% YoY in 2022.
- USA exports: €450 million in 2023.
- Asia exports share: 12% in 2022.
- France as second destination: 15% in 2023.
- UK post-Brexit exports: €320 million in 2022.
Exports and Trade Interpretation
While Castilla-La Mancha’s industrial might soars on wings of aerospace and steel, it’s ultimately buoyed by the more fundamental exports of ceramic tiles to walk on, wine to toast with, and enough olive oil to ensure everything—including a hefty €3.7 billion trade surplus—runs smoothly.
Innovation and Sustainability
- CO2 emissions from industry reduced by 18% since 2015 to 4.2 million tons in 2023.
- Renewable energy use in industry: 35% of total consumption in 2022.
- Waste recycling rate: 82% in manufacturing 2023.
- Water usage efficiency improved 22% in food sector 2022.
- Solar panel installations on factories: 450 MW capacity in 2023.
- ISO 14001 certifications: 1,250 factories in 2022.
- Circular economy projects funded: €50 million in 2023.
- Electric vehicle charging stations in industrial parks: 1,200 in 2022.
- Biotech innovations in agri-food: 45 patents 2023.
- Hydrogen pilot plants: 3 operational in 2022.
- Energy audits completed: 95% of large industries in 2023.
- Biodiversity projects in industrial areas: 120 initiatives 2022.
- Smart factory implementations: 320 in 2023.
- AI applications in production: 15% adoption rate 2022.
- Robotics density: 120 robots per 10,000 workers in 2023.
- 5G networks in industrial parks: 85% coverage 2022.
- Blockchain for supply chain: 40 companies using in 2023.
- Green certifications (LEED): 75 factories 2022.
- Emission trading compliance: 100% in 2023.
- Sustainable packaging adoption: 68% in food industry 2022.
- Wind energy production for self-consumption: 200 MW in 2023.
- Nano-materials R&D projects: 25 active in 2022.
- Zero-waste factories: 12 certified in 2023.
- Digital twins implemented: 180 in manufacturing 2022.
- Sustainable mobility plans: 90% industries 2023.
Innovation and Sustainability Interpretation
While Castilla-La Mancha's industrial sector is clearly not just tilting at windmills, its impressive trifecta—slashing emissions, turbocharging renewables, and embedding circular innovation—proves a serious green revolution is fully operational.
Investment and Financials
- Industrial investment in Castilla-La Mancha reached €2.8 billion in 2023.
- FDI inflow into industry: €650 million in 2022.
- R&D expenditure in manufacturing: 1.8% of GDP in 2023.
- Food industry investments: €450 million in new plants 2022.
- Aerospace cluster received €200 million in subsidies 2023.
- Ceramics sector capex: €120 million in 2022.
- Digitalization grants: €85 million allocated in 2023.
- Energy efficiency investments: €300 million in 2022.
- Automotive R&D funding: €150 million in 2023.
- Chemical industry expansions: €220 million invested 2022.
- Steel mill modernizations: €180 million in Puertollano 2023.
- Pharma biotech investments: €90 million in 2022.
- Renewable equipment factories: €250 million FDI 2023.
- Machinery sector capex: €160 million in 2022.
- Venture capital in industry startups: €45 million 2023.
- Bank loans to industry: €4.2 billion outstanding 2022.
- Tax incentives claimed: €120 million in 2023.
- New factories opened: 25 in 2022.
- Patents filed by industry: 1,200 in 2023.
- EU funds received: €750 million for industry 2021-2023.
- Private equity deals: 18 transactions worth €320 million in 2022.
- Crowdfunding for industrial projects: €12 million in 2023.
- Industrial turnover growth: 5.1% in 2022.
- Profit margins average: 7.2% in manufacturing 2023.
- Industrial R&D personnel: 8,500 in 2022.
Investment and Financials Interpretation
Castilla-La Mancha is industriously fermenting a potent economic revival, blending a hearty base of traditional sectors with ambitious infusions of technology and green energy, though it must carefully proof its R&D spending to ensure the whole loaf rises.
Production and Output
- In 2022, the manufacturing sector in Castilla-La Mancha contributed 12.5% to the regional GDP, with a total output value of €18.4 billion.
- The food and beverage industry produced 2.1 million hectoliters of wine in Castilla-La Mancha in 2023, accounting for 13% of Spain's total wine production.
- Ceramic tile production in Castilla-La Mancha reached 45.2 million square meters in 2022, representing 22% of national output.
- The aerospace industry in Albacete manufactured 1,200 aircraft components in 2023, with a turnover of €450 million.
- Steel production in Castilla-La Mancha totaled 850,000 tons in 2022 from facilities in Puertollano.
- Olive oil processing plants in the region produced 1.45 million liters of extra virgin olive oil in the 2022/2023 campaign.
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing output grew by 8.7% in 2023, reaching €320 million in value terms.
- Automotive parts production hit 2.5 million units in 2022, primarily for export markets.
- Renewable energy equipment manufacturing produced 15,000 wind turbine blades in Castilla-La Mancha in 2023.
- Textile industry output value was €210 million in 2022, with a focus on technical fabrics.
- Glass container production reached 1.2 billion units in 2023 from Toledo plants.
- Chemical industry output increased to €1.8 billion in 2022, driven by fertilizers.
- Furniture manufacturing produced 450,000 pieces in 2023, with €280 million turnover.
- Metalworking sector fabricated 3.2 million components in 2022 for machinery.
- Dairy processing yielded 750,000 tons of products in 2023.
- Canned goods production totaled 1.8 million tons in 2022.
- Plastic packaging output was 500,000 tons in 2023.
- Electrical equipment manufacturing reached €150 million in 2022.
- Leather goods production hit 1.1 million units in 2023.
- Paper and cardboard output was 400,000 tons in 2022.
- Toy manufacturing produced 2.8 million units in 2023.
- Jewelry output value stood at €95 million in 2022.
- Bicycle component production reached 1.5 million parts in 2023.
- Cement production totaled 4.2 million tons in 2022.
- Rubber products output was 180,000 tons in 2023.
- Optical instruments manufactured 450,000 units in 2022.
- Printing industry output value €120 million in 2023.
- Non-metallic minerals production 6.5 million tons in 2022.
- Machinery output €2.1 billion in 2023.
- Total industrial production index rose 4.2% YoY in Q4 2023.
Production and Output Interpretation
Castilla-La Mancha is industriously proving it's far more than just the land of Don Quixote, deftly mixing medieval charm with a modern industrial recipe that pours billions into wine, tiles, and aerospace while firmly cementing its place as a serious engine of the Spanish economy.
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