From its vast cork forests that produce over a quarter of Spain's stoppers to its sun-drenched fields powering a renewable energy revolution, the industrial landscape of Extremadura is a dynamic and often surprising engine of quality, innovation, and economic growth, as proven by its thriving sectors in agri-food, manufacturing, and sustainable technology.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Extremadura's manufacturing industry contributed 12.3% to the regional GDP, with a total output value of €2.47 billion.
- The food and beverage subsector in Extremadura produced 1.2 million hectoliters of wine in 2023, representing 4.5% of Spain's total wine production.
- Extremadura's cork industry manufactured 45,000 tons of cork stoppers in 2021, accounting for 28% of national production.
- Extremadura's industrial employment stood at 45,200 jobs in Q4 2023, up 2.1% from 2022.
- Manufacturing sector employed 28,500 workers in Extremadura in 2022, 15% women.
- Food industry jobs in the region totaled 12,000 in 2023, with average salary €22,500.
- Extremadura industry attracted €450 million in FDI in 2022, 60% in renewables.
- Regional government invested €120 million in industrial parks in 2023.
- EU funds allocated €300 million for Extremadura industry 2021-2027.
- Extremadura industrial exports reached €1.8 billion in 2023, 45% agri-food.
- Cork products exported €250 million in 2022, 70% to EU.
- Iberian ham exports totaled 25,000 tons valued at €400 million in 2023.
- Extremadura generated 12,500 GWh from renewables in 2023, 85% of total energy.
- Solar photovoltaic capacity installed 3,200 MW in Extremadura by end 2023.
- Wind farms produced 4,200 GWh in 2022, 32% regional electricity.
Extremadura's manufacturing industry features strong food production and sustainable, growing industrial investment.
Employment Statistics
- Extremadura's industrial employment stood at 45,200 jobs in Q4 2023, up 2.1% from 2022.
- Manufacturing sector employed 28,500 workers in Extremadura in 2022, 15% women.
- Food industry jobs in the region totaled 12,000 in 2023, with average salary €22,500.
- Unemployment rate in Extremadura industry was 14.5% in 2022, above national 11.3%.
- Cork sector provided 3,200 direct jobs in Extremadura in 2021.
- Meat processing employed 8,500 people in 2023, seasonal peaks to 10,000.
- Olive oil mills had 4,000 workers during 2022/2023 harvest.
- Chemical industry jobs numbered 2,100 in Extremadura in 2022.
- Woodworking employed 5,500 in the region in 2021.
- Textile sector jobs at 1,800 in 2023, down 5% from 2020.
- Dairy industry sustained 2,500 jobs in Extremadura in 2022.
- Metalworking provided 4,200 jobs in 2023.
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing employed 1,200 in 2022.
- Glass industry jobs totaled 900 in Extremadura in 2021.
- Printing sector had 1,100 workers in 2023.
- Leather goods employed 800 in 2022.
- Ceramics sector jobs at 1,500 in 2021.
- Tobacco processing employed 1,000 seasonally in 2023.
- Plastics industry had 2,800 jobs in 2022.
- Furniture manufacturing employed 3,200 in 2023.
- Electronics assembly jobs numbered 600 in 2021.
- Paper industry employed 1,400 in 2022.
- Rubber products sector had 1,100 jobs in 2023.
- Non-alcoholic beverages employed 900 in 2022.
- Bakery jobs totaled 2,000 in 2021.
- Confectionery employed 1,200 in 2023.
- Jams and preserves had 700 jobs in 2022.
- Honey processing employed 400 in 2021.
- Vegetable canning jobs at 1,000 in 2023.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
While Extremadura's industrial landscape shows hopeful growth, its reliance on seasonal, lower-wage, and male-dominated sectors like food processing suggests the regional economy is still trying to bottle its potential while grappling with persistent unemployment.
Energy and Sustainability
- Extremadura generated 12,500 GWh from renewables in 2023, 85% of total energy.
- Solar photovoltaic capacity installed 3,200 MW in Extremadura by end 2023.
- Wind farms produced 4,200 GWh in 2022, 32% regional electricity.
- Biomass plants generated 800 GWh from agri-waste in 2023.
- Hydroelectric output 2,500 GWh in wet 2022 year.
- Industrial energy efficiency improved 15% since 2015 in Extremadura.
- CO2 emissions from industry fell 20% to 1.2 Mt in 2023.
- 45% of industrial firms use renewable energy sources in 2022.
- Green hydrogen projects plan 200 MW capacity by 2025.
- Waste recycling rate in industry 75% in Extremadura 2023.
- Energy from cork waste: 150 GWh annually.
- Meat industry biogas production 50 GWh equivalent in 2022.
- Olive pomace energy 300 GWh from mills in 2023.
- Chemical sector reduced water use 25% to 10 hm3 in 2022.
- Wood industry carbon footprint down 30% since 2010.
- Textile water recycling 60% in Extremadura plants 2023.
- Dairy zero-waste plants: 12 in region 2022.
- Metal recycling rate 92% in 2023.
- Pharma waste management 99% compliant 2022.
- Glass cullet reuse 85% in production 2023.
Energy and Sustainability Interpretation
While Extremadura's sun-drenched plains now power the nation, its true industrial revolution is quietly turning yesterday's olive pits, cork scraps, and even livestock byproducts into a circular economy so robust that its factories are practically breathing green.
Exports and International Trade
- Extremadura industrial exports reached €1.8 billion in 2023, 45% agri-food.
- Cork products exported €250 million in 2022, 70% to EU.
- Iberian ham exports totaled 25,000 tons valued at €400 million in 2023.
- Olive oil shipped 120,000 tons abroad in 2022, mainly Italy and USA.
- Wine exports from Extremadura €180 million in 2023, 50% DO Ribera del Guadiana.
- Chemical exports €150 million in 2022, fertilizers to Latin America.
- Wood products exported €120 million in 2023.
- Textiles sent abroad €45 million in 2022.
- Dairy products exports €60 million in 2023.
- Metal components €90 million exported 2022.
- Pharmaceuticals €100 million in exports 2023.
- Glassware €30 million abroad in 2022.
- Printed materials €20 million exported 2023.
- Leather goods €15 million in 2022.
- Ceramics tiles €50 million exported 2023.
- Tobacco products €40 million abroad 2022.
- Plastics €70 million in exports 2023.
- Furniture €80 million exported 2022.
- Electronics €25 million in 2023.
- Paper products €35 million abroad 2022.
- Rubber items €20 million exported 2023.
- Non-alcoholic drinks €30 million in 2022.
- Bakery products €25 million abroad 2023.
- Confectionery €40 million in 2022.
- Jams €15 million exported 2023.
- Honey €10 million abroad 2022.
- Canned vegetables €35 million in 2023.
- Fruit juices €20 million exported 2022.
- Animal feed €50 million abroad 2023.
- Biodiesel exports €80 million in 2022.
Exports and International Trade Interpretation
Extremadura's industrial sector is clearly a masterclass in gourmet living, proving you can't just live on Iberian ham and olive oil alone, but with a side of cork stoppers, fine wine, and just enough chemical fertilizer to keep the whole delicious operation growing.
Investment and Development
- Extremadura industry attracted €450 million in FDI in 2022, 60% in renewables.
- Regional government invested €120 million in industrial parks in 2023.
- EU funds allocated €300 million for Extremadura industry 2021-2027.
- Private investment in food processing reached €80 million in 2022.
- Cork industry R&D investment was €15 million in 2021.
- Meat sector expansions cost €50 million in new plants 2023.
- Olive oil modernization grants totaled €25 million in 2022.
- Chemical plants upgraded with €30 million in 2021.
- Woodworking machinery investments €40 million in 2023.
- Textile digitalization funded €10 million in 2022.
- Dairy automation €20 million invested 2021.
- Metalworking robotics €35 million in 2023.
- Pharma biotech labs €18 million in 2022.
- Glass recycling facilities €12 million 2021.
- Printing digital presses €8 million in 2023.
- Leather tanning upgrades €5 million 2022.
- Ceramics kilns €15 million invested 2021.
- Tobacco machinery €10 million in 2023.
- Plastics extrusion lines €25 million 2022.
- Furniture design centers €12 million 2021.
- Electronics fabs €20 million in 2023.
- Paper mills efficiency €18 million 2022.
- Rubber molding €10 million 2021.
- Beverage bottling lines €15 million 2023.
- Bakery automation €8 million 2022.
- Confectionery packaging €6 million 2021.
- Preserves sterilization €7 million 2023.
- Honey extraction tech €3 million 2022.
- Canning lines €12 million 2021.
Investment and Development Interpretation
Extremadura's industry is being cleverly rewired, blending a hearty surge of renewable energy investment with a meticulous, sector-by-sector modernization that proves even its legendary pork and cork are getting a 21st-century upgrade.
Production and Output
- In 2022, Extremadura's manufacturing industry contributed 12.3% to the regional GDP, with a total output value of €2.47 billion.
- The food and beverage subsector in Extremadura produced 1.2 million hectoliters of wine in 2023, representing 4.5% of Spain's total wine production.
- Extremadura's cork industry manufactured 45,000 tons of cork stoppers in 2021, accounting for 28% of national production.
- In 2023, the region's meat processing plants slaughtered 1.8 million heads of Iberian pigs, generating €1.1 billion in revenue.
- Extremadura's olive oil production reached 180,000 tons in the 2022/2023 campaign, with 85% extra virgin quality.
- The chemical industry in Extremadura produced 250,000 tons of fertilizers in 2022, up 8% from previous year.
- In 2021, Extremadura's woodworking sector output was valued at €320 million, with 60% exported.
- The region's textile industry wove 15 million meters of fabric in 2023, focusing on technical textiles.
- Extremadura dairy industry processed 450 million liters of milk in 2022, producing 120,000 tons of cheese.
- In 2023, metalworking firms in Extremadura fabricated 50,000 tons of steel structures.
- The pharmaceutical sector in Extremadura manufactured €150 million worth of generics in 2022.
- Extremadura's glass industry produced 100,000 tons of packaging glass in 2021.
- In 2023, the printing and publishing industry printed 20 million books in Extremadura.
- Leather goods production in Extremadura reached 2.5 million units in 2022, valued at €45 million.
- The ceramics sector fired 8 million square meters of tiles in Extremadura in 2021.
- Extremadura's tobacco processing plants handled 25,000 tons of tobacco leaves in 2023.
- In 2022, plastic products manufacturing output was €280 million in the region.
- Furniture production in Extremadura totaled 150,000 units in 2023, with €200 million turnover.
- The electronics assembly sector assembled 500,000 components in Extremadura in 2021.
- Paper and cardboard production reached 120,000 tons in Extremadura in 2022.
- In 2023, Extremadura's rubber products industry produced 30,000 tons of tires and parts.
- Beverage bottling plants filled 300 million liters of non-alcoholic drinks in 2022.
- The bakery industry baked 200,000 tons of bread products in Extremadura in 2021.
- Confectionery production was valued at €90 million in the region in 2023.
- Extremadura's jam and preserves sector canned 50,000 tons in 2022.
- In 2021, honey processing yielded 5,000 tons from local apiaries.
- Vegetable canning industry processed 100,000 tons in Extremadura in 2023.
- Fruit juice production totaled 80 million liters in 2022.
- Extremadura's feed mills produced 1.5 million tons of animal feed in 2021.
- In 2023, biodiesel plants produced 150,000 tons from local crops.
Production and Output Interpretation
While we've become masters of bottling, corking, and packaging everything from fine wine to tomorrow's biodiesel, Extremadura's industrial might proves that our true economic secret sauce is turning the Iberian pig, the humble cork oak, and even a good field of tobacco into remarkably serious business.
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