From producing nearly half the world's olive oil to feeding millions with its vibrant exports, Spain's food industry is a formidable economic engine, generating over €142 billion annually and accounting for a hefty slice of the nation's GDP.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Spain's food and beverage industry generated a turnover of €142.5 billion, representing 9.2% of the national GDP.
- The economic contribution of the Spanish agri-food sector to GDP was €128 billion in 2021.
- Investment in R&D by the Spanish food industry reached €1.2 billion in 2022.
- The Spanish olive oil production reached 1.2 million tons in the 2022/2023 campaign, accounting for 45% of global output.
- Spain produced 6.8 million tons of wine in 2022, ranking third globally after Italy and France.
- Production of tomatoes in Spain totaled 5.2 million tons in 2022, with Almería as the top region.
- Spain exported €50.6 billion worth of agri-food products in 2022, a 10.5% increase from 2021.
- Spanish food exports to the EU accounted for 64% of total agri-food exports in 2022, valued at €32.4 billion.
- Imports of tropical fruits to Spain reached €1.8 billion in 2022.
- Approximately 650,000 people were employed in Spain's food manufacturing sector in 2022.
- The food processing industry in Spain employed 2.8% of the total workforce in 2021.
- Women represent 42% of the workforce in Spain's food and beverage manufacturing sector.
- Household consumption of food and beverages in Spain averaged €4,200 per capita in 2022.
- In 2023, per capita consumption of fresh fruit in Spain was 42 kg annually.
- Spaniards consumed 8.2 kg of olive oil per capita in 2022, the highest in the EU.
Spain's food industry is a huge economic force, driving exports and creating many jobs.
Consumption Statistics
- Household consumption of food and beverages in Spain averaged €4,200 per capita in 2022.
- In 2023, per capita consumption of fresh fruit in Spain was 42 kg annually.
- Spaniards consumed 8.2 kg of olive oil per capita in 2022, the highest in the EU.
- Annual per capita cheese consumption in Spain stood at 8.5 kg in 2022.
- Vegetable oil consumption per capita in Spain was 18 kg in 2022.
- Per capita bread consumption in Spain declined to 28 kg annually in 2022.
- Fish and seafood consumption per capita was 33 kg in Spain in 2022.
- Yogurt consumption per capita increased to 25 kg in 2022.
- Mineral water consumption per capita was 120 liters in 2022.
- Pasta consumption per capita was 7.5 kg in 2022.
- Beer consumption per capita declined to 45 liters in 2022.
- Chocolate consumption per capita was 4.2 kg in 2022.
- Soft drinks consumption per capita was 55 liters in 2022.
- Rice consumption per capita was 4.8 kg in 2022.
- Canned fish consumption was 6 kg per capita in 2022.
- Ice cream consumption per capita rose to 4.5 kg in 2022.
- Processed meat consumption per capita was 22 kg in 2022.
- Bottled water market value was €2.7 billion in 2022.
- Fresh milk consumption per capita was 85 liters in 2022.
- Sweets and confectionery consumption was 9 kg per capita in 2022.
- Wine consumption per capita fell to 18 liters in 2022.
Consumption Statistics Interpretation
While proudly topping the EU in olive oil consumption, the modern Spanish diet reveals a complex and evolving portrait, balancing an enduring love for fresh produce, fish, and yogurt with a growing appetite for ice cream and processed meats, all washed down with less wine and beer but a veritable flood of mineral water.
Economic Impact
- In 2022, Spain's food and beverage industry generated a turnover of €142.5 billion, representing 9.2% of the national GDP.
- The economic contribution of the Spanish agri-food sector to GDP was €128 billion in 2021.
- Investment in R&D by the Spanish food industry reached €1.2 billion in 2022.
- The food industry's tax contributions in Spain were €18.5 billion in 2022.
- Agri-food sector FDI inflows to Spain totaled €4.5 billion in 2022.
- Food industry energy efficiency improved by 12% from 2015 to 2022.
- Value added by food manufacturing was €38 billion in 2022.
- Digital transformation investments in food sector reached €800 million in 2022.
- Carbon footprint reduction in food industry was 15% since 2015.
- E-commerce sales in food retail grew 25% to €3.5 billion in 2022.
- Recycling rate of food packaging reached 72% in 2022.
- Profit margins in food manufacturing averaged 5.8% in 2022.
- Export promotion funding for food was €150 million in 2022.
- Sustainability certifications in food firms reached 65% in 2022.
- Brand value of top Spanish food companies totaled €10 billion in 2022.
- Water usage efficiency improved 18% in food processing since 2010.
- Turnover growth in organic food segment was 12% in 2022.
- Innovation patents filed by food sector reached 450 in 2022.
- Agri-food exports per employee reached €78,000 in 2022.
- Private equity investments in food startups totaled €300 million in 2022.
- Energy costs represented 6% of food production expenses in 2022.
Economic Impact Interpretation
Spain's food industry is not just serving tapas; it's serving up a robust economic feast, digesting a hefty slice of the GDP while meticulously trimming its environmental waistline and vigorously investing in a smarter, more sustainable future.
Employment Statistics
- Approximately 650,000 people were employed in Spain's food manufacturing sector in 2022.
- The food processing industry in Spain employed 2.8% of the total workforce in 2021.
- Women represent 42% of the workforce in Spain's food and beverage manufacturing sector.
- Training hours per worker in the food sector averaged 25 hours annually in 2021.
- Youth employment (under 30) in food manufacturing was 18% of total in 2022.
- Average salary in food processing sector was €25,800 annually in 2022.
- Temporary contracts in food sector employment were 22% in 2022.
- Occupational accident rate in food industry was 45 per 1,000 workers in 2021.
- Female executives in food companies rose to 28% in 2022.
- Apprenticeships in food sector numbered 15,000 in 2022.
- Union membership in food industry was 18% of workforce in 2022.
- Remote work adoption in food admin roles was 12% in 2022.
- Overtime hours in food sector averaged 2.5% of total in 2022.
- Job vacancy rate in food manufacturing was 3.2% in 2022.
- Part-time employment in food sector was 24% in 2022.
- Labor productivity in food manufacturing grew 2.1% in 2022.
- Diversity training programs covered 40% of food workforce in 2022.
- Average tenure in food jobs was 8.5 years in 2022.
- Skills gap in digital roles affected 15% of food firms in 2022.
- Sick leave rate in food industry was 4.2% in 2022.
- Migrant workers comprised 14% of food sector labor in 2022.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Spain's food industry, while serving as a significant employer with half a million dedicated workers, reveals a complex plate of modest wages, precarious temporary contracts, and a persistent skills gap, all gently simmering under a hopeful sprinkle of increasing female leadership and diversity training.
Production Statistics
- The Spanish olive oil production reached 1.2 million tons in the 2022/2023 campaign, accounting for 45% of global output.
- Spain produced 6.8 million tons of wine in 2022, ranking third globally after Italy and France.
- Production of tomatoes in Spain totaled 5.2 million tons in 2022, with Almería as the top region.
- Spain's pork meat production was 4.7 million tons in 2022, leading EU production.
- Citrus fruit production in Spain hit 6.9 million tons in 2022/2023, 70% oranges.
- Milk production in Spain reached 7.4 million tons in 2022.
- Almond production in Spain was 318,000 tons in 2022, 60% of EU total.
- Hazelnut production in Catalonia, Spain, was 25,000 tons in 2022.
- Strawberry production in Huelva, Spain, totaled 1.4 million tons in 2022/2023.
- Beef production in Spain was 920,000 tons in 2022.
- Table grape production was 780,000 tons in 2022.
- Peach production totaled 1.1 million tons in 2022.
- Apple production was 650,000 tons in 2022.
- Pear production reached 320,000 tons in 2022.
- Sunflower seed production was 180,000 tons in 2022.
- Lemon production was 1.2 million tons in 2022/2023.
- Blueberry production expanded to 55,000 tons in 2022.
- Raspberry production was 12,000 tons in 2022.
- Artichoke production totaled 220,000 tons in 2022, mostly in Murcia.
- Egg production was 1.7 million tons in 2022.
- Pepper production reached 1.3 million tons in 2022.
Production Statistics Interpretation
From olive oil to pork to peppers, Spain's agricultural prowess is so expansive that if its farmlands were a restaurant, the menu would simply read: "Yes."
Trade Statistics
- Spain exported €50.6 billion worth of agri-food products in 2022, a 10.5% increase from 2021.
- Spanish food exports to the EU accounted for 64% of total agri-food exports in 2022, valued at €32.4 billion.
- Imports of tropical fruits to Spain reached €1.8 billion in 2022.
- Agri-food exports to the US from Spain grew 15% to €2.1 billion in 2022.
- Spain's food trade surplus was €25.3 billion in 2022.
- Wine exports from Spain were valued at €3.2 billion in 2022.
- Imports of soy products for animal feed reached 3.5 million tons in 2022.
- Olive oil exports hit €4.1 billion in 2022.
- Agri-food trade with China grew 20% to €1.5 billion in 2022.
- Fruit and vegetable exports reached €14.2 billion in 2022.
- Imports of coffee to Spain were 240,000 tons in 2022.
- Meat exports valued at €8.9 billion in 2022.
- Dairy exports grew 8% to €1.9 billion in 2022.
- Nuts exports totaled €2.8 billion in 2022.
- Imports of cocoa beans were 120,000 tons in 2022.
- Spirits exports reached €550 million in 2022.
- Agri-food trade balance with UK was €2.4 billion surplus in 2022.
- Poultry exports hit €3.6 billion in 2022.
- Sugar imports were 450,000 tons in 2022.
- Oils and fats exports valued €5.2 billion in 2022.
- Prepared foods imports grew 11% to €4.1 billion in 2022.
Trade Statistics Interpretation
Despite sending the world a staggering €50.6 billion bounty of its olives, wine, and vegetables, Spain happily balances its own diet by importing a small fortune in tropical fruits, coffee, and soy to feed both its people and its prodigious export machine.
Sources & References
- Reference 1FIABfiab.esVisit source
- Reference 2INTERNATIONALOLIVEOILinternationaloliveoil.orgVisit source
- Reference 3MAPAmapa.gob.esVisit source
- Reference 4ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 5INEine.esVisit source
- Reference 6OIVoiv.intVisit source
- Reference 7ICEXicex.esVisit source
- Reference 8STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 9INVESTINSPAINinvestinspain.orgVisit source
- Reference 10MITESmites.gob.esVisit source
- Reference 11FRESHPLAZAfreshplaza.comVisit source
- Reference 12SEPEsepe.esVisit source
- Reference 13ASCELascel.orgVisit source