Move over Silicon Valley, because from its bustling port and Ford factory to its ceramic powerhouses and citrus groves, Valencia's industrial engine isn't just humming—it's a titan producing everything from millions of shoes and vehicles to world-leading tiles and oranges, as revealed by a staggering suite of 2022 statistics.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Valencian Community's ceramic tile production totaled 428 million square meters, accounting for 82% of Spain's national output.
- The Port of Valencia handled 83.76 million tonnes of cargo in 2022, making it Europe's 5th busiest container port.
- Ford's Almussafes plant in Valencia produced 276,400 vehicles in 2022, representing 18% of Ford Europe's total production.
- In 2022, Valencia's manufacturing sector employed 450,000 workers, 25% of the region's total employment.
- Ceramic industry jobs in Valencia numbered 28,000 in 2022, with 60% male workforce.
- Ford Almussafes plant employed 7,800 direct workers in 2022, plus 2,500 indirect.
- Valencia ceramic exports reached 3.2 billion euros in 2022, 85% of production.
- Port of Valencia container throughput was 5.2 million TEUs in 2022.
- Ford Valencia exported 95% of its 276,400 vehicles produced in 2022 to Europe.
- Valencia manufacturing FDI inflows were 1.2 billion euros in 2022.
- R&D spending in Valencia industry reached 1.5 billion euros in 2022, 2.1% of GDP.
- Ford invested 1 billion euros in Almussafes plant electrification by 2025.
- Valencia manufacturing contributed 22% to regional GDP in 2022, totaling 28 billion euros.
- Industrial turnover in Valencia reached 120 billion euros in 2022.
- Value added by manufacturing: 18 billion euros in Valencia 2022.
Valencia’s industrial strength spans ceramics, automobiles, food, and exports.
Economic Indicators
- Valencia manufacturing contributed 22% to regional GDP in 2022, totaling 28 billion euros.
- Industrial turnover in Valencia reached 120 billion euros in 2022.
- Value added by manufacturing: 18 billion euros in Valencia 2022.
- Ceramic industry's GDP contribution: 2.5 billion euros in 2022.
- Automotive sector economic impact: 10 billion euros including suppliers 2022.
- Food industry turnover: 15 billion euros in Valencia 2022.
- Footwear sector sales: 2.5 billion euros domestic + export 2022.
- Metallurgy value added: 5 billion euros in 2022.
- Chemical industry turnover: 8 billion euros 2022 Valencia.
- Furniture market value: 3 billion euros 2022.
- Toys economic contribution: 1.2 billion euros 2022.
- Stone products sales: 1.5 billion euros 2022.
- Nautical industry turnover: 1.8 billion euros 2022.
- Industrial productivity growth in Valencia: 3.2% in 2022.
- Energy costs for Valencia industry: 4 billion euros in 2022.
- Tax contributions from industry: 6 billion euros to regional budget 2022.
Economic Indicators Interpretation
While Valencia's industrial heart pumps a robust 28 billion euros into its regional GDP, it's clear that its true economic lifeblood—from ceramic tiles and car parts to cured ham and children's toys—is a brilliantly diverse and productive portfolio that quite literally pays the bills.
Employment Data
- In 2022, Valencia's manufacturing sector employed 450,000 workers, 25% of the region's total employment.
- Ceramic industry jobs in Valencia numbered 28,000 in 2022, with 60% male workforce.
- Ford Almussafes plant employed 7,800 direct workers in 2022, plus 2,500 indirect.
- Food processing sector in Valencia had 85,000 employees in 2022.
- Footwear industry employment reached 45,000 jobs in Valencia in 2022.
- Metal-mechanical sector employed 120,000 in Valencia region in 2022.
- Chemical industry jobs totaled 25,000 in Valencia in 2022.
- Furniture sector employment was 35,000 workers in 2022.
- Toy manufacturing employed 12,000 in Valencia in 2022.
- Marble industry had 8,000 jobs in 2022.
- Nautical sector employment stood at 15,000 in Valencia 2022.
- Agri-food industry temporary jobs peaked at 100,000 during 2022 harvest.
- Valencia manufacturing unemployment rate was 12.5% in 2022 average.
- Women represented 35% of Valencia's industrial workforce in 2022.
- Under 30s made up 18% of manufacturing employees in Valencia 2022.
- Training programs trained 10,000 industrial workers in Valencia in 2022.
- Average industrial salary in Valencia was 28,500 euros gross in 2022.
- Overtime hours in Valencia manufacturing totaled 5 million in 2022.
Employment Data Interpretation
Valencia's industrial engine hums with a diverse, if sometimes sputtering, workforce—where ceramics, cars, and crops together employ a hefty slice of the region, yet the gears still grind with a stubborn unemployment rate and a notable lack of young and female cogs in the machine.
Export Figures
- Valencia ceramic exports reached 3.2 billion euros in 2022, 85% of production.
- Port of Valencia container throughput was 5.2 million TEUs in 2022.
- Ford Valencia exported 95% of its 276,400 vehicles produced in 2022 to Europe.
- Valencia food exports totaled 4.5 billion euros in 2022, mainly citrus.
- Footwear exports from Valencia hit 1.8 billion euros in 2022.
- Metal products exports from Valencia were 6.2 billion euros in 2022.
- Chemical exports from Valencia region amounted to 2.1 billion euros in 2022.
- Furniture exports reached 1.2 billion euros in 2022 from Valencia.
- Toys exports from Valencia totaled 950 million euros in 2022.
- Stone exports were 800 million euros in 2022.
- Boat exports from Valencia nautical sector: 450 million euros in 2022.
- Wine exports from Valencia: 150 million euros in 2022.
- Top export destination for Valencia ceramics: Italy, 25% share in 2022.
- USA imported 15% of Valencia's footwear exports in 2022.
- France was 20% of Valencia metal exports in 2022.
- Germany took 30% of Ford Valencia vehicles in 2022.
Export Figures Interpretation
Valencia isn't just putting Spain on the map; it's practically shipping the entire country, piece by profitable piece, from its ceramic tiles and Ford cars to its oranges and shoes, directly onto the world's doorstep.
Investment and R&D
- Valencia manufacturing FDI inflows were 1.2 billion euros in 2022.
- R&D spending in Valencia industry reached 1.5 billion euros in 2022, 2.1% of GDP.
- Ford invested 1 billion euros in Almussafes plant electrification by 2025.
- Ceramic sector R&D grants totaled 50 million euros in 2022.
- Port of Valencia expansion investment: 500 million euros in 2022.
- Food industry innovation centers received 30 million euros funding in 2022.
- Footwear tech startups in Valencia raised 20 million euros VC in 2022.
- Metal sector digitalization projects: 100 million euros invested 2022.
- Chemical R&D personnel in Valencia: 5,000 in 2022.
- Furniture design patents filed: 200 in 2022 from Valencia.
- Toy industry automation investments: 40 million euros 2022.
- Stone processing machinery upgrades: 25 million euros spent 2022.
- Nautical R&D consortia funded 15 million euros in 2022.
- Valencia industrial patents granted: 1,200 in 2022.
- EU Horizon funds to Valencia industry: 80 million euros 2022.
Investment and R&D Interpretation
Valencia is clearly betting big on brains over brawn, with its factories now humming to the tune of billion-euro foreign investments and a serious R&D kick, proving you can teach an old industrial dog ambitious new tech tricks.
Manufacturing Production
- In 2022, the Valencian Community's ceramic tile production totaled 428 million square meters, accounting for 82% of Spain's national output.
- The Port of Valencia handled 83.76 million tonnes of cargo in 2022, making it Europe's 5th busiest container port.
- Ford's Almussafes plant in Valencia produced 276,400 vehicles in 2022, representing 18% of Ford Europe's total production.
- Valencia's food industry processed 1.2 million tonnes of oranges in the 2021/2022 campaign, 45% of Spain's total citrus output.
- The textile sector in Valencia manufactured 150 million pairs of shoes in 2022, holding 70% of Spain's footwear production share.
- Valencia's metalworking industry produced 500,000 tonnes of steel products in 2022.
- In 2023 Q1, chemical industry output in Valencia grew 5.2% year-over-year to 250,000 tonnes.
- Furniture manufacturing in Valencia reached 1.5 million units produced in 2022.
- Toy industry in the Valencia region exported 85% of its 120 million euro production value in 2022.
- Marble and stone processing in Valencia yielded 300,000 tonnes in 2022.
- Boat building sector in Valencia constructed 450 recreational vessels in 2022.
- Wine production in Valencia totaled 250 million liters in 2022.
- Olive oil production in Valencia was 15,000 tonnes in 2022/2023.
- Valencia's plastics industry produced 400,000 tonnes of products in 2022.
- Glass manufacturing output in Valencia reached 200,000 tonnes in 2022.
- Paper and cardboard production in Valencia was 350,000 tonnes in 2022.
- Valencia's rubber industry output stood at 150,000 tonnes in 2022.
- Pharmaceutical production in Valencia grew to 50 billion units in 2022.
- Valencia's electronics assembly produced 2 million components in 2022.
- Bicycle manufacturing in Valencia totaled 1 million units in 2022.
Manufacturing Production Interpretation
Valencia does it all, from coating Spain in tiles and shoes to filling its ports with containers and its factories with Fords, while simultaneously juicing, sailing, building, bottling, and assembling its way to being an industrial Swiss Army knife with a Mediterranean sunburn.
Sources & References
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