Aragon exports 4.9% less in 2024 and closely observes the elections in Germany and Trump

Aragonese companies exported in 2024 for a total value of 16,766.6 million euros, 4.9% less in the annual rate compared to 2023. For their part, imports amounted to 17,369.4 million euros, 6.5% less than in 2023. These are data made public this week by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business. In Spain as a whole, exports did grow by 0.2%.

As a result, Aragon’s trade balance was negative by 602.7 million euros, a more moderate figure compared to the deficit of 950.7 million euros experienced the previous year. After the automotive industry, food, beverages and tobacco were the sector with the highest sales, accounting for 22.6% of the total and a growth of 5.6% compared to 2023. 

By sector, the automotive industry has been the sector with the greatest export weight for the year as a whole, with 27.7% of the total. Despite this, these companies have sold 21.6% less abroad than a year ago, which weighs down the overall figure for the Aragonese economy.

PENDING ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN GERMANY AND TRUMP

Business activity abroad in the Autonomous Community of Aragon fell by up to 10.7% in December, reaching a value of 1,128.8 million euros. Given this situation, the next elections in Germany (held on February 23) are already being looked at with suspicion, since the main decline corresponds to that market. 

Donald Trump’s tariff policies are also being closely watched , the application and effects of which are yet to be seen, but their impact on Aragon should be limited, as they only account for 1% of the community’s exports. ” It is time to be cautious and expectant, because the US must be taken very seriously, but it is still too early,” said the general director of Aragón Exterior, Javier Camo, this Tuesday after the Internationalisation Commission held by CEOE Aragón. 

He himself has tried to send a reassuring message, assuring that Aragon is behaving in a “very appropriate” manner and that it should not be forgotten that the data is still the second best in the historical series for the Community. “ We should not talk about a fall. We are above 2022 and all previous years. The reading has to be very positive and our industry is powerful,” he stressed. 

A TOOL FOR PREDICTING MARKET RESPONSES

In addition, Arex is working on the implementation of a tool that combines market intelligence with AI to use predictive models in such a way that a more effective system is generated when making decisions and maintaining productivity. 

According to Camo, it can analyse any type of variable and see if it has had a previous impact on the historical series. If it has, it allows us to observe how the markets have behaved. Another focus on which Arex is focused would be, on the other hand, the recruitment of talent and the attraction of labour.