Exports from the province of Girona closed the first quarter of 2026 with a drop of 5.2% and a total value of 2,040.97 million euros, compared to 2,153.79 million in the same period of the previous year, according to foreign trade statistics from the Ministry.
The decline occurs despite the weight of the agri-food sector, which accounts for almost 40% of all external sales from the demarcation. Girona's main export driver was also the one that most pulled down the balance, with a decrease of 12.8% in the quarter and a slump of 24% in meat products, affected by the temporary 9.8% tariff that China applies to Catalan pork companies.
Pork cut 117 million and China fell to thirteenth destination
Sales of meat products went from 486.97 million euros in the first quarter of 2025 to 369.91 million in 2026. This drop explains a large part of the deterioration of the agri-food sector, which stood at 798.3 million euros.
China was one of the markets where this adjustment was most noticeable. Girona's exports to the Asian country fell by more than 50%, from 96.40 million to 44.90 million euros, and the Chinese market moved from fifth to thirteenth place in the ranking of destinations.
The decline is linked to the temporary 9.8% tariff that China imposed on Catalan pork companies in retaliation for European levies on electric cars.
Germany grew, but France and Italy continued to decline
France remained the main destination for Girona's exports, although with less volume than a year earlier. Sales went from 499.62 million euros to 478.65 million in the first quarter.
Germany advanced to become the second market for the province. In this case, exports grew from 164.57 million to 173.73 million euros.
Italy, on the other hand, registered a more pronounced drop, with a decrease from 202.91 million euros to 170.45 million.
Machinery rose 3.5% and pharmaceuticals resisted within chemicals
Outside of agri-food, the evolution by sectors showed some isolated increases. Machinery increased its exports by 3.5%, going from 135.88 million to 140.57 million euros.
The chemical sector, for its part, closed the quarter with 366.4 million euros and a decrease of 8.1% compared to the same period in 2025. Within that branch, pharmaceutical companies managed to slightly improve their foreign sales, which went from 135.18 million to 137.35 million.
March introduced a change of pace, although insufficient to correct the accumulated balance of the quarter. That month, Girona's exports rebounded by 1.7% to 766.8 million euros, but the figure did not compensate for the drop recorded between January and March.
The Ministry's foreign trade statistics finally place Girona at 2,040.97 million euros exported in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 2,153.79 million in the same period of 2025.