The Comunidad Valenciana narrowly avoided a trade deficit in 2025, posting a surplus of just 244.8 million euros, a significant drop from the 1.4785 billion euro surplus recorded at the close of 2024. The shift reflects a year where imports consistently outpaced exports for much of the period, according to a recent report from the Dirección Territorial de Comercio Exterior.
While Spain as a whole registered a negative trade balance, the Valencian Community’s performance, despite the decline, remains comparatively stronger. Overall exports from the region increased by 1.5% in 2025, reaching 37.5414 billion euros. Yet, imports surged by 5.1% to 37.2966 billion euros, driving down the surplus.
The province of Valencia experienced a particularly stark reversal, ending 2025 with a trade deficit of 3.820 billion euros – a 25% increase from the negative balance recorded in 2024. The automotive industry is identified as the primary driver of this downturn. Exports from the sector plummeted by 12.6% last year, a decline that extends a six-year losing streak.
The struggles aren’t limited to Ford Almussafes; sales of automotive components abroad also fell sharply, dropping 31% in a single year, indicating widespread difficulties within the Valencian automotive supply chain. This has resulted in a shift from a previous export surplus in cars and parts to a 230 million euro import surplus in 2025.
Despite the challenges in manufacturing, the agro-food sector continues to be a key pillar of the Valencian economy. With 9.6 billion euros in exports, representing over a quarter of the region’s total exports, the sector saw an 8.5% increase. Citrus fruits remain a significant export, but meat products experienced a particularly strong surge, increasing by 41%.
The goods and equipment sector also showed positive growth, rising 6.8% and surpassing the automotive industry in export weight. The tile industry, a traditional Valencian strength, remained relatively stable, with a slight decrease of 0.8%, but still contributing over 3 billion euros in export surplus.
Geopolitical factors also played a role. Exports to the United States decreased by 9.7% in 2025, coinciding with the implementation of tariffs and trade policies initiated by the Trump administration, while U.S. Imports to the region fell by 5.8%. Conversely, sales to China increased by over 39%, reaching 684 million euros, though this remains significantly lower than the 6.5 billion euros in imports from China.
