Report from the Valencian Institute of Economic Research, presented by Cajamar, confirms Spain’s position as a leading European agri-food power
Spain’s agri-food sector generated €137.38bn in Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2025, representing 9 per cent of the country’s economy.
That is according to the ’Observatory on the Spanish Agri-food Sector in the European Context’ report, prepared by the Valencian Institute of Economic Research (IVIE) and presented by Cajamar – the largest Spanish agricultural cooperative banking group – at an event in Madrid this week.
The figure of 9 per cent puts the country above the European average of 6 per cent.
According to the statistics, the Spanish agri-food business employed over 2.6mn people last year, 11.5 per cent of the national workforce and above the EU average of 9.8 per cent.
At the same time, the report identified ”significant challenges” in this area, including an aging workforce, difficulties in ensuring generational renewal, and the lower representation of women in certain production activities.
”These factors highlight the need to attract young talent, improve working conditions, and move toward a sector that is more inclusive and socially balanced,” the report pointed out.
Spain ”remains a major European agri-food power”, Cajamar said, contributing 13 per cent of the sector’s total GVA within the EU and ranking fourth in size across the bloc.
In terms of foreign trade, exports reached €79.391bn, up a 2.8 per cent year-on-year, marking a new all-time high.
Agri-food exports now account for 20.1 per cent of Spain’s total goods exports, the highest share among major European exporters, it reported.
The fruit and vegetable sector remains the leading agri-food exporter, making up 27.8 per cent of the total.
Edible fruits and nuts represent 15.6 per cent, while vegetables and legumes make up 12.5 per cent, according to the report.
In terms of future challenges facing the agri-food sector, the report highlighted innovation as a key element for future development, alongside the promotion of digitalisation and the adoption of new technologies.
