Spain: Food Processing Ingredients

In 2020, the United States exported $1.6 billion worth of agricultural, seafood and forest products to Spain. Preliminary national statistics show that in 2020, the Spanish economy suffered one of the largest slowdowns in the European Union, contracting 11 percent. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing restriction measures triggered the economic contraction. Tourism and the Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional sectors, key pillars of the Spanish economy, remain highly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. While much hope is placed in vaccination and the summer season, a high level of uncertainty remains. The food-processing sector is considered an essential activity and has continued uninterrupted despite some initial difficulties. Having one of the most competitive food processing industries in Europe, Spain’s demand for ingredients continues to increase, such as tree nuts, distilled spirits, pulses, and food preparations. The post-pandemic environment may also offer new opportunities for ingredients.