Browse Data and Analysis

This report describes the agricultural biotechnology sector in Spain, covering production and trade, policy, and marketing aspects. It includes topics related to plant, animal, and microbial biotechnology.

Effective October 1, 2024, authority for Spanish import controls of agricultural products for human consumption has been transferred from the Ministry of Health to the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA).

The Spanish retail sector is experiencing a 2024 with good prospects despite still facing elements of uncertainty. Consumers, having emerged from the latest inflationary crisis, have become more rational in their purchasing decisions, and are prioritizing price to control expenditure.

After hitting low levels in MY 2023/24, Spain’s cotton production is set to rebound in MY 2024/25. Exports remain the main outlet for Spain’s cotton lint production. The projected recovery in production should allow exports to bounce back to average levels.

After hitting bottom during the previous season, Spain’s fodder production and exports are set to recover in MY 2024/25. A combination of higher area and yields are projected to bring fodder production to average levels.

In 2023, Spain imported $2.2 billion of agricultural and related products from the United States. Outside the European Union Member States, the United States was the fourth largest origin of agricultural and related imports.

Following three consecutive seasons of tight supply, favorable fall and winter conditions have been followed by abundant spring precipitation across Spain, with the notable exception of the eastern part of the country.

Early spring precipitations in Andalucía came as a relief, refilling water reservoirs. However, this allowed for only a marginal recovery in area planted to cotton, as rains arrived when planting plans were already in place and largely oriented to less water-demanding crops such as winter grains or early spring-planted sunflower.

Spain is one of the world’s largest markets for fish and seafood. In 2023, Spain was the fourth largest importer of fish and seafood in the world after the United States, China, and Japan.

In 2023, Spain imported $2.2 billion worth of agricultural, seafood and forest products from the United States, up 3 percent compared to the previous year. Even though inflation rates declined in 2023 as compared to the record highs registered in 2022, they remained higher compared to pre-pandemic levels.

This report focuses on specific Spanish certification requirements that differ from or are in addition to EU-harmonized certification.

This report is an update of GAIN report SP2022-0028. It outlines the legislation applicable to the export of U.S. food products to Spain, particularly focusing on those rules that differ from EU legislation.