Published on September 10, 2024 The sector's trade surplus grows by 25% in this period MADRID, Sep 6 (EUROPA PRESS) – Agri-food and fishing exports experienced an increase of 4.4% in the first half of the year compared to the same period of the previous year and reached 38,853 million euros, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in a statement this Friday. The increase in the value of exports is due to a greater extent to the growth in exported volumes (+3.7%) than to that of prices (+0.7%). In the Spanish economy as a whole, exports fell by 2.4% compared to the January-June 2023 period. This proportion is similar to the reduction in imports, of 2.5%. On the other hand, imports fell by 2.2% and stood at 27,588 million euros. This reduction in the value of imports is due to the decrease in import prices (-4.5%), since imported volumes increased by 2.3%, as stated by the ministry in its statement. THE TRADE BALANCE GROWS BY 25% Thus, during the first half of 2024 the trade balance of the agri-food and fishing sector increased by 25.5% and stands at 11,265 million euros, in contrast to the decrease recorded in the first half of 2023 (-6.4%). The trade balance of the total economy has increased by 3.6%. Exports during the first half of the year increased in the main subsectors, except in the oilseeds group; fish, crustaceans and molluscs, meats and vegetables and legumes. The largest increase occurred in the oils and fats group, with an increase of 1,303 million euros compared to the same period in 2023, 38.4% more in relative terms.