Companies in Aragón increased their exports to €8.008 billion in the first half of 2026, up 4.8% from a year earlier. The gains were particularly evident in the United States, where sales rose 12.7% to €149.15 million, despite trade tensions and tariff policies.
Aragón increases exports and ends the first half with a trade surplus
Between January and June, Aragón exported approximately €367 million more than in the same period of 2025. The region’s growth outpaced the 2% increase recorded across Spain, according to an assessment by CEOE Aragón’s International Committee, chaired by Daniel Álvarez.
Import trends strengthened the external-sector result. Foreign purchases fell 14.1%, enabling Aragón to end the first half with a trade surplus of €64 million. Spain, by contrast, recorded a trade deficit of more than €32.7 billion.
Aragón’s external sector performed against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, trade tensions, U.S. tariffs, and rising costs for raw materials, energy, and transportation. The International Committee attributes exporters’ resilience to companies’ specialization, adaptation to customer needs, and international orientation across the region.
Aragón’s exports to the United States rise 12.7% and gain importance
The United States was among Aragón’s best-performing markets during the first half. Exports rose 12.7%, compared with a 1.3% decline in Spanish sales to that destination. The North American country therefore rose from 14th to 10th place among Aragón’s main export markets.
The gain extends the trend seen in 2025, when Aragón’s sales to the United States increased 7.1%. Industrial and technology products accounted for 69.5% of exports to the market and rose 12.1%. Consumer goods also increased, by 23.2%, while agri-food products rose 13.2%, driven by pork exports and a limited decline in beverages.
Among the largest sector increases were electrical machinery, up 272.6%; frozen pork, up 307.9%; electrical equipment, up 83.9%; inorganic chemicals, up 87.5%; and air navigation equipment, up 18.8%. Daniel Álvarez said the performance reflects the ability of Aragonese companies to retain customers in a demanding market shaped by tariffs and international uncertainty.
The European Union accounts for 71.5% of Aragón’s foreign sales
The European Union retained its position as the main destination for Aragón’s exports, accounting for 71.5% of the total. Sales increased among the region’s key trading partners: France rose 19.6%, Germany 21.5%, Italy 25.1%, and Portugal 5.9%.
Performance was more uneven outside the European Union, with declines in markets including the United Kingdom, Turkey, Morocco, and China. In that environment, growth in the United States provides geographic diversification for Aragón’s international business activity.
CEOE Aragón’s International Committee has proposed strengthening internationalization support tools, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Its meeting was attended by María Palacios, director of Aragón’s EU Delegation in Brussels, who highlighted the office’s role in conveying business concerns and monitoring European legislation affecting economic activity. CEOE Aragón also works with the Enterprise Europe Network and organizations in more than 60 countries to support the international expansion of Aragonese companies.
