Sectoral exports grow by 6.6 % in the first quarter 2026
The sectors represented by grew by +6.6% year-on-year during the first quarter of 2026. Five of the eight sectors grew, but the three that declined or stagnated (Bathroom and sanitation equipment, Textile machinery and Packaging machinery) include sectors of significant weight, which moderates the overall result.
A transversal pattern that should be highlighted: the segments linked to the generation and distribution of electrical energy (generator sets, generators, cables, switchgear) account for a very significant part of the total growth in the quarter. The global acceleration of investment in electrical infrastructure and the energy transition seem to be directly benefiting Spanish manufacturers in the sector, and may represent a sustained opportunity in the coming years.
DYNAMISM BY SECTOR
The table shows the year-on-year variation for each sector and a contextual observation:
| Sector | Var. (%) | Observation |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical equipment | +19,0% | Broad and transversal growth in all subsectors. |
| Industrial hardware | +19,1% | Solid growth with Hardware as the main driver. |
| Technology for plastics | +9,6% | Recovery after the setback of 2025. |
| Solutions for cities | +4,7% | Mixed result: water treatment up, lighting and signage down. |
| Food technology | +3,3% | Moderate and consistent growth. |
| Bathroom and sanitation equipment | -0,9% | Practically flat; the valves weigh down the whole. |
| Textile machinery | -1,0% | Marginal decline, with no signs of a breakout. |
| Packaging machinery | -6,6% | Contraction concentrated in packaging machinery; packaging/wrapping grows. |
The most relevant pattern is the divergence between sectors with an energy or technology component, which lead with growth close to +19%, and sectors with greater exposure to discretionary industrial investment, which show weakness. The recovery of Technology for plastics after its setback in 2025 is a positive sign that will have to be confirmed in successive quarters.
In City Solutions, the positive result hides an internal fracture: Water treatment (+6.6%) is up, while Lighting (-11.8%) and Signage (-7.1%) are down sharply.
In Packaging Machinery, the contraction is not homogeneous: Packaging Machinery falls by -26.9% while Wrapping Machinery grows by +9.2%. This points to a possible shift in demand towards more flexible and automated packaging solutions, to the detriment of more traditional packaging machinery, with strategic implications for manufacturers in the sector.
MARKETS OF OPPORTUNITY AND ALERT
The European Union accelerates
The EU accounts for 55.9% of exports and is growing by +12.0%, with Germany (+15.2%), Poland (+12.6%) and Italy (+8.9%) as the main drivers. Portugal (+24.3%) and the United Kingdom (+24.4%) add a striking additional boost. This European recovery is the best news of the quarter, given the weight of this market in export sales.
The Maghreb is growing, but with important nuances
The Maghreb is up by +13.4%, but the data aggregates very different dynamics. Egypt (+125.1%) is responsible for the region’s growth, with a variation that almost doubles the volume exported in a single quarter. Algeria added moderately (+5.2%). On the other hand, Morocco (-1.9%), Tunisia (-16.7%) and Libya (-38.9%) fell back. The region’s positive headline is therefore based on a single market, which calls for caution when interpreting the regional trend.
Asia and the Middle East: warning signs
The Middle East fell by -16.6% and Asia by -11.8%. Within Asia, India (+112.8%) is the positive exception, albeit from a still small base. Its sustained growth trajectory calls for increased attention to this market. The decline in the region as a whole therefore reflects the weakness of the other Asian destinations.
The coincidence of Asia and the Middle East turning negative in the same quarter, after a period of sustained growth in both regions, is a sign that deserves monitoring.
U.S. stagnant, Latin America in slight decline
The U.S. and Canada practically stagnated (+0.3%) and Latin America entered slightly negative territory (-0.8%), with Mexico dropping by -4.7%.
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- Susana Gonzalez
- Intelligence and Training
- sgonzalez@amec.es
