Sharing borders with France to its north and Portugal to its west, the Kingdom of Spain has the largest land area of any country in Southern Europe.
A member of the European Union, Spain is home to 47.1 million residents according to the International Monetary Fund. Spanish is the nation’s official language.
Spain is the world’s 16th richest economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on a Purchasing Power Parity basis, generating US$1.959 trillion worth of products and services as of April 2021. Spain is Europe’s seventh wealthiest nation behind Germany, Russia, France, United Kingdom, Turkey and Italy.
Spain’s demand for imported goods represents a subtotal US$144.6 billion worth of Spanish spending on the 100 most valuable consumer products imported into Spain during 2020.
That consumer-driven dollar amount represents 43.9% of the overall value of all goods imported into Spain. Overall spending on all Spanish imports, including raw materials, intermediate products and semi-finished goods, totaled $329.7 billion in 2020.
Among Spain’s most valuable imported consumer products in 2020 are: automotive parts or accessories; cars; phone devices including smartphones; refined petroleum oils; and computers.
Spending on all of Spain’s imported goods dropped by -12.2% from 2019 to 2020. Spain’s purchases focused on its top 100 consumer imports posted a lesser -10.1% decrease over the latest annual period.
The deceleration in Spanish spending for key imported consumer products was greater than the global average from 2019 to 2020, which was an average drop of -8.2% for all importing countries around the world.
Among the top 100 consumer products imported by Spain, 32 increased in total value from 2019 to 2020 whereas 68 declined.
Changes in Spanish consumer demand for essential imports offer future opportunities for international suppliers who correctly anticipate which upward or downward trends will continue.
Consumer Products Defined
Economics educator BoyceWire defines a consumer product as a final good or end product that a business creates for consumers to buy. For example, consumers often purchase refined petroleum oil at the gas station while imported crude oil is an intermediate good subject to further processing before being sold to end users.
Although there may be a few wealthy individual buyers, products like turbojets are excluded from the consumer products targeted by this study. That is because turbojets are usually purchased by corporations. In contrast, it is common for a consumer to buy a motorcycle.
Types of Consumer Products
This article focuses on 3 distinct consumer product types.
Convenience Products are easy to access, non-durable, have relatively lower prices and therefore consumers frequently purchase them. Examples of convenience products are food, alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, and soap.
Shopping Products are not as easily available, involve more time to make a buying decision, are durable and are not bought as often as most convenience products. A great example of a shopping product is a mobile phone where buying the wrong model is a much more expensive mistake than buying a disappointing loaf of bread.
Specialty Products describe another consumer product type. This grey area includes infrequently purchased, expensive, durable and sometimes rare items. Consumers may consider the product’s brand image when making their purchase decisions. Some examples of speciality products are gold, silver, diamonds, jewelry, and branded refrigerators and dishwashers.
Spain’s Top 100 Consumer Imports Research List
The searchable marketing intelligence table below showcases Spain’s 100 highest-value imported consumer products in descending order. Items were selected at the four-digit Harmonized System tariff classification code level.
The table’s fourth column is labeled YOY for year over year. The fifth column identifies each entry’s consumer product type.
| # | Imported Product | US$ | YOY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automobile parts/accessories | $14,541,506,000 | -13.5% | SP |
| 2 | Cars | $13,844,345,000 | -33.9% | SP |
| 3 | Medications | $11,037,096,000 | +8% | CP |
| 4 | Phones | $6,340,278,000 | +2.5% | SP |
| 5 | Processed petroleum oils | $4,763,337,000 | -41.6% | CP |
| 6 | Computers, optical readers | $4,373,321,000 | +14.6% | SP |
| 7 | Women's clothing (not knit/crochet) | $3,191,766,000 | -19.3% | SP |
| 8 | Insulated wire/cable | $2,885,457,000 | -10% | SP |
| 9 | Miscellaneous textile items | $2,642,918,000 | +825.3% | SP |
| 10 | Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet) | $1,980,891,000 | -11.7% | SP |
| 11 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $1,911,164,000 | +12.9% | CP |
| 12 | Trucks | $1,803,013,000 | -30.8% | SP |
| 13 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $1,701,890,000 | -5.9% | SP |
| 14 | Moluscs | $1,692,423,000 | -13.7% | CP |
| 15 | Corn | $1,653,435,000 | -15% | CP |
| 16 | Seats (not barber/dentist chairs) | $1,635,359,000 | -11.5% | SP |
| 17 | T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet) | $1,587,449,000 | -20.2% | SP |
| 18 | Electric storage batteries | $1,566,970,000 | +87.3% | SY |
| 19 | Rubber tires (new) | $1,475,179,000 | -13.6% | SP |
| 20 | Electrical converters/power units | $1,474,770,000 | +8.1% | SP |
| 21 | Palm oil | $1,396,578,000 | +19.5% | CP |
| 22 | Orthopedic appliances | $1,378,945,000 | +4.8% | SP |
| 23 | Hot-rolled iron/non-alloy steel items | $1,365,803,000 | -16.8% | SP |
| 24 | Cigars/cigarellos, cigarettes | $1,343,656,000 | -12.6% | CP |
| 25 | Soya beans | $1,288,964,000 | +6.8% | CP |
| 26 | Air conditioners | $1,284,369,000 | -5.7% | SY |
| 27 | Miscellaneous furniture | $1,280,857,000 | -7.5% | SP |
| 28 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $1,272,063,000 | +9.5% | SY |
| 29 | Men's suits (unknit/non-crochet) | $1,239,240,000 | -31.1% | SP |
| 30 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $1,237,928,000 | -31.3% | SP |
| 31 | Whole fish (fresh) | $1,221,551,000 | -3.9% | CP |
| 32 | Crustaceans (including lobsters) | $1,212,837,000 | -14.6% | CP |
| 33 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $1,191,095,000 | -4.8% | CP |
| 34 | Cheese, curd | $1,181,189,000 | -5.1% | CP |
| 35 | Women's clothing (knit or crochet) | $1,177,185,000 | -9.6% | SP |
| 36 | Tractors | $1,126,964,000 | -20.1% | SP |
| 37 | Footwear (textile) | $1,095,298,000 | -17.2% | SP |
| 38 | Video console games, table games | $1,076,328,000 | -3.6% | SP |
| 39 | Footwear (leather) | $1,065,121,000 | -20% | SP |
| 40 | Packaged insecticides, herbicides | $1,034,851,000 | +1.7% | SP |
| 41 | Coffee | $1,013,513,000 | +6.3% | CP |
| 42 | Miscellaneous nuts | $997,943,000 | -1.1% | CP |
| 43 | Computer parts, accessories | $990,451,000 | +4% | SP |
| 44 | Refrigerators, freezers | $977,290,000 | -7.1% | SY |
| 45 | Beauty/makeup/skin care | $969,456,000 | -17.8% | SY |
| 46 | Motorcycles | $966,608,000 | +4.2% | SP |
| 47 | Women's coats (unknit/non-crochet) | $951,149,000 | -20.4% | SP |
| 48 | Liquid pumps | $943,618,000 | -10.2% | SY |
| 49 | Printing machinery | $920,101,000 | -22.4% | SP |
| 50 | Fish, caviar (preserved/prepared) | $918,474,000 | -11.2% | CP |
| 51 | Other food preparations | $914,711,000 | -4.2% | CP |
| 52 | Miscellaneous toys | $910,152,000 | -17.1% | SP |
| 53 | Fish fillets, pieces | $884,670,000 | -3% | CP |
| 54 | Footwear (rubber or plastic) | $852,436,000 | -15.9% | SP |
| 55 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $837,706,000 | -7.2% | SP |
| 56 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $815,990,000 | +0.4% | CP |
| 57 | Sports equipment | $800,068,000 | -1.4% | SP |
| 58 | Whole fish (frozen) | $797,816,000 | -5.3% | CP |
| 59 | Dishwash, clean/dry/fill machines | $787,097,000 | -3.5% | SY |
| 60 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $776,581,000 | -10.9% | CP |
| 61 | Miscellaneous fruits (fresh) | $737,199,000 | +16.7% | CP |
| 62 | Felt, other non-woven garments | $711,234,000 | +99.5% | SP |
| 63 | Household base metal mountings | $708,227,000 | -13.9% | SY |
| 64 | Dates/pineapples/mango/avocado | $674,291,000 | +7.4% | CP |
| 65 | Screws, bolts, washers, hooks, pins | $660,230,000 | -12.6% | SP |
| 66 | Women's shirts (not knit or crochet) | $658,858,000 | -26.8% | SP |
| 67 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $645,069,000 | -31.8% | CP |
| 68 | Perfumes, toilet waters | $611,266,000 | -27.2% | CP |
| 69 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations | $606,148,000 | -4.7% | CP |
| 70 | Unrecorded sound media | $592,275,000 | -4.1% | SP |
| 71 | Medication mixes not in dosage | $551,000,000 | +0.7% | CP |
| 72 | Temperature-change machines | $545,610,000 | -10.3% | SY |
| 73 | Olive oil | $544,047,000 | +49.3% | CP |
| 74 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $542,346,000 | -9% | SP |
| 75 | Motorcycle parts/accessories | $538,507,000 | +11.3% | SP |
| 76 | Vulcanized rubber apparel | $534,171,000 | +193% | SP |
| 77 | Sugar (cane or beet) | $523,634,000 | -23.7% | CP |
| 78 | Sun/safflower/cotton-seed oil | $522,751,000 | +10.9% | CP |
| 79 | Men's coats (unknit/non-crochet) | $495,059,000 | -29% | SP |
| 80 | Fertilizer mixes | $488,608,000 | -12.5% | SY |
| 81 | Antibiotics | $480,657,000 | +52.1% | CP |
| 82 | Fresh or chilled beef | $465,926,000 | -22.6% | CP |
| 83 | Miscellaneous aluminum items | $464,905,000 | +59.7% | SP |
| 84 | Vulcanized rubber items | $453,832,000 | -16.6% | SP |
| 85 | Glass bottles, other containers | $450,838,000 | -3.8% | SP |
| 86 | Infant clothing (knit or crochet) | $432,719,000 | +5.5% | SP |
| 87 | Paints, varnishes | $430,595,000 | -4.3% | SP |
| 88 | Vacuum cleaners | $426,096,000 | +8.8% | SY |
| 89 | Nitrogenous fertilizers | $417,216,000 | -1.6% | SY |
| 90 | Trailers | $393,662,000 | -14.4% | SP |
| 91 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $392,375,000 | -0.2% | SP |
| 92 | Hair preparations | $384,431,000 | +1.7% | SP |
| 93 | Prepared vegetables (non-frozen) | $377,882,000 | +1.1% | CP |
| 94 | Wrist/pocket watches (regular case) | $369,057,000 | -28.5% | SP |
| 95 | Sportswear (unknit/non-crochet) | $367,382,000 | -15.3% | SP |
| 96 | Special garments including sports | $365,539,000 | +14.2% | SP |
| 97 | Sowing seeds, fruits, spores | $364,755,000 | -0.2% | CP |
| 98 | Linens | $363,845,000 | -18.4% | SP |
| 99 | Washing machines | $363,813,000 | +2.1% | SY |
| 100 | Sanitary towels, baby napkins | $357,448,000 | -5.4% | CP |
Totaling 53 items, Spain’s most popular product type is shopping products (SP). This cohort was led by imported automobile parts or accessories; cars; phone devices including smartphones; computers; unknitted and non-crocheted women’s clothing; insulated wire or cable; and miscellaneous textile items.
In second place via 34 items are convenience products (CP), articles that are bought routinely, used only once and generally require less thinking time before making a buying decision. Popular examples include medications; processed petroleum oils; miscellaneous plastic items; moluscs; corn; and palm oil.
Another 13 speciality products (SY) ranking among Spain’s top 100 imported consumer goods. Major speciality products imported into Spain include electric storage batteries; air conditioners; beauty, makeup or skin care products; and liquid pumps.
Durable consumer products are goods like cars, trucks, printing machinery, insulated wire or cable, and furniture that last a relatively long time. Consumers can put durable products to use again and again. By product type, note that both shopping products and speciality products are considered as durable consumer goods.
Non-durable consumer products (ND) are goods that are not re-used once consumed. Coal, medications, sugar and corn are examples of non-durable goods. Convenience products are uniquely non-durable consumer products.
Based on the product types identified in the above table, 66 of Spain’s highest-value consumer imported products are durable while 34 are classified as non-durable.
Using the provided table, you can also peruse the greatest increases or decreases in product values from 2019 to 2020. To do so, click on the heading of the fourth column.
Fastest-Growing Consumer Imports
Listed below are the top 10 consumer products imported into Spain that experienced the highest percentage increases in spending from 2019 to 2020.
- Miscellaneous textile items: Up 825.3% (US$2.6 billion)
- Vulcanized rubber apparel: Up 193% ($534.2 million)
- Felt, other non-woven garments: Up 99.5% ($711.2 million)
- Electric storage batteries: Up 87.3% ($1.6 billion)
- Miscellaneous aluminum items: Up 59.7% ($464.9 million)
- Antibiotics: Up 52.1% ($480.7 million)
- Olive oil: Up 49.3% ($544 million)
- Palm oil: Up 19.5% ($1.4 billion)
- Miscellaneous fresh fruits: Up 16.7% ($737.2 million)
- Computers including optical readers: Up 14.6% ($4.4 billion)
Five among the above top 10 gainers are shopping products and therefore also durable goods that consumers can re-use over time. The 5 fastest-growing shopping products in demand by importers in Spain are miscellaneous items made from textile; apparel made from vulcanized rubber; garments made from felt or other non-woven materials; miscellaneous goods made from aluminum; and computers including optical readers.
The lone speciality product in the top 10 fastest growers list above is electric storage batteries.
The 4 fastest growers among the non-durable imported consumer products are antibiotics; olive oil; palm oil; and miscellaneous fresh fruits.
Worst-Declining Consumer Imports
Spending by import buyers in Spain on the following 10 items decreased in value by the highest percentages from 2019 to 2020.
- Processed petroleum oils: Down -41.6% ($4.8 billion)
- Cars: Down -33.9% ($13.8 billion)
- Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs): Down -31.8% ($645.1 million)
- Cases, handbags, wallets: Down -31.3% ($1.2 billion)
- Men’s suits (unknit/non-crochet): Down -31.1% ($1.2 billion)
- Trucks: Down -30.8% ($1.8 billion)
- Men’s coats (unknit/non-crochet): Down -29% ($495.1 million)
- Wrist/pocket watches (regular case): Down -28.5% ($369.1 million)
- Perfumes, toilet waters: Down -27.2% ($611.3 million)
- Women’s shirts (not knit or crochet): Down -26.8% ($658.9 million)
Seven categories among Spanish top 10 severest decliners are durable shopping products used over a period of time. The worst slippage among those categories was for Spain’s imported cars and unknitted and non-crocheted clothing.
There were 3 non-durable consumer products among Spain’s 10 major import decliners from 2019 to 2020, namely processed petroleum oils, alcoholic beverages, and perfumes or toilet waters.
Key Suppliers by Country
This analysis reveals competitive suppliers that target demand for 5 of Spain’s top consumer import products.
Spain’s biggest imported consumer product by value is automobile parts or accessories. The other 4 leading consumer goods imported into Spain are cars, phone devices including smartphones, processed petroleum oils and computers.
Below, you will find major supplying countries for Spain’s imported:
Automobile parts or accessories: France (33.8% of total), Germany (20.2%), Italy (5.6%), Portugal (5.4%), Czech Republic (5.2%), Poland (4.8%), United States (3.8%), Hungary (2.5%), Turkey (2%), and China (1.9%).
Cars: Germany (27% of total), France (10.9%), Japan (8.5%), United Kingdom (7%), Czech Republic (6.9%), South Korea (5.2%), Slovakia (5.1%), Italy (4.4%), Turkey (4.1%), and Portugal (2.9%).
Phone devices including smartphones: China (33.7% of total), Vietnam (13.1%), Netherlands (13%), Ireland (7%), Italy (6.4%), Germany (3.9%), France (3.7%), Hong Kong (2.4%), United Kingdom (2.2%), and United States (1.7%).
Processed petroleum oils: Nigeria (14.1% of total), United States (9.4%), Algeria (8.5%), Russia (7.2%), Mexico (7%), Saudi Arabia (6.6%), Kazakhstan (4.1%), Italy (3.3%), Iraq (3.2%), and Brazil (3.1%).
Computers: China (41.2% of total), Netherlands (15.8%), Germany (7.2%), Italy (6.1%), Czech Republic (3.8%), Ireland (3%), United States (2.8%), United Kingdom (2.8%), Vietnam (also 2.8%), and Poland (2.5%).
See also
More great research: Portugal’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products by Sales, United States Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, Portugal’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries, United Kingdom’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, 100 Top Consumer Products to Sell to Importers in Taiwan, Sweden’s Top Imported Consumer Products Ranked by Value
References
Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational portals.
BoyceWire, Consumer Goods Definition.
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Spain Economy.
International Trade Centre, Trade Map.
Investopedia, Consumer Goods, Consumer Staples Definition, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).
Richest Country Reports, Top 100 Richest Countries by GDP.
Trading Economics, Spain Consumer Spending.
Wikipedia, List of largest consumer markets.
Wikipedia, Spain, Geography of Spain, Languages of Spain.
World’s Top Exports, Spain’s Top 10 Imports.
