Browse Data and Analysis

Spain is one of the largest markets worldwide for fish and seafood. In 2022, Spain was the fourth largest importer of fish and seafood in the world after the United States, China, and Japan.

The United Arab Emirates' food processing sector continues to expand, bolstered by strong economic growth and local demand. There are over 568 food and beverage processors and manufacturers in the UAE, most of which are small to medium size.

Strong tourism, high petroleum rents, and an accompanying economic boom in the United Arab Emirates are forecast to grow the consumptive base and drive imports of wheat and rice higher in the coming marketing year.

The drought in Andalucía is anticipated to prevent further expansion of Spain’s cotton area in MY 2023/24. Irrigation water allocation will be critical for farmer’s planting decisions, and temperatures and pest incidence during the summer months will also determine final yields.

In 2022, Spain imported $2.1 billion worth of agricultural, seafood and forest products from the United States, up 27 percent compared to the previous year. After high rates of consumer price inflation in 2022, the latest European Union economic forecast shows Spain’s economic growth forecast at 1.4 percent in 2023 and 2.0 percent in 2024.

On November 30th, 2022, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) published the updated mandatory technical regulation UAE.S. 993/2022 “Animal Slaughtering Requirements According to Islamic Rules”, and effective date December 1st, 2023.

As of January 1, 2023, Spain implemented a special tax on non-reusable plastic packaging that also applies to imported food products. For imports, payment of the tax is the responsibility of the importer, although third country manufacturers must provide their Spanish buyers with information regarding the amount of non-recyclable plastic packaging used in their products’ packaging.

Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE (GCC-4) permit the importation of GE food products of plant origin. GCC-4 countries have established several technical regulations that require labeling for both raw and further processed food and feed that may contain GE plant products.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a developed nation with high per capita income and substantial opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports. Foreign nationals comprise almost 90 percent of its very diverse population. This document is meant as a guide for U.S. agricultural and food exporters interested in this dynamic and reliable billion dollar market.

In 2021, Spain imported $1.7 billion of agricultural and related products from the United States. Outside the European Union Member States, the United States was the fifth largest origin of Spanish agricultural and related imports. After the deep recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain’s economy is starting to recover, supported by improving domestic demand and a strong rebound of the hotel and restaurant industry as tourism returns to pre-pandemic levels.

This report focuses on specific Spanish certification requirements that differ from or are in addition to EU-harmonized certification. Compared to 2021, this report contains new country-specific certificates as well as updated links to relevant information sources and contacts.

This report is an update of GAIN report SP2021-0032. 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.