Exports from Alicante have continued to struggle, falling by 1.3% in April to 623.1 million euros, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business. The drop follows a 3.1% decline in the first quarter of 2026, with total exports reaching 1.9 billion euros. Despite a brief improvement in March, the overall trend remains negative.

The sharpest fall has come from the agri-food sector, traditionally one of the province’s strongest exporters. While fruit, nuts and preserved produce recorded gains, vegetable exports dropped significantly to 27.71 million euros, compared with 55 million euros a year earlier. Producers say market saturation, caused by strong harvests across multiple regions at the same time, has led to lower prices and weaker demand.

Artichokes have been particularly affected, along with broccoli and cauliflower. Citrus exports have also fallen due to a shorter campaign, although prices remained stable. The footwear sector has returned to negative figures, dropping to 77 million euros, while furniture and toys have also declined.

Textiles and plastics have provided some positive news, both recording year-on-year growth. However, overall export performance in Alicante has remained largely flat for the past four years, hovering around 7 billion euros annually, pointing to another potentially disappointing year for foreign trade.