Staff Reports
Spain just got some blunt numbers from its own trade data: China is now the country that sends the most goods into Spain. The official trade tables show Chinese goods made up 11.6 percent of Spain’s imports in the January–March quarter, edging out Germany’s 11.4 percent. That jump — more than €12.5 billion in Chinese goods in a single quarter — should make anyone who cares about Spanish factories and jobs sit up straight.
What the Q1 2026 data show
The ministry’s trade figures from DataComex make the point plain. This isn’t a one-off glitch like the chip shortage that briefly helped China top Germany in 2022. Analysts say the rise from 2023 into early 2026 looks structural. China now sends everything from machinery and electronics to cheap clothes and shoes through booming e-commerce channels like Temu and Shein. Meanwhile, Spain’s sales to China have barely budged, stuck at around two percent of Spanish exports. That means Spain runs a big trade gap with China — roughly a €42 billion deficit on the year.
Why this shift is not harmless
This trend matters because trade isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. When imports replace local suppliers, the supply chain shrinks. Experts note that Europe’s trade with Germany helps Spanish car and aircraft parts makers stay busy. Trade with China looks different: many Chinese goods are substitutes, not partners. China also backs its industries with heavy subsidies. So Spain risks becoming dependent on cheap Chinese parts and finished goods while its own factories shrink.
Politics, subsidies and bad bargains
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been courting Beijing and calling for closer ties. Fine to talk — but you don’t win by handing your market away. China plays hardball: it competes in third markets, it subsidizes its firms, and it rarely offers true reciprocal access. In short, Spain is selling the barn door and expecting the horse to come back. Madrid should not let political photo-ops turn into long-term industrial damage.
What Spain should do next
Practical steps are simple and sensible. First, diversify suppliers so Spanish industry isn’t at China’s mercy. Second, enforce rules on unfair subsidies and consider smart tariffs or enforcement that protect critical sectors. Third, invest in Spanish manufacturing and logistics so workers have real jobs, not just click-driven imports. If Madrid wants a partnership with Beijing, demand a mutual one. Friendship bracelets are for summer camps — trade deals should protect workers and firms at home.
