Spain has made a giant leap forward in the international organic products market, registering record highs in both its exports and its organic trade balance. The latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food paints a picture in which the organic sector is not only weathering the economic storm but also strengthening its position within the overall agri-food system.
This progress comes at a time when organic acreage and farm-gate value are clearly on the rise, while domestic consumption is stabilizing after several years of strong growth. All of this consolidates Spain's position as one of the world's leading powers in organic production and as a European benchmark in sustainable agriculture.
Record exports and ecological trade balance
According to the official report on the Characterization and Projection of Organic Production , exports of Spanish organic products reached €3.884 billion in 2024. This figure represents a 27,5% increase compared to 2023, a remarkable growth that places exports at their highest level to date.
The export boom was further strengthened by a significant shift in imports: imports of organic products halved to €782 million. This sharp drop in purchases, coupled with strong sales growth, resulted in a trade surplus for organic products of €3.102 billion, the largest in recorded history.
In this way, the organic sector has established itself as an engine of foreign exchange generation within the Spanish agri-food sector, with a particularly relevant contribution in a context of growing demand for sustainable food in international markets.
The data also shows that Spain ranks third in the world in terms of the number of organic exporters , representing 7,4% of the global total of operators selling these products abroad. In terms of imports, the country holds fifth place worldwide, accounting for 5,7% of registered importers.
Key destinations and Spain's role in international trade
The map of destinations for Spanish organic exports shows a clear concentration within Europe. Germany, France, and the Netherlands are the main buyers within the European Union, confirming the strength of Central European markets for organic products from Spain.
Outside the EU, the customer base is equally diverse. The United States, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Japan stand out as the most important non-EU markets, reflecting the growing interest in organic food of European origin, and particularly Spanish.
Spain's presence in these countries is based on a varied offering and on sectors in which the country has specialized , such as organic viticulture, organic olive oil and certain Mediterranean products, which fit well with the international demand for healthy and environmentally certified products.
This positioning has contributed to Spain being seen as a stable and competitive supplier within the global organic products trade, both in terms of volume and diversity of products, with the capacity to supply markets with very demanding quality standards.
European leadership in organic land area and value at origin
Beyond foreign trade, the foundation of the sector's progress lies in the fields. Spain maintains its European leadership in organic farmland , with 2,95 million hectares dedicated to this type of production. This area represents 12,31% of the country's total usable agricultural land (UAL), a percentage that demonstrates farmers' commitment to this model.
In terms of quantity, organic production reached 3,75 million tons in 2024. Although the volume decreased by 24,06% compared to the previous year due to circumstantial factors—such as adverse weather conditions or adjustments in certain crops—the economic value of that production continued to show a clearly upward trend.
The estimated value at origin of organic production stood at 4.796 billion euros , with a cumulative increase of nearly 350% since 2012. That is, in just over a decade, the organic sector has multiplied its economic weight several times in the initial phase of the chain, indicating an improvement in profitability and greater professionalization.
The Ministry's report highlights Spain as a global leader in organic viticulture and organic olive oil , two of the country's flagship categories. Furthermore, it ranks Spanish production among the top three worldwide for organic citrus fruits and legumes, reinforcing its prominence in a wide range of staple products of the Mediterranean diet.
Domestic consumption: slight correction after years of growth
While the export sector is experiencing a particularly dynamic period, domestic consumption is undergoing a phase of gradual adjustment. Spanish household spending on organic products reached €2.890 billion in 2024, representing a slight decrease of 0,89% compared to 2023.
In individual terms, per capita spending stood at 59,44 euros per year , with a very marked pattern in favor of consumption within the home: 94,2% of purchases of organic products were made for domestic consumption, compared to a still small share of consumption outside the home.
Organic products accounted for 3,2% of total household food spending , a share that, although still modest, continues to place this segment as one of the most dynamic within the shopping basket.
If we analyze consumption by volume, organic fresh fruit takes first place, with 24,1% of the total. It is followed by fresh vegetables, which account for 17,6%, and fresh bread, with a share of 11,7%, showing that the foundation of organic consumption continues to be everyday products.
However, when spending is examined in terms of economic value, the pattern changes slightly: organic meat leads the expenditure , accounting for 29,4% of the total, followed by fresh fruit (13,1%) and fish (12,2%). This suggests that, although certain products are consumed in smaller quantities, their higher unit price means they have a significant impact on the budget.
Market distribution and transformation channels
Regarding how organic products reach consumers, the market exhibits a diverse structure. Traditional stores account for 29,1% of organic product consumption, demonstrating that local businesses continue to play a central role in this segment.
Supermarkets are a close second, accounting for 28,6% of sales . Discount stores hold an 11% market share, while hypermarkets represent 10,1%. E-commerce, although still a moderate sector, now accounts for 3,3% of the total and continues its upward trend.
The report indicates that the combined market share of supermarkets and discount stores continues to grow, driven by the addition of more organic products to their shelves and increasingly competitive pricing. Meanwhile, hypermarkets are experiencing a slight decline in their market share.
The so-called "other channels", which include very varied formats, account for 21,1% of consumption , completing a distribution scenario in which traditional sales, large distribution and new marketing models coexist.
This quota allocation reflects a fundamental trend: organic products have gone from being almost exclusively found in specialty stores or herbalists to being commonly found in general supermarket chains, thus facilitating access for a wider audience.
With a sector setting export records, a clearly positive organic trade balance, European leadership in cultivated area, and an increasingly consolidated international presence in key markets, Spain occupies a prominent position within global organic production. Although domestic consumption shows a slight correction after years of successive increases, the combination of external demand, diversified distribution channels, and specialization in products such as organic wine, olive oil, citrus fruits, and legumes suggests that the country will continue to play a leading role in the transition to more sustainable agri-food systems.
