The trade deficit is multiplied by more than five until July due to the rise in energy imports

MADRID, 20 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The trade deficit reached 38,523.9 million euros between January and July of this year, which means multiplying by more than five the negative balance registered in the same period of the previous year, according to data from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism .

This result is the result of a 40.2% rise in imports, driven by energy products, reaching a record high of 261,485 million euros; while exports rose by 24.2%, to 222,961 million euros, also a record for this period.

The Secretary of State for Commerce, Xiana Méndez, has highlighted, in a statement, that despite the "complex international situation", Spanish foreign trade continues to be in a moment of "dynamism", with a growth in exports that is higher to other neighboring economies.

"This shows the competitiveness and response capacity of Spanish companies in the face of the volatile scenario of international markets", he underlined, after indicating that imports are growing faster, driven by domestic demand and by the purchase of energy products.