Couscous market in Spain

Earlier Report Observations

Couscous imports into Spain rose from 6 314 t in 2018 to 8 408 t in 2021, a period when regulatory modifications were implemented to boost economic competitiveness and facilitate the free movement of goods within the European single market, supporting trade flows.

Market volume turned downward from 2022, falling to 7 228 t that year and to 5 559 t by 2024. This contraction coincided with increasing market fragmentation, where over 60% of companies cited regulation as an investment barrier, and the introduction of new consumer protection norms and regional open-market laws that added administrative complexity.

The regulatory environment tightened further with the approval of the new Securities Market Law in 2023 and housing market reforms in 2024, reinforcing compliance burdens and contributing to the market's decline in the latter years.

Production couscous in Spain

According to Faostat, there is no production of couscous in Spain.

Exports couscous from Spain

Exports in kind, t

Spanish couscous exports have grown for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports reached 550 tons, marking a 29.5% increase compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports overall decreased by 15%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.3%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 415 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 35.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Spain in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, three key markets—France, Cuba, and Portugal—collectively accounted for 70.0% of Spain's total couscous exports in volume terms.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Spain in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Couscous shipments from Spain abroad have risen for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports were valued at 1 449 thousand US dollars, reflecting a 43.2% gain compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 28.8%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 8.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 941 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 16.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Spain in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017–2020, France, Portugal, and the United States remained the primary markets for Spain's couscous exports in value terms, with shares of 37.7%, 13.0%, and 9.4%, respectively. Together, they represented 60.1% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Spain in value, 2017-2020

Imports couscous to Spain

Imports in kind, t

Cross-border shipments of couscous to Spain have increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, Spain imported 7 964 tons of couscous, indicating a 17.8% improvement compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 16.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.3%. The minimum volume was recorded in 2018 at 6 314 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 7.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Spain in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, France, Italy, and Morocco were the main sources of couscous imports to Spain in volume terms, accounting for 40.8%, 32.8%, and 22.3% of total imports, respectively. Together, they made up 95.9% of all imports.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Spain in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year decline, Spain's couscous imports have rebounded. In 2020, Spain imported approximately 9 923 thousand US dollars worth of couscous, showing a significant uptick of 17.5% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 10.3%, equating to an annualized rate of 3.3%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 8 445 thousand US dollars, while the largest decline occurred in 2018 at 3.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Spain in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2017–2020, France, Italy, and Morocco were the largest suppliers of couscous to Spain in value terms, with shares of 49.6%, 25.2%, and 19.5%, respectively. Together, they formed 94.4% of total imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Spain in value, 2017-2020