Rare gases market in Spain

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2021 and 2024, the Spanish rare gases market saw its volume first increase from 61 824 thousand m³ to 63 719 thousand m³ in 2023, then contract to 61 695 thousand m³ in 2024. In value terms, however, the market expanded steadily from $155.8 million to $179.1 million over the same three-year period, indicating rising prices or a shift toward higher-value products.

Domestic production volume remained nearly flat at around 77 800 thousand m³ in 2021 and 2023, then jumped by roughly 5% to 81 902 thousand m³ in 2024. The value of production followed a similar upward path, climbing from $145.5 million in 2021 to $171.8 million in 2024.

During these years, Spain transposed several EU and national regulations affecting industrial gases, including the emission trading scheme for greenhouse gases and new taxes on fluorinated gases. While these measures primarily target climate-related emissions, they contributed to a changing regulatory backdrop for the broader gas industry.

Production rare gases in Spain

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

Exports rare gases from Spain

Exports in kind, K m³

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. The minimum volume was recorded in 2017, while the maximum occurred in 2018, with a 2.7-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Spain exported 19 469 K m³ of rare gases, representing an 11.7% increase from the previous year. The largest decline was observed in 2019 at 52.2%, while the largest increase took place in 2018, reaching 170.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Spain in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

From 2017 to 2020, Portugal was the primary destination for rare gases from Spain, consistently accounting for 94.8% of total exports in volume.

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

After two years of growth, Spain's rare gas exports in value terms declined. In 2020, exports totaled 12 320 K US dollars, down 10.2% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 10.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.3%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 13 715 K US dollars, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 10.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Portugal remained the key market for Spain's rare gas exports in value terms, representing 75.9% of the total, with other destinations playing a much smaller role.

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

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

Imports rare gases to Spain

Imports in kind, K m³

Spain's rare gas imports in volume increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached approximately 8 836 K m³, reflecting a sharp 44.3% rise compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 92%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 24.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Spain in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Throughout 2017-2020, Portugal (25.8% of imports in volume), the United States (23.4%), and Honduras (11.6%) formed the core group of sources for Spain's rare gas imports, together accounting for 60.8% of total flows.

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

In 2020, Spain's rare gas imports in value terms totaled 22 151 K US dollars, showing a slight decrease of 0.7% from the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 8.4%, with an annualized growth rate of 2.7%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 18 947 K US dollars, while the highest was in 2019 at 22 304 K US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 7.3%, and the largest increase took place in 2019 at 17.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Algeria (33.0% of imports in value), the United States (23.0%), and Qatar (17.5%) remained the leading sources in Spain's import structure, collectively representing 73.5% of total flows.

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

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