Spain enters China's priority radar to increase its imports in 2026, in a move with strong economic impact that seeks to balance foreign trade of the Asian giant and open new opportunities for Spanish companies in one of the world's largest markets.
The program, presented by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, includes more than 100 activities aimed at facilitating the entry of foreign products into its market. The objective is not only to increase imports, but to ensure that international products “sell well”, combining digital tools with in-person events.
The strategy goes beyond simple commercial opening. Beijing seeks a bidirectional model in which Chinese companies go abroad while foreign investment is attracted to the country. In this context, Spain has been designated as one of the “thematic” countries of the year, along with the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Kenya, or Thailand, which implies a preferential focus on its products.
The first actions of the program have already generated purchase commitments worth tens of billions of yuan, which reflects the economic potential of this initiative. For Spanish companies, this could translate into new opportunities in sectors such as food, technology, fashion, or industrial goods.
The decision coincides with the official visit of Pedro Sánchez to China, the fourth in four years, in which key issues will be addressed such as commercial relations, technological cooperation and access to the Chinese market for Spanish companies.
Currently, Spain maintains a trade deficit with China of 42,278 million euros in 2025. Although exports grew by 6.8% to 7,971.6 million euros, the balance remains clearly unfavorable, which is why initiatives like ‘Exporta a China’ could be decisive in reducing that imbalance and increasing Spanish presence in one of the world's largest markets.
