Balearic exports at an all-time high

Pilar Sansó, the director-general for trade and business, adds that export development reflects high demand for products such as leather, wine, food, perfumes and jewellery. Overseas markets, they both believe, are helping to improve productive activity, the volume of business and competitiveness.

According to employment, trade and industry ministry figures, there are 2,651 businesses in the Balearics which are engaged in exporting. Europe, with 80% of demand, represents the largest export market, with the UK, Germany, Italy, France and the Netherlands being the most important countries.

Sansó explains that the eurozone helps a great deal as does the fact that there is familiarity with Balearic products because of tourism. The minister, Iago Negueruela, says of the 2017 export performance that the trend is consolidating economic growth and clearly demonstrates the capacity of Balearic business to seek out new markets.

The Caribbean is another source of export demand, largely because of hotel companies' activities. These are especially important for furniture. In the Far East there is demand for essential oils and Majorca's top-of-the-range perfumery.