The European Commission has proposed tariffs on nearly 40% of Israel’s exports to the European Union in retaliation for the conflict in Gaza, but Catalonia’s economy will barely feel the shock. Trade flows between Israel and Catalonia are so limited that they do not even reach 1% of the region’s overall commerce.
According to the Ministry of Economy, Israeli imports into Catalonia rose more than 30% year-on-year as of June 2025. Yet, in absolute terms, purchases from Israel amount to just 0.2% of Catalonia’s imports. On the other side of the balance, Catalonia exported goods worth €39.1 million to Israel in June, while importing around €20 million. That leaves a positive trade balance of €19.2 million.
Despite the narrow scope of the exchange, trends have diverged. Catalan exports to Israel have fallen almost 30% in the past year, while imports have surged. Still, Catalonia has consistently sold nearly twice as much to Israel as it has bought since 2008, a dynamic that remains in place despite the war in Gaza.
The main sectors involved are semi-manufactured goods, cars and machinery. Together, these account for around 40% of the trade relationship. For the EU as a whole, Israeli imports represent just 0.6% of non-EU imports, further underlining the limited exposure.
For Catalonia, the message is clear: even amid geopolitical turbulence, the economic relationship with Israel is so marginal that the region remains largely shielded from any trade war.
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