China overtakes Germany as Spain's top goods supplier

Chinese automotive expansion Spanish import trends Electric vehicle market SAIC Motor BYD

China has become Spain's primary supplier of goods, overtaking Germany for the first time. Between January and June 2026, Spain imported 26.6 billion euros worth of products from China, surpassing the 26.017 billion euros imported from Germany.

The automotive sector is a major driver of this shift. Chinese vehicle brands have achieved a 12.3% market share in Spain during the first half of 2026, with penetration reaching nearly 20% among private individual buyers. Leading brands include BYD, MG, Omoda, and Jaecoo.

To secure long-term growth, Chinese manufacturers are transitioning from exporters to local producers. Spain is emerging as a central manufacturing hub for the continent. Projects include Chery utilizing a former Nissan plant in Barcelona, Leapmotor using a Stellantis facility in Zaragoza, and SAIC planning an MG factory in Galicia by 2028. Projections suggest Chinese production in Europe could reach 1.5 million units annually by 2035, with Spain potentially hosting two-thirds of that volume.

Financially, the expansion is yielding results. SAIC Motor reported a 72% increase in first-half profits, totaling over 1 billion euros, amid its strategic move into the Spanish market.

Entities

BYD · China · MG · Pedro Sánchez · SAIC Motor · Spain

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] China exports 4 trillion Spanish dollars annually and generates a trade surplus exceeding 2 trillion dollars.
[DISPUTED] China has overtaken Germany as Spain's primary supplier of goods.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Spain imported 26,600.2 million euros worth of products from China during the first half of 2026.
[○ 1 SOURCE] MG operates more than 100 service points in Spain and has implemented a new 10,000 square meter warehouse. movilidadelectrica.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Chinese vehicle brands hold a market share of nearly 20% among private individual buyers in Spain. www.lne.es
[DISPUTED] More than 30 Chinese-controlled brands sold approximately 94,000 vehicles in Spain during the first half of 2026, representing a 12.3% market share. www.lne.es
[○ 1 SOURCE] The brand MG recorded 45,168 registrations in Spain in 2025, a 46.7% increase from 2024. movilidadelectrica.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] MG reports an incidence rate of 0.33%, compared to a 0.6% average among generalist European manufacturers. movilidadelectrica.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Chinese brands may increase European vehicle production from 90,000 units in 2026 to 1.5 million by 2035. motohigh.pl
[○ 1 SOURCE] The shift in Spanish imports toward China is considered an unequivocally structural trend. www.elcorreoweb.es
[○ 1 SOURCE] SAIC Motor reported a 72% increase in first-half profits, exceeding 1 billion euros. www.farodevigo.es
[● 2 SOURCES] JPMorgan estimates Chinese manufacturers will hold approximately 20% of the Western European market by 2028. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.levante-emv.com