Industrial trade by of the Basque Country registered an outstanding process of internationalisation, showing a surplus, according to Eustat data. International sales by Basque industry totalled 28.5% of the value of its production, while imports came to 26.4%, offering, therefore, a coverage rate of almost 55%. The branch of Transport material and Machinery contributed most to the positive trade balance of industry.

 On the other hand, the trade balance of goods from the A.C. of the Basque Country with the Rest of the State showed a deficit since the sales of industrial products destined for the state market came to 25.5% of the value of industrial production, whereas imports totalled 26.7%.

Industry of the Basque Country specialises in sectors that are characterised by a greater capacity for generating value added than the average for the European Union and also Spain. Despite high levels of concentration, it has the means to adapt to the changing cycles of this production activity and continues to play its role as a driving force of the economy. The sectors of “high and medium-high” level technology accounted for 29% of its industrial value added.

Labour costs continued to be higher than those of the State as a whole and the evolution of productivity showed a positive pattern, above the average for the Euro Zone and Spain, although below that of other developed countries. Unitary labour costs for Basque industry diminished, which translated as a gain in competitiveness.

Industrial employment remained stable in absolute terms at around 250,000 jobs in recent years, but descended slightly in relative terms in comparison to the economy overall. The participation of employed female personnel came to 18.2% of the industrial total, rising gradually over recent years, although remaining at a level that corresponds to half of its economy as a whole.

Analysis of production innovation shows how Basque industry opts largely for the purchase of machinery, leaving internal R&D in second place. Nearly half the industrial establishments have introduced some kind of technological innovation, especially in processes. The sectors of medium-high technology are the ones to show the most positive evolution, concentrating more than half the financial resources earmarked for R&D.

The degree of implementing “information and communication technology” in Basque industrial companies is high, especially in larger establishments. E-commerce continues to grow, both in terms of turnover and in the number of companies taking part in it, although not reaching the levels of other advanced European countries. Something similar can be seen in the case of the ICT industry, whose parameters are above the Spanish average.

The industrial sector did not reach the gross rate for creation of companies seen in the services or construction sectors, but showed a greater rate of survival. As for the size of establishments, in the A.C. of the Basque Country the weight of smaller establishments was lesser and that of medium-sized ones somewhat greater than in Spain, especially in terms of employment.