• Non-tourism service exports from Spain grew by 14.8% in 2025, while in Portugal they account for 10% of GDP

• Portugal stands out for its technological specialization, while Spain benefits from a broader industrial base

On June 16, the findings of the report “Iberian Internationalization: Spain and Portugal in the Global Economy 2025” were presented for the first time by Gonzalo Solana, Director of the Chair of Business Internationalization at Nebrija University. Through this study, led by the Auxadi-Nebrija Observatory, participants explored which markets are absorbing this high-value-added offering and how companies can capitalize on this momentum to strengthen their global presence.

Víctor Salamanca, CEO of Auxadi, opened the event alongside José María Ortiz, Rector of Nebrija University, and José Augusto Duarte, Ambassador of Portugal to Spain. The event took place at the Faculty of Economics and Business of Nebrija University in Madrid and brought together representatives from the public sector, finance professionals, and national investors.

The keys to the international success of Spain and Portugal

Among the study’s key findings, more than €120 billion of Spain’s exports in 2025 came from non-tourism services, representing year-on-year growth of 14.8%. In Portugal, the figure stood at €31.4 billion.

Although Europe remains the main destination for Iberian businesses -accounting for up to 80% of Portugal’s exports- the Americas continue to play a crucial role in both economies and have been the fastest-growing destination region over the past six years. In 2025, Spain directed 10.4% of its exports to the Americas, while Portugal allocated 8.8%.

The technological profile of the Iberian Peninsula is also becoming increasingly diversified. In Spain, 40.5% of technology exports were classified as medium-high technology, while Portugal stood out in the high-technology segment, accounting for 11.1% of exports. Key non-tourism sectors include energy, mobility, technology, agribusiness, and logistics.

Víctor Salamanca, CEO of Auxadi, highlighted the “extraordinary resilience” of Spain and Portugal and expressed his confidence in the Auxadi-Nebrija partnership: “We believe that collaboration between academia and business is essential, and the Observatory is a perfect example of this synergy”.

For his part, José Augusto Duarte emphasized the relationship between Spain and Portugal, stating his belief in “the deep interconnection, growing interdependence, and complementarity of our economies as a means to achieve a more balanced relationship and greater competitiveness”.

Gonzalo Solana noted the “very strong performance of service exports, both tourism and non-tourism services,” and stressed that “consolidating stable and diversified international ties” is essential to sustaining regional growth.

José María Ortiz expressed confidence in sectors such as tourism and renewable energy, which are highly recognized internationally, but remarked that “they should not be the only sectors representing the Iberian Peninsula”.

Cooperation between Spain and Portugal

Speakers focused on the current “reconfiguration of value chains”, as highlighted by José Augusto Duarte, who called for “coordinated efforts between Portugal and Spain” to continue driving economic growth. In this context, Raúl Mínguez identified several strategic sectors where collaboration could be strengthened, including energy management, advanced agribusiness, ports, and railway infrastructure.

“We must strongly commit to domestic energy sources”, stated María Canal, spokesperson for the European Commission Representation in Spain, noting that this has enabled approximately “70% of our energy mix to come from renewable sources”.

Economic outlook and growth drivers

To close the event, Jordi Colgan, Director General for Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted telecommunications, engineering, and consulting as exports with the “highest added value”.

Raúl Mínguez also emphasized the European Union’s standards in negotiating trade agreements—including recent agreements with Mercosur, Mexico, India, and Australia—particularly in areas such as environmental protection and sustainability, labor conditions, and human dignity.

Access the Full Auxadi-Nebrija Observatory Report

Would you like to access the full report, “Iberian Internationalization: Spain and Portugal in the Global Economy – 2025 Edition”? Click here.

Join Us at LATAM Days Madrid 2026

Were you unable to attend the presentation? Are you currently involved in an international expansion process?

Register for LATAM Days Madrid, taking place next Tuesday, June 23 -the key event for CFOs. We will open the conference by sharing the main insights from the study and, together with more than 30 industry professionals, will explore everything companies need to know to successfully expand into Latin America: challenges, opportunities, and real-world case studies of Spanish business expansion into the region.

About Auxadi

With 26 subsidiaries across Europe, the United States, and Latin America, Auxadi is today the leading Spanish accounting firm serving multinational companies and real estate investment funds. Through its technology-driven approach and strong client-focused culture, Auxadi acts as an extension of its clients’ finance departments worldwide, providing accounting, tax, payroll, transfer pricing, and corporate legal services.

Its proprietary MySPV technology platform, more than 300 employees, and over 1,700 clients have positioned Auxadi as a benchmark in the tech-enabled services sector, not only in Spain but internationally.

www.auxadi.com/contact

Author:

Auxadi Corporate