Page 63 - economic report 2019

Imports of vehicles increased despite
ANDORRA’S MAIN IMPORT SECTORS.
2019 - Interannual variation rate (%) Chart 7.7 falling numbers of registrations.

5
in 2019, continuing the strong upward trend
4 3.8 that started in 2013. Consequently, its share
3 3.0
of total foreign purchases rose three tenths
2
to 13.3%, the highest level in the historical
1 series. The explanation for this progress can be
0.3
0 found in the growth of imports in the chapter
-0.2
-1 of motor vehicles, tractors, motorcycles and
-2 -1.5 bicycles (1.6%). However, its rate of growth
-3 -2.5 slowed in comparison with the six previous
Food, beverages & tobacco Transport material Chemical products Machinery & electrical equipment Mineral products years, when it grew at two-digit annual rates
due to increasing vehicle registrations on the

of these vehicles. In 2019, on the other hand,
Total (0.7%) Andorran market and increasing re-exports
the trend in vehicle registrations changed and
Source: Department of Tax and Frontiers.
fell 1.9%. Also note the significant growth in
imports of aircraft and seacraft, which are
mostly exportable, although proportionately much less important.

In 2019, the trend in imports of chemical products, the third most important group in the ranks,
was slightly negative, and consequently their proportion remained practically constant at 12%.
The two most important chapters in the group are perfumery – with 7.4% of total imports – which 61
fell 3.1%, and pharmaceutical products – with 2.3% - which increased 7.2% in 2019.

Growth in imports of machinery and electrical equipment was very similar to imports as a whole
(0.3%), maintaining their share of the total at 11.7%, and the fourth most important group in
the ranks of foreign purchases. This behaviour can be explained by the decline in purchases of
mechanical apparatus (-2.2%) which was offset
The strong rise in imports of minerals by a 2.3% increase in imports of machines
for construction indicates constant and electrical apparatus, a trend that could be
recovery in building activities. related to the rise in exports in this branch,
since they are re-exportable products.

The group of mineral products is fifth in the ranks of Andorran imports, with 8.7% of the total.
In 2019, it saw a decline of 1.5%. The reason for this downturn is falling imports of fuels, oils and
mineral wax (-2.7%) – the most important chapter in the group with 8.1% of total imports which, in
turn, can be explained by the fall in the average price of fuel associated with falling oil prices in 2019.
In contrast, in the case of purchases of salt, sulphur, earth and stone, plastering materials, lime and
cement, the second most important chapter in the group, there was a significant increase for the
second consecutive year (19.6%), signalling the phase of recovery in the construction sector.

As for the group of textiles, imports saw a decline of 2.5%, and consequently its percentage of The Andorran economy: general developments | VII. The foreign sector
the total fell two tenths to 7.6%, becoming the sixth most important import group. This decline
follows the one in 2018, after two years of increases.

Far behind textiles are imports of live animals and animal products, which saw an increase of 2.5%
in 2019, more than for imports as a whole, so its percentage of the total increased to 5%. This
trend can mainly be explained by the increase in imports of meats and edible offal, and fish (2.4%
and 5.1%, respectively).