Date Published: 06/03/2026
Murcia tops Spain for profitable businesses, but US trade fears grow
ARCHIVED ARTICLE -
Eight in ten firms make money as region eyes Trump tariff risks

Great news for
Murcia's entrepreneurs: the Region leads Spain with 79% of companies turning a profit in 2023 - that's eight out of every ten succeeding. Unicaja's latest 'Economic-Financial Analysis of Spanish Companies 2025' puts Murcia well ahead of the national 72.6% average, up from 77.6% the previous year.
Industry drives this, with 83.5% profitable, followed by commerce at 81.7%, agriculture 78.9%, services 76.5% and construction 75.2%. Agriculture also boasts the best returns at 7.5%, then industry 7.3% and commerce 6.4%.
Investment and high performers
Murcia shines in growth too, with the biggest jumps in Spain: non-current investment up 14.7%, current 5.9%, overall assets rising 10.4%. You'll find 955 'gazelle' firms here that doubled sales over four years while staying profitable (top nationally at 5.67%). Add 1,291 sector leaders with over €500,000 cash flow and 599 highly profitable ones hitting 25%+ ROI.
Productivity trails at €221,608 per worker (versus €350,000 in Basque Country), but lower costs of €30,025 help.
Trump trade threat looms
This glowing picture faces a cloud from
Donald Trump's trade threats. Murcia's government flags risks to 587 exporters (€568m to US last year, third non-EU market) and 1,507 importers (€1.293bn, mainly €900m energy, up 44%). "An escalation would not only affect what we sell in the US, but also what our companies buy there," warns Minister Marisa López Aragón.
She highlights hits to competitiveness, costs and US investments (€1.831bn, 1,290 jobs since 2014). López Aragón calls on Madrid: "The attitude of the Spanish government is very worrying, as it is taking enormous risks for Spanish companies for purely ideological reasons."
Plans include export aid, market reports and new suppliers. For Murcia's entrepreneurs, it's a mix of pride in these strong numbers and vigilance over global ripples.
Image: Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia
article_detail

|