Editing Castile and León (section)

==Economy==
The [[Gross domestic product]] (GDP) of the autonomous community was 57.9 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 4.8% of Spanish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 25,800 euros or 85% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 97% of the EU average.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58 |title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018 |website=Eurostat |access-date=March 7, 2020 |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417095003/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Unemployment rate===
In July 2009, in full [[Great Recession]], unemployment reached 14.14% of the population,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rtvcyl.es/fichaNoticia.cfm/CASTILLA+Y+LE%C3%93N+/20090724/Paro/paro/sube/comunidad/5000/personas/segundo/trimestre/AC651A81-F7A8-1A70-5724B419635D9D2A |title=Radio Televisión de Castilla y León |last=www.rtvcyl.es |date=21 January 2018 |website=rtvcyl.es |access-date=21 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121184710/http://www.rtvcyl.es/fichaNoticia.cfm/CASTILLA+Y+LE%C3%93N+/20090724/Paro/paro/sube/comunidad/5000/personas/segundo/trimestre/AC651A81-F7A8-1A70-5724B419635D9D2A|archive-date=21 January 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> when in 2007 it was half, 6,99%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/01/25/castillayleon/1201254488.html |title=El paro bajó en Castilla y León un 5% frente a un incremento nacional del 6,5 - elmundo.es |last=Mundinteractivos |website=www.ElMundo.es |access-date=21 January 2018 |archive-date=2 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202033451/http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/01/25/castillayleon/1201254488.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the survey of the employment of the fourth quarter of 2014, the employment rate is 54.91% and the unemployment rate is 20.28%, while the national figure is 59,77% of employment and 23.70% of unemployed. Below the regional average of unemployment are Segovia (14.33%), Valladolid (16.65%), Soria (16.96%) and Burgos (18.76%), while above Salamanca (21,25%), León (22.65%), Palencia (23.22%), Ávila (25.33%) and Zamora (26.62%).<ref>{{cite web |title=Encuesta de población activa del cuarto trimestre 2014 |publisher=[[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|Instituto Nacional de Estadística]] |url=http://www.ine.es/daco/daco42/daco4211/epapro0414.pdf |access-date=17 January 2018 |archive-date=28 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728043519/http://www.ine.es/daco/daco42/daco4211/epapro0414.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The unemployment rate stood at 14.1% in 2017 and was slightly lower than the national average.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=de&pcode=tgs00010&plugin=1 |title=Regional Unemployment by NUTS2 Region |website=Eurostat |access-date=13 November 2018 |archive-date=5 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105202703/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=de&pcode=tgs00010&plugin=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!2006
!2007
!2008
!2009
!2010
!2011
!2012
!2013
!2014
!2015
!2016
!2017
|-
|'''unemployment rate'''<br/>(in %)
|8.1%
|7.1%
|9.6%
|14.0%
|15.8%
|16.9%
|19.8%
|21.7%
|20.8%
|18.3%
|15.8%
|14.1%
|}

===Primary sector===
[[File:Villarejo de Orbigo1 Leon Spain.jpg|thumb| [[Villarejo de Órbigo]], typical rural town of the [[Ribera del Órbigo]] and of [[Tierra de Campos]] comarcas.]]

;Field
The fields of Castile and Leon are arid and dry although very fertile, predominating in them the [[dryland farming]]. Despite this, irrigation has been gaining importance in the areas of the valleys of [[Douro]], [[Esla (river)|Esla]], [[Órbigo]], [[Pisuerga]] and [[Tormes]]. The scarce orography and the improvement of communications has favored the entry of technical innovations throughout the process of agricultural production, especially in areas such as the [[province of Valladolid]] or the [[province of Burgos]] where the production per hectare is one of the highest in Spain. The most fertile Castilian-Leonese area coincides with the Esla valley, in León, in the fields of [[Valladolid]] and [[Tierra de Campos]], a district that extends between [[province of Zamora]], [[province of Valladolid]], [[province of Palencia]] and [[province of León]].

;Use of arable land
[[File:Arco, castillo de Gormaz, Soria.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The [[Meseta Central]] is a large plateau ranging a considerable part of the region of [[Castile (historical region)|Castile]]. In the image a landscape of the Meseta Central viewed from the [[castle of Gormaz]].]]
Castile and León has an agricultural area close to 5,783,831 hectares, which is more than half of the total area of its total territory. Most of the farmland is dryland, due to the climate and the low rainfall. Only 10% of the area is irrigated, with plots of intensive production, much more profitable than dryland crops.

Despite the decline of the population in rural areas, the Castilian-Leonese agricultural production still represents 15% of the Spanish primary sector and its average occupation is lower than that of other autonomous communities.

;Types of crop
[[File:Vinos DO de Castilla y León.svg|thumb|230px|Wines with [[denominación de origen]] of Castile and León]]
Castile and León constitutes one of the main Spanish cereal areas. As the popular saying says: "''Castile, granary of Spain''". Although the most traditional crop was wheat, the production of barley has gained ground since the 1960s. These two cereals are followed, in number of hectares cultivated and volume of production, rye and oats. In addition to legumes, such as carob and chickpeas, sunflower cultivation has spread in the southern countryside.

The vineyard (56,337 ha) saw the number of hectares cultivated during the last three decades of the 20th century decrease considerably; However, the application of the most modern aging techniques has notably improved the Castilian-Leonese wines, which compete in quality with those of La Rioja and begin to be known outside the Spanish borders. The main viticultural areas of the region are [[Ribera del Duero|Ribera del Duero (DO)]], [[Rueda (DO)]], [[Toro (DO)]], [[Bierzo (DO)]], [[Arribes (wine)|Arribes (DO)]] and [[Tierra de León (DO)]]. Irrigated land is planted with sugar beet, a product that has been subsidized by the regional authorities, potatoes, alfalfa and vegetables. In the province of León, corn, hops and legumes are also sown.

;Livestock
[[File:051127 1327 Villalba de los Llanos - Vaca morucha T01.JPG|thumb|left| [[Morucha]] cow in a [[dehesa]] of [[Campo Charro]], place of production of [[Jamón de Guijuelo]].]]
Livestock represents an important part of the final agricultural production. Next to the small livestock units, which proliferate in the regions of pre-eminent agricultural dedication or in the mountain areas, now appears a modern livestock activity, with cattle, pig and sheep farms, of development. These farms are oriented both to the production of meat and to the supply of milk to the cooperatives that channel their subsequent commercialization, since the dairy production of Castile and León -more than one and a half million liters per year- is the second largest in Spain, only surpassed by Galicia.

Thus, small livestock farms tend to disappear, largely due to the effect of rural depopulation and the consequent loss of labor. Transhumant grazing is conserved in some areas; large herds, mainly sheep, travel every year hundreds of kilometers from the flat lands to the land with mountain pastures as in the [[El Bierzo]], the Cantabrian valleys of province of León, the [[sierra de Gredos]] or Picos de Urbión. It is hard work that every time has less labor, having previously constituted a testimony of first importance on the history and cultural roots of the Castilian and Leonese people.
[[File:Pinar de Valsaín.jpg|thumb|Pines in [[Valle de Valsaín]].]]
The sheep herd is the most numerous, with 5,425,000 heads, followed by domestic pig (2,800,000) and cattle (1,200,000). A long way away is the goats (166,200 heads) and horses (71,700 horses, mules and donkeys). The highest production of meat corresponds to that of pigs (241,700 t), followed by bovine (89,400 t) and poultry (66,000 t); in wool production Castile and León leads the national balance with 7,500 t. Within the section of Protected [[Geographical indication]] (I.G.P), highlights [[Lechazo de Castilla y León (I.G.P.)|Lechazo de Castilla y León]], based in [[Aranda de Duero]].

;Forest exploitation
In Castile and León there are about 1,900,000 hectares of non-arboreal, representing 40% of the total forest area. This deforestation is mainly due to the hand of the man who, over the centuries, has made forests disappear, giving way to areas of non-arboreal vegetation. Little by little, with the abandonment of rural areas and the reforestation policy of the Castilian and Leonese governments, this situation has been reversed.

===Secondary sector===
;Industry
[[File:Factoría de Renault en Valladolid. Junta de Castilla y León. 2018.jpg|thumb|right| [[Renault]] factory in Valladolid]]
[[File:(Aeroengines Ircio de Aciturri) Visita a Aciturri y Montefibre (Miranda de Ebro) 02.jpg|thumb|right|Aciturri Aeroengines plant in Miranda de Ebro]]
During 2000, the Castile and León industry occupied 18% of the active population and contributed 25% of GDP. The most developed industrial axis is that of [[Valladolid]]-[[Palencia]]-[[Burgos]]-[[Miranda de Ebro]]-[[Aranda de Duero]], where there is an important car industry, paper industry, aeronautics and chemistry, and is where most of the industrial activity of the Castilian-Leonese territory is concentrated. The food industry derived from the farm and livestock, with flour, sunflower oil and wines, among others is also important, especially in the [[Ribera del Duero (comarca)|Ribera del Duero]] comarca, especially in [[Aranda de Duero]].

The main industrial poles of the community are: [[Valladolid]] (21,054 workers dedicated to the sector), [[Burgos]] (20,217), [[Aranda de Duero]] (4,872), [[León, Spain|León]] (4,521), [[Ponferrada]] (4,270) and [[Ólvega]] (4,075).<ref>{{cite web |title=Fichas Municipales - 2008 DATOS ECONÓMICOS Y SOCIALES |url=http://www.cajaespana.es/pubweb/decyle.nsf |date=2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222182606/http://www.cajaespana.es/pubweb/decyle.nsf |archive-date=22 December 2009}}</ref>

Other industries are textiles in [[Béjar]], roof tiles and bricks in [[Palencia]], sugar in [[León, Spain|León]], [[Valladolid]], [[Toro, Zamora|Toro]], [[Miranda de Ebro]] and [[Benavente, Zamora|Benavente]], the pharmaceutical company in [[León, Spain|León]], [[Valladolid]] and mainly in [[Aranda de Duero]] with a factory of the [[GlaxoSmithKline]] group, the metallurgical and steel company in [[Ponferrada]] and the chemistry in [[Miranda de Ebro]] and [[Valladolid]], the aeronautics in [[Miranda de Ebro]] and [[Valladolid]]. In the remaining capitals there is a [[food industry]] derived from the agricultural and livestock exploitation, with flour, sunflower oil and wines, among others. This regional [[food industry|agro-food industry]] is flagged by [[Calidad Pascual]] based in [[Aranda de Duero]]. In the [[agricultural]] industry, within the production of [[fertilizer]]s, the [[Mirat]], founded in 1812 in [[Salamanca]], stands out.<ref>{{citation |title=Las 5000 mayores empresas |year=2009 |work=Castilla y León Económica |number=153}}</ref>

In [[Soria]] the [[logging|logging industry]] and furniture manufacturing is also relevant to the regional economy.

The president of the Castilian-Leonese employers' association is currently [[Ginés Clemente]], owner of the [[Aciturri Aeronáutica]], based in [[Miranda de Ebro]]. It is a leading international aeronautical group, with contracts with groups such as [[Boeing]] and [[Airbus]], which makes Castile and León a benchmark in the sector.

;Construction
The 16,34% of the companies in Castile and León belong to the auxiliary sector of [[construction]]. Among the largest companies in the sector, the following stand out: [[Grupo Pantersa]], [[Begar (corporation)|Begar]], [[Grupo MRS]], [[Isolux Corsán]], [[Llorente Corporation]], [[Volconsa]] and of auxiliary construction sector, [[Artepref]] of [[Gerardo de la Calle Group]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ranking 2009 de las 5.000 mayores empresas de Castilla y León - year <nowiki>=</nowiki> 2010 |url=http://www.castillayleoneconomica.es/ranking.html |date=2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831105824/http://www.castillayleoneconomica.es/ranking.html |archive-date=31 August 2010}}</ref>

;Mining
[[File:Mina de pizarra a cielo abierto en la provincia de León. Junta de Castilla y León. 2000.jpg|thumb|Open-cast slate quarry in the province of León.]]
In Castile and León, the mining activity acquired great importance in the Roman times, when a road was drawn, the [[Vía de la Plata]], to transfer the gold extracted in the deposits of [[Las Médulas]], in the Leonese comarca of [[El Bierzo]], the route started from [[Asturica Augusta]] (Astorga) to [[Emerita Augusta]] (Mérida) and [[Hispalis]] (Seville).

Centuries later, after the [[Spanish Civil War]], mining was one of the factors that contributed to the economic development of the region. However, the production of iron, tin and tungsten decreased notably from the 1970s, while bituminous coal and anthracite mines were maintained thanks to the domestic demand for coal for thermal power plants. The economic reconversion that affected the [[Leonese mining basin]] and [[Palencia mining basin|Palencian mining basin]] during the 1980s and 1990s resulted in the closure of numerous mines, social impoverishment, with a sharp increase of unemployment and the beginning of a new migratory movement towards other Spanish regions. Despite the investments of the Mining Action Plan of the Junta de Castilla y León, traditional coal mining operations have entered into a severe crisis.

;Energy sources
[[File:Presa de Aldeadavila.jpg|thumb| [[Aldeadávila Dam]], which with 1,146 MW is the most powerful in the country.]]
Castile and León is a net producer of electric energy, with a generation/demand ratio in 2021 of 197% (27,016 GWh vs. 13,670 GWh).<ref>{{Cite web|first=José|last=Rodríguez Sojo|title=El mapa de la electricidad en España: ¿qué comunidades producen más energía y cuáles son las mayores consumidoras?|url=https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2022/08/05/el-mapa-de-la-electricidad-en-espana-que-comunidades-producen-mas-energia-y-cuales-son-las-mayores-consumidoras-cadena-ser/|website=[[Cadena SER]]|date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

In addition to the northern basin, in those of the Douro and Ebro rivers there are numerous hydroelectric plants that allow Castile and León to be one of the first autonomous communities producing electricity. Among others are those of Burguillo, Rioscuro, Las Ondinas, Cornatel, Bárcena, [[Aldeadávila Dam|Aldeadávila I and II]], [[Saucelle Dam|Saucelle I and II]], [[Castro Dam|Castro I and II]], [[Villalcampo Dam|Villalcampo I and II]], Valparaíso and [[Ricobayo Dam|Ricobayo I and II]].

The total installed hydraulic power amounts to 3,979 MW<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.energiasrenovables.ciemat.es/?pid=4000&id_seccion=8&tipo=noticias&id=1563 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222090915/http://www.energiasrenovables.ciemat.es/?pid=4000&id_seccion=8&tipo=noticias&id=1563 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 December 2009 |title=La potencia instalada en energías renovables se multiplica por diez en los últimos ocho años |quote=The installed power in 2006 is distributed as follows: 3,979 megawatts in hydraulic, 2,707 in coal and 466 in nuclear}}</ref><ref name=ref_duplicated_1>{{citation |url=http://www.nortecastilla.es/v/20110108/economia/lluvia-megavatios-20110108.html |title=Lluvia de megavatios |work=El Norte de Castilla (newspaper) |year=2011 |quote=Hydraulic production exceeded 5,739 Gwh in the region. By installed power, Castile and León is the leading Spanish region, with a total of 3,979 megawatts (MW) of power, ahead of Galicia}}</ref> and annual production in 2010 was 5,739 GWH.<ref name=ref_duplicated_1 /> Only in the system [[Saltos del Duero]] there are more than 3000 MW installed. In this way, Castile and León is the first Spanish autonomous community in installed capacity and the second in production.<ref name=ref_duplicated_1/>

The nuclear power is 466 MW, having produced 3,579.85 GWh in 2009. The [[Santa María de Garoña Nuclear Power Plant|only nuclear plant]] in Castile and León on 1 August 2017, was definitively and irrevocably closed.
{{See also|Nuclear power in Spain}}

The coal thermal produces around 16,956 GWh per year at the following plants:

;Thermal power stations in Castile and León
{|class="wikitable"
!Name
!Location
!Province
!Owner
|-
| [[Thermal power station of Anllares]]|| [[Páramo del Sil]] || [[Province of León]] || [[Gas Natural|Gas Natural Fenosa]] and [[Endesa]]
|-
| [[Thermal power station of Compostilla II]]|| [[Cubillos del Sil]] || [[Province of León]] || [[Endesa]]
|-
| [[Thermal power station of La Robla]]|| [[La Robla]] || [[Province of León]] || [[Unión Fenosa]]
|-
| [[Velilla Power Plant]] || [[Velilla del Río Carrión]] || [[Province of Palencia]] || [[Iberdrola]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-12-23 |title=Iberdrola contrata con Izar mantenimiento central térmica Velilla |url=http://terranoticias.terra.es/articulo/html/av2233416.htm |access-date=2021-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223094348/http://terranoticias.terra.es/articulo/html/av2233416.htm|archive-date=December 23, 2009}}</ref>
|}
{{See also|List of power stations in Spain}}

[[File:Aldeavieja02.jpg|thumb|Wind farm in the province of Ávila.]]
The region stands out for the importance of the production of [[renewable energy]]. Castile and León is the community that covers the largest proportion of its electricity demand through [[renewable energy|renewable energies]]: 82,9% in 2009.<ref name="RenewableSpain2008">{{Cite web |date=July 2009 |title=El sistema elécrtica español 08 |website= Red Eléctrica de España |url=http://www.ree.es/sistema_electrico/pdf/infosis/Inf_Sis_Elec_REE_2008_v2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213225408/http://www.ree.es/sistema_electrico/pdf/infosis/Inf_Sis_Elec_REE_2008_v2.pdf |access-date=30 June 2010|archive-date=2009-12-13 }}{{needs update| date=August 2024}}</ref> Traditional hydroelectric power It has been added with force since the late 1990s and 2000 [[wind power]], with more than 100 parks in operation and a production of 5,449 GWh in that same year. By provinces, it is at the top [[Eolic parks of Burgos|Burgos]] with 46, and a total of 3,128 MW of installed power.
{{See also|Renewable energy in Spain|Wind power in Spain|Solar power in Spain}}

Among the non-renewable energies is also the [[natural gas]] (194 MW of installed power) and fuel-diesel fuel (69 MW).

The provinces of Valladolid and Burgos are the most economically advanced regions, with a GDP per capita higher than the national average. Even so, the average GDP per capita of the community of Castile and León is slightly below than average, at 21,244 euros per inhabitant.

===Tertiary sector===
====Tourism====
[[File:Exterior Alcazar Segovia.jpg|thumb| [[Segovia]] is one of the main receptors of tourism in the region, [[world heritage]] city as well as [[Salamanca]] and [[Ávila, Spain|Ávila]].]]

Some of its tourism highlights include the walls of [[Ávila, Spain|Ávila]], and the cathedrals of [[Burgos]] and [[León, Spain|Leon]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Castilla y Leon |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/castilla-y-leon |publisher=[[Lonely Planet]] |access-date=4 April 2021 |archive-date=18 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718093958/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/castilla-y-leon |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Panorámica de Las Médulas.jpg|thumb|left| [[Las Médulas]]. A world heritage site, the landscape is the result of Roman mining techniques in what it was a gold-rich area in Antiquity.]]
Castile and León has several cities whose Holy Week is considered to be of International Tourist Interest. Examples are [[Holy Week in León]], [[Holy Week in Salamanca]], [[Holy Week in Valladolid]] or [[Holy Week in Zamora]].<ref>{{cite web |author=BOE |title=Publication in the BOE of the RESOLUTION of 14 March 2003, of the General Secretariat of Tourism, by which the title of "Festival of International Tourist Interest" is granted to Holy Week in Salamanca. |url=http://www.boe.es/aeboe/consultas/bases_datos/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2003-7514|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514185056/http://www.boe.es/aeboe/consultas/bases_datos/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2003-7514 |url-status=dead|archive-date=14 May 2011}}</ref>

The region also has a wide network of [[Paradores]], hotels of great quality that usually accommodate buildings of great historical value in privileged places to stimulate tourism in the area.
[[File:Avila_001.jpg|thumb|right|The city of Ávila is one of the places in Castile and León declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.]]
Since 1988, the foundation ''[[Las Edades del Hombre]]'' has been organizing various exhibitions of religious art in various parts of the national and international geography, highlighting for its interest the exhibitions held in Castile and León. The idea of carrying out these exhibitions was conceived in a chimney of [[Alcazarén]] with the writer [[José Jiménez Lozano]] and the priest of Valladolid José Velicia. The first "Las Edades del Hombre" were held in the Church of Santiago Apóstol of Alcazarén, with a small exhibition of sacred paintings. Later, and with the support of important personalities, the first known exhibition was held among the public, which was that of Valladolid. In 2012 the initiative was developed under the name of ''Monacatus'' in the town of [[Oña]], being one of the most multitudinous editions with about 200&nbsp;000 visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2012/11/03/castillayleon/1351963961.html |title='Monacatus' echa el cierre con 200.000 visitas y un gran impacto económico |access-date=31 January 2018 |archive-date=1 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201020237/http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2012/11/03/castillayleon/1351963961.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The last sample so far has taken place in the municipality of [[Arévalo]], in 2013. With the title of ''Credo'', the exhibition has revolved around the faith and has received more than 226&nbsp;000 visitors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elconfidencial.com/ultima-hora-en-vivo/2013-12-15/el-presidente-de-la-fundacion-destaca-interes-de-las-edades-durante-25-anos_124679/ |title=El presidente de la Fundación destaca interés de "Las Edades" durante 25 años |author=El Confidencial |date=15 December 2013 |access-date=31 January 2018 |archive-date=1 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201133747/http://www.elconfidencial.com/ultima-hora-en-vivo/2013-12-15/el-presidente-de-la-fundacion-destaca-interes-de-las-edades-durante-25-anos_124679/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Domestic trade and exports abroad===

The internal trade of Castile and León is concentrated in the sector of food, automotive, fabric and footwear. For foreign trade, according to the region, vehicles and car chassis are mainly exported in [[Province of Ávila]], [[Province of Palencia]] and [[Province of Valladolid]], tires in [[Province of Burgos]] and [[Province of Valladolid]], steel bars and slate manufactures in [[Province of León|León]], beef in [[Province of Salamanca]], pigs in [[Province of Segovia]], rubber manufactures in [[Province of Soria]] and [[goat meat|goat]] and [[sheep meat]], together with wine, in [[Province of Zamora]].

Castile and León also exports a lot of wine, being [[Province of Valladolid]] the one that more bottles sells abroad. As regards imports, vehicles and their accessories, such as engines or tires, are in the lead. The Region also imports mainly products from France, Italy, United Kingdom, [Germany, [Portugal and the United States and exports mostly to the countries of the European Union and to Turkey, Israel and United States.