Spain exported home textiles worth ?16 million during last year, recording an increase of 8.6 percent compared to 2012, as per the latest data released by the Center of Information of Textile and Apparel (CITYC).

According to the 'Spanish Home Textiles Sector in 2013' report from CITYC, the country exported home textiles products worth ?16 million last year, which is the highest since 2009.

Sub-sector wise, the highest increase was recorded in the exports of fabrics for home textiles products and home apparel, with a rise of 35 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Exports of rugs, however, declined by 12 percent during last year.

France was the main destination for Spanish exports of home textiles, with the country accounting for around 27 percent of the overall home textiles exported from Spain during 2013.

Countries in the European Union (EU) accounted for 75 percent of the total home textiles exported from Spain during last year.

Meanwhile, as per the CITYC data, Spain imported home textiles worth ?.09 billion in 2013, registering a rise of 3.3 percent, compared to 2012. China was the main supplier of home textiles to Spain, accounting for 31 percent of the overall home textiles imported by the country during last year.

As per the CITYC data, in 2013, around 1,573 firms operated in the home textile industry of Spain, employing over 13,710 people. The turnover of the Spanish home textiles sector touched ?.66 billion during last year.