Summary
In 2013 the Trade Sector was comprised of 232 760 enterprises (1.7% less than in 2012) with 733 thousand persons employed (-2.8%) and accounted for a total turnover of EUR 119.6 billion (equivalent to the total generated in the previous year). The total value of the commercial margin attained by Trade enterprises ascended to EUR 20.2 billion which stood for 0.8% less than in 2012, with EUR 87 thousand per enterprise (+0.9% from the previous year).
In terms of products sold, around 55.0% of the turnover generated in enterprises dealing in Trade, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles came from “sales of vehicles” (3.0 p.p. more than in 2012).
In Wholesale turnover, it is worth mentioning the fuel, building materials, chemicals and intermediates, which integrate the “other specialized wholesale n.e.c.” (30.5%), “food products, beverages and tobacco” (23.6%) and “household goods” (20.3%).
In Retail Trade, “food products, beverages and tobacco” generated the largest share of turnover (33.1%), followed by “fuel for motor vehicles and other new products n.e.c.” (24.3%).
The number of “Large Sized Commercial Units” (UCDR) ascended to 3 286 establishments of which 49.8% dedicated to Food retail trade or food-predominant retail trade and the remaining belonged to non-food retail trade. When compared to 2012, the turnover generated in UCDR establishments declined by 0.3% to EUR 15.7 billion.