In 2025, the Canary Islands exported goods worth 72.5 million euros to Mauritania, accounting for 32.7 per cent of Spain’s total sales to that country, whilst they imported goods worth 58.9 million, according to figures from the Ministry of Economy.
This was outlined on Wednesday by Carla Cohí, Deputy Director-General for Mediterranean Countries, Africa and the Middle East at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, during a business conference in Tenerife bringing together institutional representatives, economic development agencies, financial institutions and companies from Spain, Senegal and Mauritania.
These events are organised by Casa África, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Chamber of Commerce and the Tenerife Island Council.
Canary Islands: 285 companies export to Mauritania
The Canary Islands are home to 285 companies that export to Mauritania, 108 of which do so on a regular basis, and, according to Cohí, they serve as a logistics and business hub for West Africa due to their proximity, connectivity and experience in the region.
The Ministry’s representative pointed out that business opportunities in both countries lie in sectors such as fish processing, water and sanitation, agribusiness, irrigation systems and greenhouses, as well as in renewable energy and services linked to the extractive industry.
In the energy sector, she highlighted the potential for collaboration in platform maintenance and engineering, as well as in the development of renewable energy, particularly in Mauritania, given its favourable conditions in terms of sunshine and wind.
Spain: A comparison of trade in goods with Mauritania and Senegal
According to figures from the State Secretariat for Trade, Spain’s exports to Mauritania consist mainly of industrial goods, machinery and materials, which accounted for 43.3 per cent of sales in 2025, followed by agri-food products (25.3 per cent) and fuels and lubricants (22.8 per cent).
Conversely, Spanish imports from Mauritania are concentrated in seafood, particularly molluscs and crustaceans, which accounted for 82.5 per cent of the total.
In Senegal, Spain mainly exports fuels, chemicals and building materials, whilst it imports crude oil, fish products, fruit and vegetables, and zirconium. According to Cohí, imports of crude oil led to Spain’s first trade deficit with that country in 2025.
Spain was Senegal’s fifth-largest trading partner worldwide in 2024 and its eleventh-largest supplier.
In 2025, it ranked first amongst the European Union’s customers and third amongst its EU suppliers.
Cohí explained that Spain’s trade relations with Africa are mainly concentrated in the north of the continent, particularly in Morocco and Algeria, whilst South Africa stands out as a destination for Spanish investment.
Mauritania and Senegal: Market barriers hamper Spanish investment
Furthermore, the Ministry’s representative acknowledged that a lack of knowledge about the markets and the obstacles to doing business and investing can hinder the establishment of Spanish companies; she therefore explained that work is being carried out with the authorities in both countries to identify and tackle these barriers.
Spain has had a permanent economic and trade office in Nouakchott since December 2025, whilst the office in Dakar has been supporting companies interested in the Senegalese market for several years.
Furthermore, Spain has around 700 regular exporters to Senegal and more than 400 to Mauritania.
She also pointed out that there are Spanish companies with investments in both countries, operating in Senegal’s agro-industrial sector and in various sectors in Mauritania.
When asked about the conditions needed to boost investment, she highlighted legal certainty and the stability of the macroeconomic framework.
Tenerife: Business conference strengthens ties with West Africa
At the opening of the event, the president of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Chamber of Commerce, Santiago Sese, explained that the event aims to strengthen ties between businesspeople from Spain, Senegal and Mauritania and to facilitate the internationalisation of businesses by raising awareness of business opportunities and the support mechanisms offered by institutions.
For his part, the Director-General of Casa África, José Segura, emphasised that the conference addresses cooperation in sectors such as the port industry, maritime transport and power generation.
He also pointed out that there will be discussions on green hydrogen and new sustainable fuels, citing as an example the development in Senegal of green hydrogen produced through electrolytic processes powered by solar and wind energy.
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