September saw a decrease in the trade deficit by 643 million euros compared to the same month the previous year, reaching 1088 million euros, as reported by the National Statistics Institute. The institute also noted that exports of food and beverages were the only category to show growth in the first nine months of the year. Excluding fuels and lubricants, the trade balance had a negative balance of 785 million euros, marking a decrease in the deficit of 353 million euros compared to September 2019. The institute also highlighted a slow recovery in exports and imports after the months of greatest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.