Andalucía third in line for British investment in Spain

British firms invested more than 1.6 billion euros in Spain in the first three quarters of 2025. The figure makes the UK the nation with the third highest financial input in this country, after US and France.

These figures are among the findings of the British Chamber of Commerce's 10th annual Barometer on the Climate and Outlook for British Investment in Spain, which was presented at an event in Malaga's Carmen Thyssen museum on Wednesday.

Over the last three decades UK firms have invested 107 billion euros in this country, explained María Romero, managing partner of AFI, the consultancy that compiles the extensive annual report for the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain (BCC).

"This demonstrates the scale and the strategic importance of British companies," said Romero.

"In the last three decades the UK has consistently ranked among Spain's top three foreign investors. This reflects the solid bilateral relationship, the familiarity with the Spanish market and the strong corporate presence," she added.

Prior to the presentation of the new barometer, Elena Gallego, head of foreign investment at Andalucía Trade, spoke of the advantages of investing in this region for foreign businesses and how help was available from the service at the Junta de Andalucía.

According to the barometer, in Andalucía British investment in the region was 87.4 million euros during the first nine months of 2025. The region attracts 2.5 per cent of the investment flow from the UK to Spain, and is the third most important region after Madrid and Barcelona.

"While the region doesn't receive the figures of Madrid and Barcelona, where the majority of UK investment in Spain is concentrated, British investment in Andalucía has demonstrated remarkable resilience," said María Romero.

In fact, while foreign investment in general in Spain was down by 27.5 per cent in the first nine months of 2025, in Andalucía, figures were up by 76 per cent on the previous year.

As far as employment is concerned, in 2023 some 22,800 jobs in Andalucía were with British companies, 0.7 per cent of the total in the region.

In terms of sectors, British investment in Spain as a whole is mainly in telecommunications, energy supply, metallurgy and construction.

In Andalucía British companies have invested 2.7 billion euros over the last three decades in five sectors: financial services; construction; wholesale and retail (showing Andalucía's strategic position logistically); real estate and insurance; and accommodation services.

"Companies see Andalucía not just as a market but as a strategic platform with economic opportunities and they are building a long-term presence here," summed up Romero.

Members and guests of the BCC in Spain were welcomed by Derek A. Langley, regional vice-president for Andalucía and by Francisco Salas, managing director of Pro-Málaga.

The presentation of the new barometer was followed by a business roundtable with UK firms located here in Malaga; taking part were Daniel Tovar, Director General of Bunzl Distribution, and Sergio Sanz González, Director of Capital Markets at Savills, España. In a discussion moderated by Miriem Diouri García, Partner-Director of MDG Advisors, both speakers looked at the advantages and disadvantages of locating a business in Andalucía, and in Malaga province.

The presentation event ended with a video message from the British Ambassador to Spain, Alex Ellis, who stressed the attractiveness of Spain and Andalucía for British investors.