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Jun 22 2026
Spanish Ham Exports Reached All-Time High in 2025
Spanish ham has broken its all-time export record, reaching nearly 73,000 tons and €856 million, according to a report by INTERPORC, a non-profit entity that represents the Spanish white pork sector.
France, Germany, Portugal, and Italy are the leading export destinations for a product that continues to reach new heights in high-value overseas markets. Export volumes of Spanish ham have risen by 17.4% over the last five years (10,799 tons) and by 65.6% in value (€339.28 million). The groundbreaking figures were announced by Alberto Herranz, Director General of INTERPORC, during a speech at the 13th edition of the World Ham Congress, held in Granada, Spain.
Expansion into New Markets
While European destinations like France, Germany, Portugal, and Italy continue to be the leading countries for Spanish ham exports, more distant markets such as Mexico, Japan, and China saw significant increases in export totals in 2025.
In China, for example, Spanish ham exports grew by more than 10% in volume and almost 16% in value in 2025. Spanish product exports continue to be on the rise in China, including olive oil, with Spanish olive oil making up over 88% of China's total olive oil import market.
These numbers suggest the Spanish food products are proving increasingly popular with Chinese consumers in higher-quality segments.
The Unique Qualities of Spanish Ham
Rising consumer demand for high-quality, authentic products places Spain in a good position to expand into overseas markets. Exceptional product processes make Spanish ham superior to many European counterparts, with a traditional, longer curing process.
Spanish pigs are frequently fed with a higher proportion of natural ingredients, with specialized diets that emphasize quality over speed.
The curing process involves higher temperature shifts, allowing the fat to melt and integrate into the muscle. Traditional Spanish Serrano ham is only cured with salt. It cannot be smoked or treated with artificial ingredients. This produces a cleaner, more natural flavor compared to many smoked European varieties.
What's more, unlike many industrial European hams, Spanish ham is strictly controlled by exacting regulations, stipulating that the product must be dried naturally and meet specific criteria, often leading to a more intense flavor.
Many Spanish hams are given protected status and are strictly monitored for quality control. These include DOP Jamón de Teruel (delicate and lightly salted flavor, with pleasant aroma), which requires the entire process, from breeding to curing, to take place in the specific region. Others like PGI Jamón de Trevélez (delicate, lightly salted flavor with smooth aroma) and PGI Jamón de Serón (slightly sweet, not very salty flavor and a medium to intense aroma), require only a part of the process (such as curing) to occur in the designated area.
Buy Spanish ham at Spanish Colmados in Asia, including SouthStream Market in Hong Kong, and TheARTERI Sài Gòn in Vietnam. In the UK, you can purchase a wide selection at Ultracomida, while Ham’s, Mitte Meer, and Jamon CZ sell Spanish ham across France, Germany, and the Czech Republic, respectively. In the US, La Tienda has a wide selection of Spanish ham, together with many other high-quality Spanish products.