The International Supply of Services by Modes of Supply (MoS) provides data on how services provided and received by Spain are supplied at the international level, and giving more detailed economic information on the globalisation process.
Below is an explanation of each mode of supply, using the example of legal services provided by a law firm:
Service exports supplied via Mode 1 (cross-border supply) reached 119,961.7 million euros in 2024, accounting for 54.1% of total exports across all modes (M1, M2, and M4). On the other hand, imports amounted to 91,902.8 million euros (75.0% of total imports).
For Mode 2 (consumption in Spain for exports, and consumption abroad for imports), exports and imports stood at 97,538.8 million euros (44.0% of the total) and 27,679.8 million euros (22.6%), respectively.
Regarding Mode 4 (presence of natural persons) the value of exports amounted to 4,131.8 million euros (1.9% of the total), while imports reached 3,021.7 million euros (2.5%).
Percentage of the total of (M1+M2+M4)
Most of Mode 1 exports were recorded under Other business services (39,453.9 million euros) and Distribution services (27,100.0 million euros). The most significant exports in Mode 2 were in Travel (excluding goods), amounting to 90,726.2 million euros, while in Mode 4, they were in Other business services, with 2,736.3 million euros.
In terms of imports, in Mode 1, those listed under Other business services stood out (29,919.7 million euros). For Mode 2, the highest value was in Travel (excluding goods), reaching 25,903.6 million euros. Meanwhile, the combined value of Personal, cultural, and recreational services and Government goods and services (excluding goods) accounted for the highest imports under Mode 4, reaching 1,300.1 million euros.
Million euros
Exports and imports with Europe as the counterpart geographical area were the highest across all three supply modes in 2024.
Exports to Europe via Mode 1 amounted to 84,704.4 million euros, with 66,678.8 million euros directed to the EU27. America ranked second as a destination for Mode 1 exports, with 25,338.0 million euros.
On the other hand, imports via Mode 1 in Europe amounted to 65,213.2 million euros, of which 53,469.3 million euros originated from the EU27. Again, America took second place, with 12,086.3 million euros.
Million euros
Provisions of services supplied via Mode 3 (commercial presence) reached 238,103.4 million euros in 2023, accounting for 54.4% of exports and the total provision of services supplied across all modes. On one hand, exports supplied via Mode 1 (cross-border supply) reached 109,927.7 million (25.1%).
Imports and procurement of services stood at 285,155.5 million (72.5%) and 81,629.4 million (20.8%) for Mode 3 and Mode 1, respectively.
For Mode 2 (consumption in Spain for exports, and consumption abroad for imports), exports and imports stood at 86,236.8 million euros (19.7% of the total) and 24,451.5 million euros (6.2%), respectively.
Regarding Mode 4 (presence of natural persons) the value of exports amounted to 3,555.2 million (0.8% of the total), while imports stood at 1,965.4 million (0.5%).
Percentage of the total modes
The data published today are provisional and relate to modes M1, M2 and M4. Final data for Mode 3 and all other modes will be published next year. In addition, final data for the year 2023, including Mode 3 and total mode data, is released today. All the results of this operation are available at INEbase.
International Supply of Services by Modes of Supply (MoS) is a structural statistics of synthesis and analysis, aiming at estimating from a global perspective, the international trade in services values supplied by the four modes recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS): Mode 1 (M1): Cross-border supply; Mode 2 (M2): Consumption abroad (or in Spain); Mode 3 (M3): Commercial presence; and Mode 4 (M4): Presence of physical persons.
MoS is performed by all EU member states in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics, and its Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2152 laying down technical specifications and arrangements.
MoS provides a comprehensive view of international trade in services by including the four modes of supply recognized by WTO. In this way, it differentiates services transactions between residents and non-residents (M1, M2 and M4) included in Balance of payments statistics (BoP), from services transactions between residents through commercial presence (M3), included in Foreign affiliates statistics (FATS). MoS also includes estimates of Distribution services supplied by wholesalers and retailers of foreign trade in goods supplied by M1 and M3.
More information on methodology and the standardised methodological report.
INE statistics are elaborated according to the European statistics Code of Good Practices. More information on Quality in INE and Code of Good Practices.
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