Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
Catalonia loses 302 companies as Madrid gains 505 through September
From January to September 2026, Catalonia lost 302 companies on net as businesses moved their registered offices between Spanish regions.
A total of 823 companies moved out of Catalonia, while 521 moved in, according to figures from Spain’s registrars.
The figures count moves registered in the destination region, not applications to move.
Madrid gained 505 companies on net, making it the biggest beneficiary of these transfers in the period.
Catalonia’s net loss was nearly three times its 109-company loss for all of 2025.
The figures show that more companies are leaving Catalonia than arriving, despite the regional government’s efforts to encourage investment.
The data do not say what will happen next, but they show that the pattern of net departures continued through September.
Catalonia had a net loss of 302 companies to other Spanish regions between January and September 2026.
During the same period, Madrid recorded a net gain of 505 companies, according to the headline.
A total of 823 companies moved their registered offices out of Catalonia, while 521 moved in.
The figures cover moves already registered in the destination region’s Mercantile Registry, not applications to change address.
Catalonia’s net loss was nearly three times its 109-company loss for all of 2025.
- Who
- Companies moving their registered offices between Spain’s regions.
- What
- Catalonia recorded a net loss of 302 companies, while Madrid gained 505 through September.
- When
- January to September 2026.
- Where
- Catalonia and Madrid, Spain.
- Why
- Not stated
Catalan government
Expansión
Institutional and political normalisation
Catalan government
Salvador Illa said Catalonia was on a path to institutional, political and social normalisation.
Expansión
The article says that normalisation has not been reflected in company relocations, with more firms leaving Catalonia than moving there.
The referendum and brief declaration of independence were followed by a major departure of companies from Catalonia, according to the article.
Catalonia recorded a net loss of 109 companies.
823 companies moved their registered offices out of Catalonia and 521 moved in, leaving a net loss of 302.
Madrid recorded a net gain of 505 companies, according to the headline.
- Catalonia net balance
- −302 companies, January–September 2026
- Moves out of Catalonia
- 823 companies
- Moves into Catalonia
- 521 companies
- Madrid net balance
- +505 companies, through September 2026
- Catalonia net balance in 2025
- −109 companies
What people are saying
Catalonia is on a path to institutional, political and social normalisation