The data was released in the 9th edition of Informa D&B's study "Exporting Companies in Portugal". The same data show that the number of these companies has grown consistently over the last five years, at an average annual rate of more than 3%.

The growth of exporting companies in the country results, above all, from a global expansion in the number of companies, not from an increase in exports by Portuguese companies.

In terms of performance, exporting companies recorded a turnover of €229 billion in 2024, which is about 50% of the Portuguese business fabric. Of the aforementioned amount, €95 billion refers to sales to foreign markets. In terms of employment, the report says that companies employed around one million people, that is, almost a third of the employment in Portugal.

Destination of national exports

Europe remains the main destination for national exports, accounting for 66% of the total, while non-EU markets represent 34%. Even so, the latter have gained momentum: in recent years, they have grown faster and, in 2024, were already 63% above 2019 levels.

In terms of composition, 70% of exports continue to be goods and 30% services. The weight of services has been increasing significantly since 2020, but it still does not offset the decline in goods exports since 2022.