“Call for tenders launched over the first two months of the year reached a total of €744 million, 294% higher than in same period of 2018 when they were €189 million”, the Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industrialists (AICCOP) revealed in a statement.

According to the association, this variation was mostly due to “the tenders regarding the extension of breakwater and accessibilities at Port of Leixões and yellow and green lines for the Lisbon Metro, which represent a third of the overall amount”.

Up to February, the contract value was €184 million, only 8% higher than in the same period of 2018, “due to the agreement on the construction of Évora railway line at Évora Norte-Freixo section to a value of €46.6 million”, AICOOP added.

The association stressed that without this agreement, the contract value would have fallen by 19%.

On the other hand, the contracts resulting from direct agreements and prior consultations were worth €35 million, 57% down compared to the first two months of 2018.

“Therefore, the total volume of public construction contracts signed and registered was €256 million, 2% less than in the same period of 2018”, the association concluded.

PE/AIYA // ADB.