Free trade agreement boosts exports of wine and olive oil
A new free trade agreement with South American partners is set to boost Portuguese exports of wine and olive oil by reducing tariffs and opening distribution channels. The deal also creates new market access for Portuguese cheese, presenting export opportunities for dairy producers. However, the agreement could put pressure on domestic beef, pork and poultry sectors, which may face increased competition and potential job and price impacts. Policymakers and industry groups will need targeted measures to support vulnerable meat producers while maximising gains for high-value agri-food exporters.
Opening or Closing? Restaurants in 2026
A time of 'crossroads' — or not? We take the pulse of the restaurant scene, from fine dining to the most traditional tables, in a city undergoing major change.
Aqui é Fresco celebrates 15th anniversary and expands its network to 650 stores
Aqui é Fresco marks 15 years in operation and has grown its retail network to 650 stores.
Eixo Atlântico 'challenges' municipalities to become more involved in the local agricultural economy
Municipalities should strengthen their role in the 'economic organisation of local [agricultural] production', which in much of the territory is not organised, especially in areas where smallholdings predominate, as is the case in Galicia and northern Portugal. The aim is to ensure food supplies for the population, particularly in a ...
The restaurant industry is not a luxury; it is an essential service
A statement asserting that restaurants and the catering sector are not a luxury but provide essential economic, social and community services and should be treated as such.
Jerónimo Martins' sales rose by 7.6% in 2025
The owner of Pingo Doce opened more than one store per day in 2025, totalling 448 new outlets. Biedronka opened 15 stores in Slovakia, marking the Polish chain's first international expansion.
Jerónimo Martins' sales rise 7.6% to almost €36 billion in 2025
The group's sales rose 7.6% last year, compared with 2024, to €35.991 billion, the owner of the supermarket chains Pingo Doce, Biedronka and Ara said today.
Owner of Pingo Doce sales rise 7.6% to almost €36 billion in 2025
Jerónimo Martins closed the last year with net revenues close to €36 billion, representing growth of 7.6% (in euros) compared with the figures reported last year, the group said in a statement sent to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM). Poland continues to be the main driver of ...
Live coverage of the markets and the economy – 13 January
Live updates on the markets and the economy for 13 January.
Confagri says government's optimism about Mercosur agreement is premature and calls for investment
The confederation also warned that farmers will not be competing on an equal footing with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay unless there is 'rigorous enforcement' of the rules.
Ventura says Mercosur agreement will harm Portuguese farmers
The candidate criticised Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for not taking a stance with the Government.
Cinemas in 2025 record the lowest audience numbers of the century, excluding the pandemic years
Cinema attendance in 2025 fell to its lowest level so far this century — only the pandemic years saw fewer spectators — indicating a marked decline compared with previous years.
Cinemas record lowest audience numbers of the century
On the revenue side, the amount reached last year was €70.5 million, a decrease of 3.9% compared with 2024. Excluding the pandemic years, only 1996 had a lower figure.
Live coverage of the markets and the economy — 12 January
Live updates from the financial markets and economic news for 12 January.
Baixo Mondego farmers concerned about the Mercosur agreement
The region produces cereals, especially rice and maize, and also livestock. Production costs in Portugal are too high for them to compete in a market of this scale.
Online betting surges 10% and exceeds €16.7 billion through September
The online gambling market in Portugal continues to expand rapidly. Between January and September last year, players wagered around €16.7 billion, 10.2% more than in the same period the year before. In the third quarter of 2025 alone, the total amount wagered reached €6 billion, with ...
"Excellent" or "catastrophic": how is the restaurant sector doing?
High-end dining has sounded the alarm over a crossroads that is eroding business profits. In traditional kitchens, some neighbourhood restaurants are unaware of this crisis. What can be expected for the restaurant industry in 2026?
Sports betting above €500 million in the third quarter of 2024
In 2024, Portugal recorded the highest-ever volume of online sports betting.
Sports betting volume rises again. The Portuguese spent more than €500 million in the third quarter of 2025
By the third quarter, the cumulative volume of sports bets recorded in 2025 stood at €1,463.8 million.
Tourism is growing in Portugal
Home News Tourism is growing in Portugal Tourism is growing in Portugal Employment and tourism grew, workers’ wages increased, and signs of a slowdown “in some sectors” of the Northern region’s economy emerged in the third quarter of 2025, according to a report released.
Minister of Agriculture says agreement will have a positive impact on Portugal
José Manuel Fernandes says that, given the geopolitical situation, the agreement is essential and that it offers benefits for many Portuguese products.
French investor saves Claire's stores and 200 jobs in Portugal
Julien Jarjoura, an investor based in Switzerland, has acquired Claire’s European business, preserving roughly 200 jobs in Portugal and maintaining the brand’s retail footprint across Europe. The purchase effectively separates the continental operation from insolvency proceedings affecting Claire’s in the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland, stabilising local employment and stores while broader group restructuring and creditor processes continue.
Remittances from Venezuela to Portugal have been falling
In 2024 remittances from Venezuela to Portugal amounted to €9.8 million, a 15% decline on the previous year. The fall signals shifts in diaspora financial flows and can serve as an economic indicator of changing expatriate activity and cross‑border ties between the two countries.
