Latest news and stories about e commerce in Portugal for expats and residents.
The postal company CTT - Correios de Portugal reported a 41.6% decline in profits for the first half of 2026, totaling 12.9 million euros. The drop is attributed to restructuring costs and financial challenges related to international operations, including the Spanish firm Cacesa.
The e-commerce platform AliExpress announced it will appeal a 550 million euro fine imposed by the European Commission. The company labeled the sanction, which relates to the sale of illegal products, as disproportionate.
The European Commission is the EU’s executive body based in Brussels that proposes legislation, enforces EU rules and manages day‑to‑day EU policies; it is led by a President, currently Ursula von der Leyen. Commission proposals on harmonising business rules or introducing preferences can directly affect trade, regulation and competitiveness for companies and residents across all member states, including Portugal.
The national postal service (CTT - Correios de Portugal) reported a net profit of €50.7 million for 2025, an 11.4% increase driven largely by e-commerce and its banking division. The announcement comes as CEO João Bento prepares to leave the company after seven years at the helm. Shareholders should note that the board has proposed a dividend payment of 19 cents per share following the strong financial performance.
Online platforms must therefore indicate and include all VAT and customs duties due in the final price paid by EU consumers at the time of payment.
CTT's net profit fell 39.8% year-on-year in the first nine months of the year to 19.8 million euros, pressured by Brussels' new customs rules on e-commerce, which also forced a second cut to this year's guidance. The new rules regarding ‘de minimis’, meaning the end of the exemption, ...
Starting this Sunday, the European Union will impose a new two-euro fee on all orders from outside the bloc to mitigate the impact of online trade, particularly from China, on the European market. This fee applies to all non-EU orders regardless of value and is in addition to the three-euro tariff introduced in July for orders under 150 euros. The fee is charged per product category rather than per order. While the EU argues that platforms should absorb the cost, there is no mechanism to prevent them from passing it on to consumers. The measure aims to cover rising customs costs amid an influx of five million daily parcels, many of which fail to meet EU safety standards. Unlike the temporary July levy, this new fee is intended to be permanent, with the European Commission estimating that similar e-commerce duties could generate six billion euros annually for the EU budget between 2028 and 2034.
The platform highlighted that this is “clear proof” of the company's commitment to investing in a solid compliance structure.
According to Brussels, the plan includes five measures aimed at correcting the identified shortcomings.
Temu has responded positively to the announcement by the European Commission regarding new measures to tackle the sale of counterfeit and prohibited goods on its platform.
The European Commission has accepted the action plan from the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu to correct non-compliance with EU regulations and combat the availability of illegal products on the platform, the institution announced today.
The European Commission has accepted an action plan from the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu to address non-compliance with EU rules and combat the availability of illegal products. The plan includes specific risk assessments, improved content moderation, and measures to prevent the manipulation of recommendation systems to promote illegal items. This follows a previous finding of non-compliance and a fine imposed in 2026 under the Digital Services Act.
Fashion brand Marques’Almeida is expanding and reinforcing its online sales platform.
A study coordinated by the European Footwear Confederation has revealed that footwear sold on Temu and Shein in Europe contains chemicals that pose health risks. Investigations into 76 pairs of shoes found that over 35% violated European safety regulations, with some products containing levels of phthalates up to 370 times higher than the legal limit. The findings highlight significant failures in market surveillance for e-commerce, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and accountability to ensure all products sold in the EU meet uniform safety standards.
National retail, from supermarkets to small appliance stores, is now competing with global operators. Social media and digital platforms bring experiences from around the world to our smartphones, raising expectations for products and services. According to a study by the Portuguese Association of Distribution Companies (APED), the increasing internationalisation of retail is redefining the competitive landscape in Portugal. The report highlights that e-commerce and social media content creators are forcing the value chain to reinvent itself, leading to greater pressure for convenience, personalisation, and service quality. Furthermore, the study notes that sustainability criteria are becoming essential due to energy cost volatility, and that an ageing population is intensifying competition for talent within the Portuguese economy.
The E-Commerce Connect Iberia event aims to foster integration and collaboration between the Portuguese and Spanish markets.
The E-Commerce Connect Iberia event aims to foster integration and collaboration between the Portuguese and Spanish markets.
Eupago introduces the Bizum payment service in Portugal, enabling local merchants to reach a wider customer base in Spain.
The Spanish instant payment service Bizum is launching in Portugal through a partnership with the payment institution Eupago.
The European Central Bank reports that consumers in southern Europe are the primary users of Chinese e-commerce platforms, with Greece ranking first, followed by Portugal and Spain.
The retail chain Kiabi launches its online marketplace in Portugal, allowing new brands to sell through its platform.
Portugal ranks second in consumer usage of Chinese e-commerce and digital platforms.
InPost, a logistics solutions company for e-commerce, has chosen Havas Market to ensure the integrated management of its performance media strategy in the B2C segments in Portugal and Spain. The goal is to boost conversions on the brand's digital channels—website and application—and maximize the acquisition of new customers.
CTT Express recorded a 64% year-on-year increase in out-of-home deliveries in Portugal and Spain during the first half of the year, the company announced this Friday. Between January and June, the group's Iberian e-commerce logistics brand made over 4.8 million shipments to collection points and lockers, reflecting the rapid expansion of this delivery model. The increase in the domestic market was 17%, while in Spain, out-of-home deliveries grew by 142% compared to the same period in 2024. CTT Express has a network of over 20,000 collection points in the Iberian Peninsula and states it continues to invest in strengthening this network to position itself in a market where convenience, proximity, and user experience are increasingly decisive. According to the company, out-of-home options are gaining traction as they allow users to choose when and where they receive or send their parcels. Alfonso Pastor, product director at CTT Express, noted that the network of collection points and lockers has become critical infrastructure for e-commerce. CTT aims to be the leader in Iberian e-commerce by 2028.
The number of parcels delivered to pick-up points and lockers by CTT Express has increased by 64% across the Portuguese and Spanish markets.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce urged the EU to “stop abusing the ambiguity of legislation” and requested that it treat Chinese companies “fairly and impartially”.
The Chinese company is “surprised” by the EU's decision. The Commission states that AliExpress does not have enough staff to monitor illegal products. The €550 million fine is the highest to date.
At issue is the alleged failure to combat the sale of illegal products.
AliExpress deemed the 550 million euro fine imposed today by the European Commission “disproportionate” due to failures in assessing and mitigating risks associated with the sale of illegal, unsafe, or counterfeit products on the platform.
