Latest news and stories about e commerce in Portugal for expats and residents.
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.
Temu has been chosen as the leading international online marketplace in Portugal, according to FashionNetwork Portugal.
The Portugal Jewels e-commerce platform has been recognised by the E-commerce Design Awards.
The European Commission stated on Thursday, the 16th, that the voluntary measures and promises made by digital platforms like the Chinese-owned Temu to combat the sale of illegal products in the EU are insufficient to protect consumers. During a public hearing at the European Parliament, the Commission highlighted that illegal or unsafe products continue to reappear on these platforms, indicating that current corrective actions are not systematic or effective. The Commission plans to improve coordination with national authorities and introduce new legislation by the end of the year to strengthen platform accountability. Meanwhile, a Temu representative claimed the company is committed to European standards, citing new measures such as a digital product passport.
The European Commission stated this Thursday that the “voluntary measures” and “promises” made by digital platforms, such as the Chinese company Temu, to combat the sale of illegal products in the European Union (EU) are “insufficient” to protect consumers. “For platforms, including Temu, which is present here today, voluntary measures and promises...”
A delegation of MEPs warned this Thursday in Shanghai about the persistence of counterfeit and unsafe products on Temu, despite assurances from the Chinese platform, amid increasing European Union scrutiny of Chinese e-commerce.
Even with the inspection and testing measures applied by the company, the MEPs noted that “violations of EU safety requirements are systematically detected.”
Home Business Smart Ways to Cut Payment Processing Costs for Your Online Store Smart Ways to Cut Payment Processing Costs for Your Online Store Making payments is an obligatory component of operating any online store, which can also be a rather serious expense if it is not managed properly.
WTO members spanning 70 percent of global trade — including Australia, China, Britain and the EU — will implement the agreement among themselves in their domestic legislation.
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached a political agreement this Thursday to carry out the reform.
Clustie, a brand associated with FULLVENUE, has launched a tool to help companies better interpret their data and optimise results. The guide, titled 'Shopify Growth, Upgraded', outlines a four-stage methodology to simplify processes and make data management accessible to teams without advanced technical resources. Tiago Costa Rocha, CEO and co-founder of Clustie and FULLVENUE, emphasises that AI should support decision-making rather than replace human judgement, encouraging businesses to focus on consumer behaviour patterns and long-term customer value to drive growth in a competitive market.
Visa is preparing to test the future of e-commerce using Artificial Intelligence. The payment processing giant has launched 'Visa Agentic Ready' to prepare card-issuing banks for a new era in the sector, creating a test environment for AI agents capable of searching for, selecting, and purchasing products for consumers. The program, aimed at the European market, focuses on testing and validating secure transactions initiated by AI in a controlled environment. Rita Mendes Coelho, Visa Portugal's country manager, stated that payments must evolve alongside the way people search and shop. Visa and Mastercard already have AI agents in advanced stages of development.
CTT will partner with DHL Spain to combine high-efficiency parcel delivery networks in e-commerce to strengthen efficiency and boost growth in this area.
The activities of the e-commerce platform Shein were not suspended by the French courts this Thursday, contrary to the executive's demand following the discovery of products associated with the sexual abuse of minors, which have since been removed. The decision was confirmed by the Paris Court of Appeal, which ruled that the harm justifying state action no longer existed, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The court argued that ISSL, the company managing the platform, reacted promptly to remove the disputed products and implemented control measures for its products and sellers. Consequently, it noted that a total block of the platform would be disproportionate and harmful to the freedom of business initiative. However, the court upheld the first-instance decision to maintain the ban on selling legal adult pornographic products without age verification. The discovery of sex dolls resembling young girls, category A weapons, and prohibited medicines on the platform had led France to request a radical measure: blocking the giant's website and conditioning its reopening on strict requirements. The group, founded in China and based in Singapore, voluntarily blocked its entire French marketplace to conduct a full audit and correct flaws before progressively reopening earlier this year. In February, the European Commission also launched a formal procedure under the Digital Services Act regarding the platform's alleged addictive design, lack of transparency in recommendation systems, and the sale of illegal items. Shein stated it is cooperating fully with the European Commission, has strengthened protection for younger users, and is implementing age verification mechanisms.
The European Commission has approved the partnership and joint venture between CTT - Correios de Portugal and DHL eCommerce Spain, which had been announced on 19 December 2024, the Portuguese company reported today.
CTT announced this Thursday, March 19, that the partnership and joint venture established with DHL eCommerce Spain, exactly one year and three months ago, has now been approved by the European Commission. The strategic alliance between CTT Expresso and DHL eCommerce aims to distribute parcels in Portugal and Spain through cross-shareholdings and the combination of high-efficiency delivery networks for B2B and B2C e-commerce, including out-of-home solutions. According to CTT, the joint network will have a daily capacity exceeding one million shipments on the Iberian Peninsula, which together constitutes the fourth-largest market in Europe. The agreement also anticipates combined revenues of one billion euros and the creation of joint ventures in both countries to operationalise activities. With the EC's authorisation—an essential prerequisite—the parties are moving to the final stages of the transaction, subject to approval under the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) and customary closing conditions. The deal is expected to close in May of this year. Under the agreed framework, CTT Expresso acquires DHL eCommerce Portugal and a 25% stake in DHL eCommerce Spain, while DHL eCommerce obtains 25% of CTT Expresso. Both parties may subsequently increase their stakes up to a maximum of 49%. In Portugal, CTT Expresso will take over DHL eCommerce's local operations, sharing responsibility for parcel handling and distribution across the territory. In Spain, the model will be complementary: CTT Express will focus on B2C services and DHL eCommerce on B2B activities. CTT CEO João Bento highlighted that the partnership combines experience and shared values in the parcel logistics sector, allowing CTT Expresso to accelerate its growth and strengthen its position on the Iberian Peninsula. Pablo Ciano, CEO of DHL eCommerce, noted that the alliance aims to create a high-performance network that offers quality, reliability, and value to B2B and B2C customers in both markets. CTT is investing two million euros and creating 350 jobs with a new centre in Rio de Mouro.
2025 was a year of double-digit revenue and profit growth for CTT, which saw net income rise to 50.7 million euros. João Bento departs after leading the postal service for seven years, leaving the bank growing and the parcel business as the main driver.
Zalando reported 12.3 billion euros in revenue for 2025, a 16.8% increase, and an adjusted EBIT of 591 million, up 15.6% from 2024. Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) in the B2C segment rose to 17.6 billion with 62 million active customers, according to results released on Thursday, March 12. The acquisition of ABOUT YOU accelerated synergy gains, with the e-commerce platform expecting to reach 100 million in annual synergies by 2027, a year ahead of schedule. In the B2B segment, revenue grew 14.6% to 1.1 billion euros, and adjusted EBIT more than doubled. The SCAYLE software unit expanded to the US and secured a contract to support Levi Strauss & Co.'s Direct-to-Consumer business. Regarding the Portuguese market, General Manager for Southern Europe, Eloisa Siclari, stated that 2025 was a landmark year for Zalando with the official launch of their presence in Portugal, adding that the platform is integrating artificial intelligence tools to create a more personalised and conversational shopping experience. The company expects further acceleration in 2026 with increased implementation of AI solutions. Due to financial performance and cash generation expectations, Zalando has approved a share buyback programme of up to 300 million to return excess capital to shareholders. Zalando is using artificial intelligence in Portuguese to attract customers.
Low-value orders placed on Asian platforms will be subject to a fixed customs fee of three euros per product starting July 1st, with another “handling” fee scheduled to come into effect in November, which will “make life very difficult” for Asian e-commerce to Europe.
