Finance: Construction news in Portugal

Licensed buildings in the second quarter fall by 7.1% in Portugal

The number of building permits issued in Portugal saw a 7.1% decrease during the second quarter.

dnoticias.pt11h ago

Housing construction and renovation permits fall by 6.9%

A study released by the Civil Construction Association points to a reduction in the number of permits for housing construction and renovation projects. The number of newly licensed residential units increased by 4%.

Public works tenders promoted until July fall 28% to 4.935 billion euros

The total value of public works tenders promoted until the end of July decreased by 28% compared to the same period in 2025, reaching 4.935 billion euros, the Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industrialists (AICCOPN) reported this Wednesday. “Even so, in monthly terms, there are signs of recovery, with July recording the best...”

Public works tenders promoted until July fall by 28%

Compared to the same period last year, the value of public works tenders decreased by 28%, although despite this factor, a monthly recovery is observed. 3,477 public tenders were promoted.

Public works tenders promoted until July fall 28% to 4.9 billion

The value of public works tenders promoted by the end of July fell by 28% compared to the same period in 2025, reaching 4.935 billion euros, according to the Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industrialists (AICCOPN). Despite this, monthly data shows signs of recovery, with July recording the best performance of the year, helping to mitigate the accumulated decline. Regarding the number of procedures, 3,477 public tenders were promoted in the first seven months of 2026, a 31% decrease compared to the previous year. The volume of contracts signed exclusively through public tender totalled 1.871 billion euros, a 34% year-on-year contraction, while contracts signed via direct adjustment and prior consultation grew by 20% to 449 million euros.

Mota-Engil increases order book by 685 million euros with operations in Nigeria and Peru

Mota-Engil announced today that its ongoing railway contract in Nigeria has been extended by 562 million euros. The company also secured a new airport contract in Peru worth up to 120 million euros. The extension in Nigeria was granted by the Ministry of Transport for the Kano-Maradi railway line. In Peru, Mota-Engil Peru S.A. won a contract for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Juliaca International Airport, valued at approximately 119 million euros. These operations increase the group's order book by 685 million euros, strengthening its presence in transport infrastructure across Africa and Latin America.

Construction production falls 0.7% in the eurozone but rises 0.2% in the EU in June

In Portugal, there was a monthly increase of 0.4%.

Construction output grows by 2%

The production volume in the construction sector saw a 2% increase.

vida imobiliaria18 Aug

Facing labour shortages, construction companies in Portugal are now bidding for workers

Companies are competing for professionals, who are seeing their salaries increase. Some firms have been offering benefits such as company cars to retain employees, fearing they will be unable to fill vacancies.

New law clarifies 6% VAT rules for urban rehabilitation

The legislation will resolve situations between 2009 and 2013 where builders did not apply the reduced VAT rate. The new law ensures that all construction projects carried out in Urban Rehabilitation Areas (ARU) benefit from the 6% rate.

The North makes life easier for builders: it is where the most licensing and construction takes place

Greater responsiveness from local authorities and cheaper land attract developers to the Porto Metropolitan Area. Vila Nova de Gaia was the municipality with the most construction in 2025.

Zurich: Construction project without insurance will struggle to secure funding

The risks associated with natural disasters and extreme weather events are increasingly imposing a new requirement on the construction industry, as a project that cannot obtain insurance will struggle to be financed, reveals the new report “Beyond 2030: The Future of Construction”, now released by the insurer Zurich, which lists the...

Housing construction and renovation permits fall by 7.4%

Data from AICCOPN show contradictory signs in the sector: fewer permits issued, more housing units approved, and bank valuations rising by 17.1% in May.

Portuguese firm Mota-Engil expands in Brazil and negotiates the purchase of 40% of Odebrecht

Portugal's largest construction company, Mota-Engil, which has Chinese capital, is close to finalising the purchase of 40% of Odebrecht Engenharia & Construção, which exited judicial recovery in March.

Mota-Engil strengthens ties with former Odebrecht and may acquire a stake in the Brazilian company

In Brazil, where it already has an order book exceeding €2 billion, Mota-Engil is identified as a potential buyer of 40% of Odebrecht. The two companies recently won a new road concession together in the Brazilian market and are studying new alliances for further projects.

Cascade raises 3 million to bring AI to construction

Cascade has concluded a funding round of over three million euros to help construction companies win more projects using artificial intelligence (AI). Indico Capital Partners participated in the round. “Every company we work with can point to a project they should have won, but never even had the opportunity to know that...”

Analysis - Portugal's migrant curbs hit construction firms working to solve housing crisis

MSN20 Jul

Construction output accelerates to 3.4%

The construction output index increased by 3.4% in May year-on-year, accelerating by 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous month, according to data released this Monday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). The two components of this index showed year-on-year variations in the same direction: while building construction rose by 2.9%, up 0.4...

Congo Taps Portugal’s Mota-Engil to Revive Copper Rail Link

Bloomberg.com13 Jul

5 things that will define the day

This Monday, the INE will take the pulse of the construction and employment sectors. Galp will release its preliminary operational data for the second quarter. Also defining the day are the rise in fuel prices, the meeting of 25 heads of state and government in Paris, and the meeting of foreign ministers.

Is the international crisis already leading to a contraction in planned public investment? Yes, say the Civil Construction and Public Works Industrialists

Ricardo Gomes, president of the Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industrialists (AICCOPN), in an interview with the programme Conversa Capital on Antena 1 and Jornal de Negócios, says that there are already signs of restraint in the implementation of public works plans and that, in fact, fewer tenders are being launched.

Casais and Spanish firm ACR create joint venture for industrialised construction

The Casais Group and ACR announced this Friday the creation of CREE Iberia, a company owned in equal parts by the two firms, which now holds the exclusive licence for the CREE Buildings hybrid industrialised system in the Iberian Peninsula. The new company will be responsible for coordinating the commercial, technical, and operational development of the CREE system.

Portugal approves amendment to VAT on urban rehabilitation

Home News Portugal approves amendment to VAT on urban rehabilitation Portugal approves amendment to VAT on urban rehabilitation The PSD's bill clarifying the application of the reduced VAT rate to construction projects in urban rehabilitation areas, even without an existing urban rehabilitation o

Public works tenders fall 44% by May

Public works contract tenders promoted in Portugal up to May totalled 2,906 million euros, a year-on-year decrease of 44%, according to the barometer released this Thursday by the Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industries (AICCOPN). The association highlights that this decline is “in line with the variation recorded up to April”, confirming...

Mota-Engil turns 80 today. Leader remains optimistic despite economic slowdown: "We do not foresee risks to the operation"

The construction company, founded 80 years ago in Amarante and which began by doing business in Angola, now has a record order book. To Expresso, its chairman, Carlos Mota Santos, points out that “the engineering and construction sector is one of the sectors where economic cycle reversals are reflected with less immediacy” and believes that the group will continue to grow.

The same bureaucracy?

The State is required to create simple and swift mechanisms.

Competition authority does not oppose Visabeira's acquisition of HCI

The Competition Authority (AdC) has decided not to oppose the acquisition of HCI – Construções by Visabeira, stating that the operation is not likely to create significant barriers to competition. The AdC board concluded that the merger will not hinder effective competition in the national market. The deal involves Visabeira Construções acquiring exclusive control of HCI, which was previously jointly held by Visabeira and H-MBO. HCI operates in the civil construction and public works sector in Portugal, while the Visabeira group maintains a diverse international portfolio including telecommunications, energy, and construction.