Latest news and stories about economic activity in Porto, Porto, Portugal for expats and residents.
Three prominent businesswomen in the luxury sector discuss how reducing tax burdens and improving professional training are essential for industry growth, while also highlighting the strategic importance of new infrastructure like airports.
The office market in Porto is experiencing high demand, with one-third of the 98,600 square metres currently under construction already reserved.
On World Earth Day, the Casa da Música in Porto hosted the TransformEC project conference, which promoted the circular economy among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The allocation of the Norte 2030 programme for the Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP) rises from 365 to 406 million euros. No PRR funds will be lost, including those in the education sector.
Porto City Council will vote on its 2025 accounts during a public meeting on Tuesday, April 21, which closed with a net profit of 68 million euros. Of this profit, 64 million euros will be carried forward and 3.4 million euros will be allocated to legal reserves. Mayor Pedro Duarte highlights the financial solidity of the municipal management in the 2025 accountability report. The revenue collection rate reached 98.7%, totaling 476.9 million euros, while paid expenditure was 378.8 million euros, with an execution rate of 78.4%. Duarte notes that total revenue grew by 17% compared to the previous year, driven by tax revenues. The municipality also reported a positive budgetary balance of 98.8 million euros. Key expenditure areas included environment and urban planning (28.8%), social cohesion (32.3 million euros), mobility (30.5 million euros), and education (19.9 million euros). Total investment reached 82.1 million euros, with significant funding directed toward urban regeneration and social housing.
The businessman - owner of TVI and the Douro Azul group - is being tried in Porto for a 1 million euro tax fraud involving personal income tax.
Cerejeira Namora, Marinho Falcão advised the Porto-based engineering and architecture consultancy firm VHM on the acquisition of a majority stake by Groupe IDEC, one of the largest operators in the French real estate sector with an average annual turnover of 500 million euros. The advisory services covered the entire process of...
The decision leaves behind six other cities, including Porto.
The city of Porto was one of the options, but it was not chosen.
The EUCA will support national customs authorities of member states and ensure the effective imposition of customs duties for national and EU budgets. Porto was also in the running, but was eliminated.
The city of Porto was left out of the race to host the new headquarters of the European Union's new Customs Authority. The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament decided this Wednesday in Brussels that the location of the new EU Customs Authority (EUCA) headquarters will be in the city of Lille.
The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament will vote this Tuesday at 8:00 AM Lisbon time. In addition to Porto, the candidate cities are Bucharest, The Hague, Liège, Lille, Malaga, Rome, Warsaw, and Zagreb.
The QSP Summit, an event dedicated to management, marketing, and business strategy, aims to gather 3,500 participants in Porto and Matosinhos this summer, featuring economist Nouriel Roubini. The 19th edition of the QSP Summit begins on June 30 in Porto and continues through July 1 and...
The Council of the European Union (EU) and the European Parliament (EP) will choose the headquarters of the new EU Customs Authority (EUCA) this Wednesday in Brussels, with Porto among the nine candidate cities. According to a European source, the process begins at 09:00 (08:00 Lisbon time), with the two institutions voting until a decision is reached.
In addition to Porto, the candidate cities are Bucharest, The Hague, Liège (Belgium), Lille (France), Málaga (Spain), Rome, Warsaw, and Zagreb.
The city of Porto was chosen by the Portuguese Government to be one of the candidates to host this agency. Also in the running are Malaga, Warsaw, Zagreb, Liege, Bucharest, Lille, Rotterdam, and Rome.
The president of Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal, Luís Pedro Martins, admits that tourism levels in Portugal may rise due to the conflict in the Middle East and explains the trade-offs of such an increase.
Sonae CEO Cláudia Azevedo and CFO João Dolores addressed the potential impact of the Middle East conflict on food prices, noting that while inflation is currently controlled, the geopolitical situation remains a major uncertainty. The group reported a strong 2025 performance with a 14% increase in turnover, while highlighting a shift in consumer behaviour towards private-label products, which now account for one-third of Continente's sales. Additionally, the company announced a €100 million investment in built-to-rent housing projects in Portugal and Spain.
The municipal budget for 2026 now increases from 491.3 to 589.3 million euros, having received votes in favour from the PS and PSD, against from the BE and CDU, and abstentions from the elected members of Livre and Chega.
The Porto Municipal Assembly approved by majority on Monday the incorporation of a 98 million euro budget surplus into the 2026 budget, which now includes measures proposed by various opposition forces.
The Porto Municipal Assembly approved by majority on Monday the incorporation of a 98 million euro budget surplus into the 2026 budget, which now includes measures proposed by various opposition forces.
The President of the European Council gave a speech at the University of Porto and argued that doubling funds for R&D could raise Portugal to a new level of competitiveness.
European Council President António Costa stated at the University of Porto that the 2028-2034 EU budget framework offers a historic chance for Portugal to advance in competitiveness, particularly through increased investment in research, development, and innovation. Costa highlighted the new European Competitiveness Fund and emphasized the need for stronger partnerships between universities and the business sector to boost the country's economic value and job quality.
Financial services company Baker Tilly has strengthened its presence in the Portuguese market with the acquisition of the audit firm Anjos & Associados. The tax consultancy's deal is part of a new strategic plan to reach an annual turnover of 100 million euros by 2028. The purchase agreement for the Portuguese firm Anjos – a company...
Nuno Botelho, president of the Porto Commercial Association, advocates for a new relationship between the Porto City Council and civil society, calling for less municipal intervention and more support for local institutions. In an interview at the Palácio da Bolsa, he criticizes Lisbon's centralism, highlights the lack of political and media visibility for the North, and argues that despite the region's significant contribution to exports, it still struggles to generate sufficient wealth and wages. He also calls for higher value-added tourism, increased business cooperation, tax reform, and a strategic focus on rail infrastructure connecting Porto to Lisbon and Vigo.
The impact of the Middle East conflict on tourism is the main highlight of this week's Dinheiro Vivo: “We are already feeling the impact of the war,” says the CEO of Vila Galé. The main photo features an interview with Nuno Botelho, president of the Porto Commercial Association: “Porto has everything to be a great capital of the Iberian northwest.” Also noted is the warning from the European Central Bank: Interest rate hikes could happen as early as April. Download the electronic edition of the supplement at the link below and see the front page in detail.
The Spanish construction firm Eigo Construcciones has opened an office in Porto, reports El Economista. The goal is to expand its business in Portugal, which began in 2023, with a focus on the logistics and data centre segments. The company currently has 19 projects underway between Spain and Portugal.
The Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP) met with Vinci to discuss the expansion of Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, which aims to reach 30 million passengers. There are immediate works planned and others dependent on demand.
Pedro Duarte even anticipates a level of competitiveness similar to Lisbon airport within a maximum period of 10 years
The Mayor of Porto, Pedro Duarte, stated this Monday, March 16, that it is time for the Government to compensate the Northern region, which he claims has been “grossly overlooked or forgotten” by central power over the last few decades. Speaking at the 80th anniversary of the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, Duarte welcomed the creation of a government working group to analyse the airport's expansion, highlighting its importance for regional development, exports, and innovation, while positioning Porto as a key driver for the Northern region and the Iberian Northwest.
