Portugal flag Portugal: Economic and Political Overview

Foreign trade figures of Portugal

Foreign Trade in Figures

Portugal's economy is open to foreign trade, which represents 102% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). While the country has traditionally exported agricultural products, textiles and clothing, it has begun to export an increasing amount of technological equipment. In 2022, the country mainly exported petroleum oils (6.9%), vehicles (5.1%), parts of vehicles (3.9%), paper and footware (2.2% each); whereas imports were led by petroleum oils (6.7%), petroleum gas (4.4%), motor cars (4.3%) and their parts (3% - data Comtrade). Forest products have been among the country’s main exports, accounting in the current millennium for 10% of the total exports (official governmental data).

Data from Comtrade shows that in 2022 the main trading partners were Spain (26.2% of total exports), France (12.3%), Germany (10.8%) and the U.S. (6.5%). In the same year, Portugal’s main suppliers were Spain (31.9%), Germany (1.%), France (6.1%), China (5.1%), and the Netherlands (5%). The main extra-EU supplier of goods to Portugal continued to be China.

The country has a structural trade balance deficit. In 2022, Portugal exported goods worth USD 82.2 billion (+9.3% year-on-year), with imports increasing at a faster pace (+16.9%, at USD 114.8 billion). However, Portugal is a net service exporter (USD 46.5 billion in exports against USD 23.8 billion in imports, +44.3% and +18.2%, respectively - data by WTO). The country’s overall balance of trade was negative by 2.4% (was 2.8% one year earlier – World Bank). In the accumulated period January to August 2023, Portuguese exports of goods and services increased by 7% compared to the same period in 2022, reaching EUR 85 billion. Meanwhile, imports totalled EUR 81.8 billion (-0.3% - data Bank of Portugal).

 
Foreign Trade Values 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 89,53877,89598,200115,080113,475
Exports of Goods (million USD) 67,06361,49675,22982,46383,901
Imports of Services (million USD) 19,90515,64020,09823,99325,613
Exports of Services (million USD) 39,99925,48932,44546,64956,010

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 86.486.676.286.1102.6
Trade Balance (million USD) -18,415-18,226-14,236-18,745-27,739
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) 2,1681,836-4,388-6,766-5,083
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 5.04.9-11.813.211.1
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 4.14.1-18.613.416.7
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 43.043.139.244.552.6
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 43.443.537.041.650.0

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20232024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 4.12.82.02.02.0
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 2.23.42.92.92.6

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Portugal is a member of the following international economic organisations: IMF, European Union, ICC, WHO, OECD, Schengen Convention, European Economic Area, Latin American Integration Association (observer), among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates Portugal click here. International organisation membership of Portugal is also outlined here.
Free Trade Agreements
The up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by Portugal can be consulted here.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
Spain 25.8%
France 13.0%
Germany 10.8%
United States 6.7%
United Kingdom 4.7%
See More Countries 38.9%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
Spain 33.8%
Germany 11.6%
France 7.0%
Netherlands 5.3%
China 5.0%
See More Countries 37.4%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

83.9 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 5.4%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 5.2%
Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles...Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, motor vehicles for the transport of goods and special purpose motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705, n.e.s. 4.3%
Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics,...Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather (excl. orthopaedic footwear, skating boots with ice or roller skates attached, and toy footwear) 2.1%
New pneumatic tyres, of rubberNew pneumatic tyres, of rubber 1.9%
See More Products 81.2%
113.5 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 6.2%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 5.2%
Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles...Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, motor vehicles for the transport of goods and special purpose motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705, n.e.s. 3.2%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 2.9%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 2.4%
See More Products 80.0%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: July 2024