The world’s 45th richest country as measured by Gross Domestic Product per capita, the Portuguese Republic imported US$77.9 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -13% decrease from $89.5 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Portugal’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Situated in Southwestern Europe, Portugal shares its land borders with one strategic trading partner namely Spain to Portugal’s north and east. In addition, Portugal has western and southern coastlines with the Atlantic Ocean.

Information in this article is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Portuguese imports during 2020 for each of Portugal’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners generated over three-quarters (78.3%) of total Portuguese import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Portuguese imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Portugal’s Main Imports from Spain

In 2020, Spain’s exports to Portugal amounted to $25.2 billion or 32.4% of overall Portuguese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -7.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 59.4% of Portugal’s imports from Spain.

Vehicles: $2.7 billion
Machinery: $1.9 billion
Electronic equipment: $1.8 billion
Plastics: $1.4 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.1 billion
Meat: $788.4 million
Iron and steel: $754.3 million
Fish: $728.3 million
Paper: $651.1 million
Iron or steel products: $594 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $545.1 million
Aluminum: $519.2 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $515.9 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $509.5 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $503.5 million

The lone increase from 2019 to 2020 was for Portuguese imports from Spain under the electronic equipment product category via a 2.1% gain in revenue.

Posting the severest declines among Portugal’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -31.5%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -30%), knitted or crocheted clothing (down -21.8%), iron and steel as materials (down -14.6%), vehicles (down -12.8%) and meat (down -11.6%).

Portugal’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Portugal amounted to $10.4 billion or 13.3% of overall Portuguese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -12.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 82.1% of Portugal’s imports from Germany.

Vehicles: $1.9 billion
Electronic equipment: $1.6 billion
Machinery: $1.5 billion
Other chemical goods: $717.6 million
Pharmaceuticals: $610.6 million
Plastics: $548.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $379.5 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $320.3 million
Iron or steel products: $142.5 million
Organic chemicals: $141 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $138.8 million
Oil seed: $136.2 million
Iron and steel: $131.8 million
Rubber: $105.1 million
Other base metal goods: $99.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Portuguese imports from Germany under the oil seed product category via a 36.1% gain in revenue and medical or technical equipment (up 3.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Portugal’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -31.1%), vehicles (down -26.4%), iron and steel as materials (down -16.4%), items made from iron or steel (down -15.8%), miscellaneous base metal goods (down -15.1%) and machinery (down -12.8%).

Portugal’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Portugal amounted to $5.8 billion or 7.5% of overall Portuguese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -33.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 71.7% of Portugal’s imports from France.

Vehicles: $1.1 billion
Aircraft, spacecraft: $485.3 million
Machinery: $476.2 million
Electronic equipment: $431.7 million
Plastics: $282.5 million
Pharmaceuticals: $258.8 million
Cereals: $191.1 million
Iron and steel: $164.9 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $137.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $118.1 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $112.2 million
Clocks, watches: $105.9 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $98.6 million
Organic chemicals: $92.3 million
Iron or steel products: $87.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Portuguese imports from France under the electronic equipment product category via a 17.5% gain in revenue, cereals (up 15.3%), iron and steel as materials (up 15.2%), organic chemicals (up 14.3%) and pharmaceuticals (up 13.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Portugal’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -79.6%), vehicles (down -41.4%), machinery (down -33.8%), clocks and watches (down -28.1%) then perfumes and cosmetics (down -13.1%).

Portugal’s Main Imports from Netherlands

In 2020, the Netherlands’ exports to Portugal amounted to $4.3 billion or 5.5% of overall Portuguese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -3.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.5% of Portugal’s imports from the Netherlands.

Machinery: $651.6 million
Electronic equipment: $587.9 million
Pharmaceuticals: $377.4 million
Medical, technical equipment: $254.9 million
Organic chemicals: $248.2 million
Plastics: $228.1 million
Vehicles: $207.6 million
Fish: $177.4 million
Iron and steel: $142 million
Meat: $130.2 million
Other chemical goods: $63 million
Live trees and plants: $61.2 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $57.7 million
Rubber: $54.8 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $52.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Portuguese imports from the Netherlands under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category via a 55.3% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 52.9%), medical or technical equipment (up 10.5%) and machinery (up 9.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Portugal’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -58.2%), vehicles (down -19.9%) and rubber (down -15.6%).

Portugal’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Portugal amounted to $4.1 billion or 4.5% of overall Portuguese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -11.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 69.8% of Portugal’s imports from Italy.

Machinery: $783 million
Vehicles: $306.3 million
Plastics: $227.4 million
Pharmaceuticals: $223 million
Electronic equipment: $218.9 million
Iron or steel products: $156.8 million
Organic chemicals: $139.5 million
Raw hides excluding furskins: $137.1 million
Iron and steel: $126 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $116.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $98.7 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $91.4 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $79.6 million
Footwear: $68 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $62.7 million

The lone increase from 2019 to 2020 was for Portuguese imports from Italy under the organic chemicals product category via a 24.9% gain in revenue.

Posting the severest declines among Portugal’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -23%), iron and steel as materials (down -20.5%), knitted or crocheted clothing (down -19.4%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -17.8%), raw hides excluding furskins (down -16.3%) then furniture, lighting and signs (down -16.1%).

Portugal’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Portugal amounted to $3.5 billion or 4.5% of overall Portuguese imports.

That dollar amount represents a 6% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81.2% of Portugal’s imports from the mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $1.1 billion
Machinery: $449.5 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $263.4 million
Organic chemicals: $176.8 million
Vehicles: $126.2 million
Plastics: $123.5 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $122.6 million
Iron or steel products: $83 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $81.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $73.4 million
Fish: $67 million
Man-made filaments: $60.8 million
Footwear: $59.6 million
Iron and steel: $55.1 million
Rubber: $47.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Portuguese imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 917.6% gain in revenue, plastics as a material (up 18.6%), machinery (also up 18.6%), medical or technical equipment: (up 18.2%) and organic chemicals (up 16.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Portugal’s top 15 imported products were footwear (down -38.4%), iron and steel as materials (down -33.4%), fish (down -28.5%), man-made filaments (down -23.5%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -14.1%) then furniture, lighting and signs (down -10.1%).

Portugal’s Main Imports from Belgium

In 2020, Belgium’s exports to Portugal amounted to $2.2 billion or 2.9% of overall Portuguese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -17.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 77.1% of Portugal’s imports from Belgium.

Vehicles: $510.6 million
Pharmaceuticals: $306.6 million
Plastics: $185.2 million
Machinery: $175.7 million
Electronic equipment: $88.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $77.5 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $60.8 million
Iron and steel: $60.1 million
Footwear: $44.8 million
Other chemical goods: $44.6 million
Organic chemicals: $38.5 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $35.3 million
Vegetable/fruit preparations: $33.2 million
Rubber: $31.2 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $30.8 million

The only increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Portuguese imports from Belgium under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 4.6% gain in revenue and pharmaceuticals (up 1.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Portugal’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -78.4%), organic chemicals (down -62.6%), footwear (down -34.6%), rubber (down -33.4%), iron and steel as materials (down -33.1%) and knitted or crocheted clothing (down -28.1%).

Portugal’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, the United Kingdom’s exports to Portugal amounted to $2.2 billion or 2.8% of overall Portuguese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -6.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.2% of Portugal’s imports from Britain.

Electronic equipment: $297.6 million
Other chemical goods: $257.3 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $238 million
Vehicles: $171.5 million
Machinery: $168.3 million
Iron and steel: $141.2 million
Pharmaceuticals: $125.6 million
Ships, boats: $66.5 million
Plastics: $60.7 million
Cereals: $53.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $53.4 million
Other food preparations: $32.6 million
Beverages: $31.9 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $25.3 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $23.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Portuguese imports from the United Kingdom under the ships and boats product category via a 359.5% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 29.6%), mineral fuels including oil (up 23.1%) then soaps, lubricants and candles (up 12.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Portugal’s top 15 imported products were beverages (down -39.2%), pharmaceuticals (down -25.7%), medical or technical equipment (down -20%), cereals (down -18.8%), electronic equipment (down -17%) then perfumes and cosmetics (down -16%).

Portugal’s Main Imports from Brazil

In 2020, Brazil’s exports to Portugal amounted to $1.8 billion or 2.4% of overall Portuguese imports.

That dollar amount represents a 59.1% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.7% of Portugal’s imports from Brazil.

Mineral fuels including oil: $1 billion
Oil seed: $260.5 million
Cereals: $135.2 million
Iron and steel: $102.7 million
Wood: $46.6 million
Fruits, nuts: $42.3 million
Electronic equipment: $19.1 million
Other chemical goods: $17.2 million
Gums, resins: $16.5 million
Coffee, tea, spices: $15.8 million
Sugar: $14.6 million
Paper: $13.9 million
Machinery: $13.5 million
Cotton: $10.6 million
Tobacco: $8.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Portuguese imports from Brazil under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 175.6% gain in revenue, oil seed (up 99.2%), tobacco (up 21.7%) then iron and steel as materials (up 13.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Portugal’s top 15 imported products were gums and resins (down -48%), cotton (down -33.7%), fruits and nuts (down -27.9%), coffee, tea and spices (down -23.2%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -16.3%) and machinery (down -16.2%).

Portugal’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Portugal amounted to $1.4 billion or 1.8% of overall Portuguese imports.

That dollar amount represents a -14.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.1% of Portugal’s imports from America.

Mineral fuels including oil: $585.1 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $171.8 million
Oil seed: $123.7 million
Machinery: $73.1 million
Electronic equipment: $48.6 million
Plastics: $44.4 million
Medical, technical equipment: $34.2 million
Organic chemicals: $33.5 million
Wood: $31.1 million
Inorganic chemicals: $28.2 million
Fish: $21.2 million
Aluminum: $16.9 million
Cereals: $15.9 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $15.8 million
Vehicles: $15.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Portuguese imports from the United States under the cereals product category via a 52.4% gain in revenue, inorganic chemicals (up 17.2%) and mineral fuels including oil (up 13.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Portugal’s top 15 imported products were machinery (down -52.2%), organic chemicals (down -37.6%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -36.9%), oil seed (down -34.7%), fish (down -30.9%) and medical or technical equipment (down -25.5%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Richest Country Reports, Top 50 Countries by GDP per Capita.

Wikipedia, Portugal, Borders of Portugal

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Portugal’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries