Key facts Portugal

POPULATION
10.4 Million (2026)

LANGUAGE
Portuguese

CAPITAL CITY
Lisbon

REGION
South Europe

CURRENCIES
Euro €

Doing Business in Portugal

  • Do you want to do business in Portugal? Then make sure you are aware of Portuguese business etiquette and Portuguese business customs.
  • Personal relationships in Portugal are almost as important as the product you want to sell. Business is done on the basis of trust. Take the time to get to know each other. A Portuguese would rather do business with someone he knows and trusts. Find out carefully what the position of your Portuguese business partner is within the organization and whether he has decision-making authority.
  • Portuguese are very sensitive to academic titles. Senhor/Senhora can be perceived as derogatory by people with an academic title. However, if you speak in English or French, that problem will of course not arise.
  • You can only use first names if you are invited to do so. It is customary to shake hands with people, especially if you don't know the people well. In general, the Portuguese dress more conservatively than the Dutch when doing business.
  • Portuguese society is traditional, formal and hierarchical. Seniority is considered important and should be respected. An authoritative person has great influence on decision-making.
  • Take into account bureaucracy and paperwork. The judicial system functions very slowly, so it is preferable to avoid going to court by getting proper guidance from experts.
  • Business is slower in Portugal than elsewhere in Europe. Innovative ideas that get off the ground quickly in other countries take longer in Portugal. Consumers are conservative and that is reflected in the business culture. Starting a project is slow here.

Economy in Portugal

  • Portugal has the 14th economy in the EU
  • Portugal has 10.4 million inhabitants (2026)
  • The country has a territory of 92,225 km²
  • Portugal is a Semi-Presidential Republic
  • Dutch exports to Portugal amounted to €4.6 billion in 2022 and imports to €2.9 billion.
  • Portugal's largest cities are: Lisbon, Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, Amadora and Braga.

DHL Express and Portugal

DHL Express and Portugal in figures, find out how many vehicles and employees are part of our global network.

Transit times

Destination

Amsterdam - Portugal

Portugal - Amsterdam

Document

1 day

1 day

Non Document

1 day

1 day

Commercial events and holidays in Portugal

  • Valentine's Day - 14 February
  • Mother's Day - the first Sunday in May
  • Father's day - the third Sunday in May
  • Amazon Prime Day - July
  • Black Friday - the fourth (sometimes fifth) Friday in November

  • Cyber Monday - the Monday after Black Friday

    Dutch public holiday arrangements: Holiday schedule

 

Flag Portugal

Become a DHL Express customer

From sole proprietorship to Multinational and from Webshop to factory.

✔ Simple and fast
✔ Attractive rates
✔ Exclusive Tools
✔ Reliable Network

Open a business account