Business

Portugal has overtaken Spain to become Europe's second-largest footwear manufacturer, and the 18th globally, exporting about 93% of output to some 174 countries. The average export price rose 2.5% to about $28.25 a pair, second only to Italy, even as sector growth slowed to 0.8% in 2025.

Portugal's Competition Authority has cleared Darty, which operates the Fnac brand, to acquire eleven Staples stores in cities including Lisbon, Cascais and Santarém, ruling competition would not be significantly harmed. Fnac already runs 53 mainland stores, and Staples Portugal booked €76 million in

vendinGO, a vending company from the Bairrada, has bought a paper-cup factory (Madil) and a coffee roaster (Caffier) for about €1.8 million, aiming to control its supply chain 'from the coffee to the cup' and lift turnover to €15 million by year-end while adding 20 qualified jobs.