In a context marked by pressure from refined fuels which, between diesel and gasoline alone, already exceed 740 million dollars, with Portugal assuming leadership among suppliers, import data show significant changes.
In the first three months of this year, the country spent around USD 4.18 billion on imports of various products, an increase of 2.7% compared to the same period in 2025, when spending stood at around USD 4.07 billion, according to calculations by Valor Económico based on the import database of the General Tax Administration (AGT).
In nominal terms, this represents an increase of USD 110.8 million, with the total weight of imports reaching about 6.65 billion kilograms, representing an increase of approximately 294% compared to the same period in 2025, when the volume stood at 1.69 million kilograms.
The analysis by categories confirms that fuels remain the main source of pressure on imports, with diesel leading prominently, rising from USD 362.8 million in 2025 to USD 488.98 million in 2026, a significant increase of 34.8%.
Other gasoline products remained virtually unchanged, standing at USD 255.06 million, compared to USD 253.7 million the previous year. Altogether, these two categories exceed USD 740 million.
In the food sector, the data show mixed signals. Imports of semi-milled or wholly milled rice declined from USD 82.3 million to USD 63.53 million, a drop of 22.8%, while poultry meat and cuts reached USD 64.14 million.
In the industrial segment, iron or steel products recorded significant growth, rising from USD 92.9 million to USD 116.41 million (+25.3%). This includes aircraft and aerial vehicles over 15 tonnes, totaling USD 83.75 million.
One of the most critical aspects of the statistical reading continues to be the weight of aggregated categories. In 2026, the items classified as “Others” represent at least USD 258 million, distributed across different subcategories (USD 129.79 million; USD 75.90 million; USD 52.77 million). Even so, this value remains below that observed in 2025, when several generic entries individually exceeded USD 300 million.
PORTUGAL ASSUMES POSITION AS MAIN SUPPLIER
At the level of trading partners, the data point to a change in the hierarchy of main suppliers. Portugal takes the lead with USD 653.42 million, recording a strong growth of 57.5% compared to USD 414.8 million in 2025. In contrast, China, which previously led with USD 693.1 million, falls to USD 612.87 million, a decrease of 11.6%, although it remains the second largest partner.
Belgium emerges as the third largest supplier, with USD 411.35 million, while India strengthens its position, growing from USD 260.0 million to USD 308.91 million (+18.8%). The United Arab Emirates also record an increase, rising from USD 221.1 million to USD 297.64 million (+34.6%).
On the other hand, the United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Brazil, Argentina and Norway, which were in the top 10 in 2025, drop out in 2026, suggesting a reconfiguration of trade flows, possibly influenced by cyclical factors such as international prices, logistics chains and specific supply contracts.
Jornal Valor Económico, 22/04/2026
