Portugal public works tenders fall 28% through July

Portugal's public works market experienced a 28% decline in the total amount of promoted tenders through July 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. According to data from the Associação dos Industriais da Construção Civil e Obras Públicas Nacional, the total value of promoted tenders reached 4,935 million euros.

Despite the cumulative drop, July showed signs of recovery, marking the best monthly performance of the year. This monthly improvement helped mitigate the downward trend, though it has not yet reversed the overall decline.

The number of public tenders also fell, with 3,477 procedures launched between January and July, a 31% decrease from the previous year. While contracts awarded exclusively through public tender dropped by 34% to 1,871 million euros, contracts awarded via direct adjustment or prior consultation saw a 20% increase, reaching 449 million euros.