The number of new businesses in Portugal’s accommodation, food services, and transport sectors fell by 11 percent between January and September, placing them among the sectors experiencing the sharpest declines in company creation.

As reported by Informa D&B, 40,266 companies were registered across the country during the first nine months of 2026, representing a 3.2 percent decrease compared with the same period in 2025, which equates to 1,337 fewer new businesses.

The accommodation and food services saw 445 fewer registrations than a year earlier, while transport fell by 324.

Agriculture and livestock farming also fell sharply, with registrations down 29 percent, or 360 businesses, while retail recorded an 11 percent decrease, equivalent to 353 fewer new companies.

“Almost all sectors are registering a decline in company creation”, Informa D&B said, adding that current trends suggest the year could end with fewer registrations than in 2025, when Portugal reached a record high.

Highest records

Construction, information, and communication technology (ICT) were the only sectors to see an increase in new business registrations during the period.

Construction registered 6,065 new companies, up 13 percent year on year, while ICT saw registrations rise by 5.6 percent to 3,010.

According to Informa D&B, the figures reflect the continued growth in entrepreneurship in both sectors over recent years.

Meanwhile, the Oeste and Tagus Valley region was the only area to record an increase, with registrations rising by 1.7 percent, or 44 businesses.

The municipality of Santarém stood out, recording a 31 percent increase in new company registrations, or 54 additional businesses.

Business closures

While fewer companies are being established, business closures have also declined.

A total of 14,519 companies closed between the end of October 2025 and the end of September 2026, down 7.9 percent from the preceding 12 months, representing 1,244 fewer closures.

Informa D&B said the reduction was seen across all sectors, although some activities experienced an increase in closures.

Footwear manufacturing recorded one of the largest rises, with closures increasing by 39 percent, or 37 companies, while specialised construction activities saw a 5.4 percent surge, equivalent to 22 additional closures, as short-term accommodation reached 12 percent, representing 20 more businesses closing.

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