In 2024, there were 10 066 foreign affiliates operating in Portugal (+3.4% compared to 2023), corresponding to 2.1% of all non-financial companies. These affiliates employed around 704 thousand persons, generated a turnover of 162 billion euros and a gross value added (GVA) of 41 billion euros, corresponding to 18.3% of employment, 29.3% of turnover and 27.9% of GVA of non-financial companies in Portugal (+3.2%, +4.9% and +7.4% compared to 2023, respectively).

On average, each foreign affiliate employed about 64 persons, significantly higher than the average for domestic companies, which was around 6 persons. Between 2023 and 2024, the relative weight of persons employed by foreign affiliates decrease (-0,2 p.p.), despite an increase of around 22 thousand persons employed by foreign affiliates.

In 2024, the GVA of foreign affiliates grew 7.4% in nominal terms (+11.3% in 2023). The GVA of domestic companies, increase 7.1% (+14.6% in 2023). Total GVA generated by foreign affiliates, large companies (694 companies) contributed 67.0% of the total GVA generated by these companies. Most of the GVA (67.7%) originated from companies controlled by entities based in the European Union, with France standing out as the main country of origin of capital control (20.8% of GVA).

The apparent labour productivity and average monthly remuneration of foreign affiliates were higher than those of domestic companies by 69.6% and 44.2%, respectively, reaching 57 767 in productivity and 1 854 in monthly remuneration per employee.

Foreign affiliates with an exporting profile, which accounted for 44.3% of the total GVA generated by these companies, recorded a 9.8% growth in GVA, above the 5.6% observed in foreign affiliates without an export profile.

Exports by foreign affiliates accounted for 37.2% of total national exports of goods and decrease 36 million euros compared to the previous year (-0.1%), interrupting the upward trajectory of previous years (+0.3% in 2023). In contrast, total exports from International Trade grew by 2.0% in 2024, following a 1.4% decrease in 2023.