The Portuguese Automobile Association (ACAP) revealed that car production in Portugal declined by 21.5% in May compared to the same month in 2023, with 27,061 vehicles produced.
In a statement, ACAP announced that, in cumulative terms, in the first five months of 2024, 153,367 vehicles were produced in Portuguese factories, representing a 0.1% increase compared to the same period of the previous year.
“The statistical information for the first five months of 2024 confirms the importance of exports for the automotive sector, as 98.1 percent of vehicles manufactured in Portugal were destined for foreign markets, which significantly contributed to the balance of the Portuguese trade.”, the ACAP statement adds.
In addition, the number of exported vehicles increased by 0.4% from January to May compared to the same period of the previous year. Meanwhile, the domestic market experienced a 13.1% decrease in the first five months of 2024 compared to the same period of the previous year.
Europe continues to be the most important market for the export of vehicles manufactured in Portugal, accounting for 83%, with Germany (25%), Italy (12.9%), France (9.9%), the United Kingdom (9.5%), and Spain (8.7%) at the top of the rankings.
In terms of major regions, the African market, led by Algeria (7%), maintains second place in the export of cars manufactured in Portugal, accounting for 9.5% of exports.
Regarding the assembly of vehicles in Portugal, in May, 30 heavy vehicles were assembled, which is 50% more than in the same month of the previous year.
In cumulative terms, in the first five months of 2024, the assembly of heavy vehicles showed a growth of 98.5% compared to the same period of the previous year, with a total of 131 vehicles assembled in that period.
From January to May, 52.7% of the heavy vehicles assembled in Portugal were exported, representing 69 units. The United Kingdom (68.1%) and Germany (31.9%) are the only destinations for these exports.
