Between January and August 2026, 36,124 companies were created in Portugal, 3% fewer than in the same period of 2025, according to the Informa D&B Barometer. The decline is across the board in most sectors, with the exception of construction and information and communication technologies. Construction recorded the highest growth in company creation, with 5,398 new businesses, 13% more than the previous year, now being the second sector with the most new companies created. ICT grew by 5.3%, corresponding to 135 more new companies.
Services, construction and real estate activities concentrate almost two-thirds of new companies created since the beginning of the year. Conversely, the biggest declines were seen in agriculture and other natural resources, down 27% (-353 incorporations), in accommodation and catering, with a 10% decrease (-347), and in transport, which fell 12% (-309). Geographically, Lisbon, Faro and Funchal showed the biggest drops, while only five districts bucked the trend: Santarém, Porto, Coimbra, Angra do Heroísmo and Vila Real.
In terms of insolvencies, the trend was also negative, with 1,327 new proceedings registered in the first eight months of the year, 1.3% more than in the same period of 2025. The biggest increases were seen in real estate activities, where insolvencies doubled (+100%), in accommodation and catering, with a 15% increase, and in general services, with 18% more. The increase was particularly significant in the Greater Lisbon region. Conversely, insolvencies decreased in agriculture and other natural resources (-40%) and in business services (-12%).
The number of closures is decreasing. Since the beginning of the year, 7,802 companies have closed, while in the last 12 months, 14,483 companies closed, 7.8% fewer than in the previous 12 months. This decline was across all sectors, with a focus on business services and retail, with transport being the only exception, with a 1% increase in closures.
