Market research

Optical fibre cables market in Portugal

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2019, the market for optical fibre cables in Portugal saw growth in volume to 3 710 t, driven by regulatory mandates such as Decree-Law No. 123/2009 which required fibre installation in new buildings and significant infrastructure investments from operators like Sonaecom, which committed 240 million euros to pass one million homes. Continued network expansion by MEO, NOS, and Vodafone supported this upward trend.

The period from 2020 to 2022 was marked by a surge in demand for connectivity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to increased cable imports which peaked at 5 343 t in 2021. Rapid expansion of FTTH coverage, reaching 91.9% of dwellings by 2022, and the entry of new players like DIGI fueled intense market activity. However, market consolidation through Fastfiber's acquisition of Fibroglobal and the implementation of the Electronic Communications Law (Law No. 16/2022) began shifting focus from new deployments to network upgrades and wholesale access, setting the stage for a market correction.

By 2023, the domestic market volume had declined to 2 381 t, reflecting high prior saturation of FTTH coverage and a shift in demand towards network modernization, such as migrating aerial lines to underground conduits. Regulatory actions by ANACOM to enforce affordable wholesale offers and promote territorial cohesion, alongside sustained export activity, characterized a market transitioning from rapid expansion to managed upgrade and competition.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators
1. 4.1. In kind
  1. 4.1.1. Production, 2018-2019, 2023
  2. 4.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
  3. 4.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
  4. 4.1.4. Market size, 2018-2019, 2023
2. 4.2. In value
  1. 4.2.1. Production, 2018-2019, 2023
  2. 4.2.2. Imports, 2018-2025
  3. 4.2.3. Exports, 2018-2025
  4. 4.2.4. Market size, 2018-2019, 2023
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Portugal
  1. 5.1.1. In kind, 2018-2019, 2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. In value, 2018-2019, 2023, K $ US
2. 5.2. Production in the EU, 2018-2024
  1. 5.2.1. In kind, 2018-2024, t
  2. 5.2.2. In value, 2018-2024, K $ US
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production optical fibre cables in Portugal

In value, 2018-2021, K $ US

In 2019, the output of optical fibre cables in Portugal was valued at 9 028 thousand US dollars, marking a moderate 5.0% decline compared to 2018.

Annual dynamics of production in Portugal in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.0%)	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

In kind, 2018-2021, t

In 2019, Portugal produced 1 060 tonnes of optical fibre cables, showing no significant change from the previous year.

Annual dynamics of production in Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.1%	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Exports optical fibre cables from Portugal

Exports in kind, t

Optical fibre cable exports from Portugal increased for the third consecutive year. In 2021, Portugal exported 1 304 tonnes, representing a 55.1% rise compared to the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports grew by 146.5%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 35.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.3%	55.4%	55.1%	35.1%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, the three largest markets for Portugal's optical fibre cable exports in kind were France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, which together accounted for 70.1% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Optical fibre cable exports from Portugal increased for the second consecutive year. In 2021, exports amounted to 14 885 thousand US dollars, up 33.8% year-over-year. Over the period 2018-2021, exports rose by 72.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 19.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 7 879 thousand US dollars, which saw the largest decline of 8.8%. The largest increase occurred in 2020, with a 41.2% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(8.8%)	41.2%	33.8%	19.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, the main destinations for Portugal's optical fibre cable exports in value terms were France (50.5% of exports), Spain (14.3%), and Angola (6.0%), together representing 70.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports optical fibre cables to Portugal

Imports in kind, t

Optical fibre cable imports into Portugal increased for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports reached 5 343 tonnes, up 26.4% year-over-year. Over the period 2018-2021, imports grew by 74%, with a compound annual growth rate of 20.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.9%	32.5%	26.4%	20.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, the key sources for Portugal's optical fibre cable imports in kind were Spain (42.7% of imports), South Korea (20.7%), and China (11.8%), together accounting for 75.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Optical fibre cable imports into Portugal increased for the second consecutive year. In 2021, import volume stood at 67 470 thousand US dollars, up 33.9% relative to the prior year. Between 2018 and 2021, imports increased by 81.4%, equating to an annualized rate of 22.0%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 37 028 thousand US dollars, which saw the largest decline of 0.4%. The largest increase occurred in 2020, with a 36.1% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.4%)	36.1%	33.9%	22.0%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, the leading sources for Portugal's optical fibre cable imports in value terms were Spain (41.3% of imports), South Korea (17.8%), and China (12.6%), jointly representing 71.7% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io