According to SIBS, spending on foreign bank cards in Portugal reached record levels in 2025. Compared with 2024, the number of transactions grew by over 10% and the value of purchases rose by 5%. Compared to 2023, transactions increased by 24% and the volume rose by 15%, although this rate of growth was significantly lower than that seen between 2023 and 2024.
The highest figures were not only observed at a global level but also resulted from records set in the main source markets, albeit with a less significant increase than in the previous year. Among these markets, Germany stood out with the largest increase in spending (+7%), followed by Spain (+5%) and the United Kingdom (+4.3%). The US and French markets, meanwhile, recorded more moderate growth, ranging between 0.5% and 1%.
In terms of tourism activity, the restaurant sector surpassed all previous records, in contrast to a slight decline observed in expenditure on accommodation. Regionally, there was an increase in expenditure across all regions, albeit with varying performances, with Madeira standing out positively.
