Portugal discovers the benefits of speed
Portugal’s express industry must be arguably one of Europe’s fastest growing sectors.
The express business has grown 20% annually over the past 8 years to some €111 million in total turnover in 2002 even though it employed just over 1,000 people directly that year, according to a study commissioned by express industry body European Express Association.
The survey by consultancy GTE Consultores shows
that Portugal’s express services are used mainly be the automotive industry (accounting for 17% of total turnover), followed by the textile and fashion industry (14%), technology (11%), public institutions (9%), and banks (5%).
Next-day-delivery accounts for over 80% of all shipments.
Some 68% of Portuguese companies require their suppliers to send orders by express; 84% of these are spare parts and 63% are sub-components, the survey found.
35% of companies said they would relocate at least part of their operations abroad if express services were not available and 54% fear losing orders.
Portugal’s geographic fringe location made express delivery especially important for country to benefit from the EU single market, the survey concludes.
