Light and food industry in Portugal. Portugal

Economy of Portugal

Portugal is an industrial-agrarian country. Among the capitalist countries of Foreign Europe, it, along with Greece, occupies one of the last places in terms of economic development, the size of the gross national product, the total volume of industrial production, as well as the level of income per capita.

The economy of Portugal, as a small country with a narrow domestic market, is highly dependent on world market conditions. Foreign trade occupies a significant place in its economy. The share of exports in the country's gross national product in 1980 was 17.1%, and the share of imports in domestic consumption reached 28.2%. Before the April Revolution of 1974, the role of Portugal in the system of international division of labor was dual: on the one hand, due to the low level of its economic development, it occupied a subordinate position in relation to economically highly developed countries, and on the other, it was a metropolis exploiting its colonies.

The specialization of Portugal in the system of international division of labor is determined by certain branches of agriculture (especially vegetable growing, horticulture, viticulture, olive growing), the extraction of certain types of mineral raw materials (tungsten, tin, pyrites, uranium), wood chemistry, cork and food industries (mainly the production of fish canned food, wine, olive oil), textile and clothing production. In the 60-70s, with the development of mechanical engineering, some of its branches also acquired export importance, for example, ship repair, assembly of radios and televisions. Portugal ranks among the first in the world in the production and export of certain types of products (tungsten, pyrites, wood chemical products, cork, etc.).

For 1960-1980 industry has become the main manufacturing sector of the Portuguese economy. In 1980, its share in the gross national product reached 40.8% (including construction and energy), while the share of agriculture, forestry and fisheries was only 15.3%. At the same time, in the structure of the economically active population, the share of those employed in agriculture remains high, which is explained by the low labor productivity in this industry and its general backwardness.

Portugal for a long time was heavily dependent on foreign capital, primarily English. After the Second World War, it found itself in the sphere of activity of US capital, and in the 50-60s the penetration of West German, French and Japanese monopolies into the country's economy also increased. In the 60s, foreign monopolies received the same rights as national ones in Portugal, and this further strengthened their influence. The bulk of foreign investment, attracted to the Portuguese economy by the cheapness of labor, was directed to industry, especially to its new branches.

In the past, an agricultural country with pockets of extractive industries, Portugal only began to industrialize its economy in the mid-1950s based on strengthening state-monopoly regulation of economic activity and the implementation of long-term economic development programs. A significant source of financing for industrialization for Portugal until the mid-70s were the colonies, and since the 60s - growing income from foreign tourism and remittances from numerous Portuguese emigrants.

Although the rate of industrial growth accelerated in the 60-70s, the huge expenditure of human and material resources on colonial wars in Africa, the militarization of industry, the narrowness of the domestic market, the dominance of foreign monopolies, the preservation of semi-feudal remnants in agriculture and its general backwardness hampered the development of the Portuguese economy .

After the revolution of 1974, a number of measures were carried out in Portugal aimed at improving the state of the country's economy, raising the living standards of Portuguese workers, and weakening the dominance of foreign and national monopolies. The largest private banks, insurance companies, a number of enterprises in the electric power industry, mining and manufacturing industries, and transport were nationalized.

Agrarian reform led to positive changes in agriculture in the southern provinces.

Industry

In terms of growth rates of industrial production in the 60s and 70s, Portugal was ahead of many capitalist countries in Europe. However, in terms of industry development, it continues to occupy one of the last places among Western European countries. Portuguese industry is characterized by weak development of its own research and development base. It is characterized by low labor productivity, which is largely due to the predominance of small, handicraft or equipped with primitive equipment enterprises. Large enterprises of transnational and national monopolies also dominate. About 2/3 of the country's industrial potential is concentrated on the Atlantic coast - mainly in Greater Lisbon and the Grand Porto.

The basis of Portuguese industry is the manufacturing industry. The share of extractive industries in the structure of the gross national product is small. However, they are of great export importance. Portugal occupies one of the first places among countries in the production of apatite and tungsten ores. The extraction of tin and uranium ores is significant. At the same time, the country depends on the import of many types of raw materials and fuels important for industrial development (iron ore, oil, etc.).

Most of the mining industry is concentrated in the mountainous regions of Northern Portugal. The main mining of tungsten ores is carried out near the city of Panashkeira, in the middle reaches of the river. Zeziri, as well as near Borralla, along the river. Mingyu. Tin ores (cassiterites) are mined in the area of ​​the upper reaches of the river. Zeziri, near Mount Guarda, and also in the extreme northeast of the country. The main mining area for uranium ores is concentrated near the city of Viseu.

Portugal is relatively poor in fuel resources. Oil has not been discovered on its territory, and coal resources are small. Low-quality anthracite is mined near the city of Porto.

The main source of energy in Portugal is the rivers, primarily the Douro, Tagus with its tributary Zeziri and Cavado. The capacity of the largest hydroelectric power stations on the river. Douro ranges from 180 to 260 thousand kW.

Thermal power plants are located near the main economic centers of the country - Lisbon and Porto. The Portuguese national transmission network connects to the Western European grid. Electricity production is growing rapidly - from 1.4 billion kWh in 1953 to 16 billion kWh in 1980.

Oil refining in Portugal is entirely focused on imported oil. Two oil refineries are located in seaports - in Cabo Ruibo, near Lisbon, and in Matosinhos, near Porto. A large plant is also being built, and on its basis a petrochemical complex in the south of Portugal, in the coastal city of Sines.

In recent decades, the importance of heavy industry has increased in connection with the construction of engineering, chemical, oil refining and other enterprises.

Until the 60s, Portuguese metallurgy was represented by only a few small enterprises smelting mainly copper, tin, and lead. The first and so far the only significant plant of a full metallurgical cycle went into operation only in 1961, not far from the capital in the small town of Seixal on the banks of the river. Tagus.

The largest center of non-ferrous metallurgy, mainly the copper smelting industry, is the city of Barreiro - practically a working-class suburb of Lisbon.

The main branch of Portuguese industry is mechanical engineering, which satisfies approximately 2/3 of the country's needs for machinery and equipment. The transport engineering industry is of greatest importance, especially shipbuilding and ship repair, as well as the electrical and electronics industry. The largest shipyards are located in Lisbon Bay and Setubal. The construction of the largest ship repair yard in the Lisbon area (in Margueira, on the southern bank of the Tagus River) made the Portuguese capital a ship repair center of international importance. The shipyard in Margueira in some years services up to 40% of the world tanker fleet, including supertankers with a carrying capacity of 300 thousand tons deadweight or more. There are also small shipbuilding and ship repair yards in other Portuguese ports.

The automobile industry is controlled by American capital and is represented mainly by car assembly plants located in Setubal, as well as in small towns around Lisbon.

The main centers of the electrical industry are Lisbon and Porto. Among the few new industries in Portugal, the electronics industry, mainly the assembly of radios and televisions, is developing on the basis of cheap female labor.

One of the fastest growing industries is the chemical industry. More than half of Portuguese chemical products are inorganic chemicals and fertilizers, and about 1/4 are chemical-pharmaceutical products. Most of the enterprises are located in the area of ​​the river estuary. Tagus.

In one of the cities of the estuary, Barreiro, where pyrites mined in the Alentejo province are delivered, part of the country's sulfuric acid is produced. A significant part of the fertilizer production enterprises is also concentrated here. Petrochemistry is developing at a high rate.

The main traditional manufacturing industries include textiles, clothing, food processing and cork.

The structure of the most important traditional manufacturing industry, textile, is dominated by the cotton and wool industries. The main cotton region is northwestern Portugal with centers in the cities of Porto, Braga, Guimarães, etc. Northern Portugal is an area of ​​old handicraft traditions. The development of the cotton industry in the north, along with the wealth of water energy, was facilitated by the abundance of cheap labor, especially women and children, formed in conditions of mass ruin of the peasantry and the emigration of a significant part of the male population.

The main centers for the production of woolen fabrics are concentrated in small towns and villages in the foothills of the Serra da Estrela (Covilhã, Guarda, etc.). There have long been handicraft cloth industries here, processing the wool of local sheep.

The importance of new textile production based on chemical raw materials is growing.

The clothing industry is largely export-oriented. Residents of many countries around the world are familiar with Portuguese men's shirts, suits and raincoats. Most of the sewing enterprises are concentrated in the north of the country. Lisbon is also a significant center of the clothing industry.

An important export industry is the food industry. The production of wine, canned fish, and olive oil is especially developed. In terms of wine production (more than 8 million hl in 1980), Portugal ranks fourth in Europe after Italy, France and Spain. The largest viticultural and wine-making region is in the middle and lower reaches of the river. Douro. The largest center of winemaking is the city of Porto, after which port wine, widespread in many countries, is named. No less famous is another Portuguese variety of strong grape wine - Madeira, which is produced on the Madeira Islands. Wine production in the river valley is also significant. Mondega and in the south of the country, in the province of Extremadura. One of the centers of the province, Setubal, is famous for the production of Muscatel-type wines. Portuguese wines are exported to many countries.

In Portugal, olive oil is produced in oil mills in many cities, the total production of which in the country reaches 52 thousand tons (1980). It is used both as a food product and in the fish canning industry. Sardines canned in oil are in great demand in the world market. Canned fish production enterprises are located in the main fishing ports of the country, especially in the Porto area and in Setubal.

Agriculture in Portugal is the most backward sector of the country's economy. Its backwardness is manifested in weak mechanization, insufficient use of fertilizers, low labor productivity, low agricultural yields, the predominance of extensive forms of farming, and the preservation of feudal remnants in land ownership and land use. As a result, Portugal, which employs a significantly larger share of the population in agriculture than in other European countries, and which has favorable natural conditions for the development of a wide variety of its sectors, depends on the import of many types of food, especially grain. The main branch of agriculture is crop production. Animal husbandry plays a subordinate role. More than half of the cultivated land is occupied by arable land, structure: dominance of large landownership (mainly south of the Tagus River), extreme fragmentation of land use, a large number of landless peasants, widespread multi-degree and short-term leases and rent in kind, a huge army of hired agricultural workers. The Catholic Church was a major owner of the land.

Historically, there have been significant differences in the nature of land ownership and land use between the northern and southern regions of the country. In the north, small land ownership and even more than about 1/5 of orchards and vineyards dominate. A significant part of the land suitable for cultivation was not used before the 1974 revolution. As a rule, these are lands that belonged to the latifundists. The main obstacle to the development of agriculture was its social structure: the dominance of large landownership (mainly south of the Tagus River), extreme fragmentation of land use, a large number of landless peasants, widespread multi-degree and short-term leases and rent in kind, a huge army of hired agricultural workers. workers. The Catholic Church was a major owner of the land.

In Portugal, important agricultural reforms were carried out after the overthrow of the reactionary regime. In the southern regions of the country, about 1 million hectares of landowners' lands were transferred to peasants, as well as to state farms and cooperatives formed after the 1974 revolution. The size of large farms has been limited (up to 500 hectares on non-irrigated lands and up to 50 hectares on irrigated areas), lease terms have been increased, and prices for fertilizers have been reduced. However, due to the constant resistance of right-wing forces, these transformations did not lead to a solution to the fundamental problems of the country's agriculture.

Historically, there have been significant differences in the nature of land ownership and land use between the northern and southern regions of the country. In the north, small land ownership and even smaller land use dominate, and the intensive method of farming dominates here. Most often, peasants harvest 2 crops per year. Growing corn in summer and legumes in winter is combined with a variety of fruit growing and livestock farming. However, intensity is achieved not by the use of modern agrotechnical methods, but by the enormous expenditure of human labor, especially female labor.

In the southern regions of Portugal, large landholdings (latifundia) and relatively large land use predominated. The landowners of Alentejo and other southern regions, who often owned several large estates, usually lived in the city and visited their estates only for short periods of time, for supervision. The main labor force on such estates were permanent hired workers, as well as farm laborers hired temporarily during labor. One of the reasons for the backwardness of agriculture in the South is short-term rent, often even for 1-2 years. The peasants who received plots for such a short period of time were not interested in improving the condition of the land. In the southern regions, except for the Algarve province, extensive farming predominates. Either these are deposits of land used as pasture for sheep, or huge fields devoted to wheat (cereal monoculture), or "montados" - rare groves of holm and cork oaks on lands sown with grains.

The main commercial industries are viticulture, fruit growing and olive tree farming. Among the industries providing the domestic market, the most important are grain farming (mainly wheat and corn are sown), growing legumes, potatoes, and vegetable growing. Vineyards are distributed almost everywhere in the country, but mainly in the coastal areas north of Lisbon, along the valleys of the Tagus, Douro, Mondego rivers, as well as on the island of Madeira. Portugal ranks fifth in the world in terms of grape harvest (1.6 million tons).

Olive plantations, like vineyards, are found in almost all regions of the country, but most of them do not last in the lower reaches of the river. Tagus and in the south due to Portugal.

Portuguese fruit growing is very diverse. In the northern regions of the country, fruit growing of the Central European type (growing apples, pears, cherries, plums) is combined with fruit growing of the Mediterranean type (growing oranges, figs, etc.).

The most important area of ​​specialized subtropical fruit growing is the southern province of the country - the Algarve. One of the most common crops in this arid and poorly irrigated area is almonds. Figs and carob also grow in the Algarve. Roya is used in distilling, as well as as feed for donkeys - local draft animals. The irrigated alluvial valleys of the Algarve are often occupied by orange groves. Date palms are also found here.

Citrus orchards stretch along the river valley. Tagus. The district of Setúbal, on the southern coast of the Tagus Estuary, is known throughout Portugal for its orange groves. In the Azores and Madeira, tropical gardening (growing pineapples, bananas, etc.), as well as the cultivation of winter varieties of vegetables, is important.

Most of the country's cultivated area is occupied by wheat and corn. Wheat is the main grain crop in the drier central and southern regions. In the north, corn crops predominate. In the mountainous northeastern regions, the main grain crop is rye. Rice is cultivated on flooded alluvial plains in the lower reaches of the rivers of central and southern Portugal, especially the Tagus, Mondego, Sado and others.

Legumes and potatoes are grown mainly on small peasant farms in the north-west.

The position of the main part of Portugal in the subtropical Mediterranean climate with its hot, dry summers determines the enormous importance of irrigation for the country's agriculture. Particularly large areas of irrigated land occupy the valleys of the Douro, Tagus, Guadiana, Sado and their tributaries. However, there are still vast areas for which the lack of irrigation systems (due to rivers drying up in summer) is one of the important reasons for the backwardness and extensiveness of local agriculture. In the 1960s and 1970s, Portugal partially implemented individual projects for irrigation systems in areas with backward agriculture, in particular in the Alentejo, through the use of groundwater.

Livestock farming is mainly extensive. A serious problem in Portuguese livestock farming is the lack of industrial feed. Cattle are bred mainly in medium and small peasant farms in the north and north-west of the country. Mild winters make it possible to keep livestock on pastures all year round. Sheep farming is most common on the mountain pastures of the interior, especially in the east and south of the country.

A developed sector of the Portuguese economy is forestry, which is of great export importance. Portugal produces about half of the world's oak cork production (219 thousand tons in 1978), ranking first in the world in this indicator. The main tracts of cork oak are located in central and southern Portugal, primarily in the Alentejo.

Based on forest raw materials, turpentine, rosin, tannin and some other forest chemical products are produced and exported. Portugal ranks first among European countries in the production and export of these products. Most wood chemical enterprises are concentrated in the river valley. Tagus, especially in the Lisbon area. Here, in the Tagus Valley, is the main region of the pulp industry. Eucalyptus wood is used to produce pulp.

The development of fishing is associated with Portugal's position on the Atlantic coast. Fishing is carried out not only by professional fishermen, but also by a significant part of farmers, for whom fishing serves as a secondary livelihood. There are especially many such peasants on the northern coast of the country. The fish catch in 1980 amounted to 261.2 thousand tons, with sardines making up about 30% of it. Fish and canned fish are one of the main Portuguese exports and an important food product for local residents.

The main fishing ports include Leixoes and Matosinhos in the north of the country, as well as Setubal, Faro, and Portimão.

Transport and foreign economic relations. Portugal's transport network is underdeveloped. Two railway lines - Lisbon - Madrid and Lisbon - Salamanca and two highways in the same directions connect the country through Spain with the rest of Europe. The length of the railways is about 4 thousand km; a significant part of them are single-track and have a narrow gauge. Only the railway connecting Lisbon and Porto, as well as the suburban railway of the Lisbon agglomeration, have been electrified. The length of roads is 57 thousand km. The only highway is Lisbon - Porto.

For Portugal, which is open to the ocean, maritime transport is vital. The tonnage of the merchant fleet is constantly increasing and has now exceeded 1.3 million gross reg. t. However, the fleet does not yet fully ensure the country's foreign trade relations, which are 95% carried out by sea. The total cargo turnover of the ports, including international and coastal transport, exceeds 20 million tons, with the largest share of it accounting for Lisbon, Porto (with its outports), Setubal, Aveiro, Faro, Funchal, Ponta Delgada. The port of Lisbon handles 3/5 of sea cargo and is the largest passenger port on the transatlantic line.

Inland water transport is small; river routes (about 800 km) are not navigable during the dry season.

Air travel provides connections between Portugal and many countries around the world. Air transport is in the hands of the national airline of Portugal (TAP). International airports are located in Lisbon (Portela), Porto (Pedras Rubras), the Azores (Ponta Delgada Lajes, Santa Maria) and the Madeira Islands (Funchal, Port to Santo).

The geography of Portugal's foreign economic relations is diverse. The country's great dependence on the world market arose during the period of Portuguese colonialism.

In exports, about 30% are textiles, 20% are traditional food products (wine, sardines in oil, etc.), 30% are raw materials and semi-finished products (cork, ores, cellulose), about 20% are finished industrial products (machines, ships and other machines, sewing products). The growth of industrial production causes an increase in the import of fuel and some types of raw materials, and the still crisis state of agriculture causes the import of agricultural products.

In imports, up to 25% of the cost comes from food (grain, meat, butter, sugar, coffee, etc.), up to 20% - from oil and petroleum products, up to 20% - from industrial products (machinery and equipment), the rest - from raw materials and semi-finished products (metal, rolled products, cotton, etc.).

Portugal's foreign trade balance is constantly in deficit. In the general balance of payments, it is covered by external loans, transfers from abroad from Portuguese emigrants, and income from foreign tourism. Up to 5 million foreign tourists come to the country every year, attracted by the nature of the islands and coast of Portugal, and numerous historical cultural monuments.

Economy of Portugal

Lisbon is the political and economic center of the state

Portugal map


1. General characteristics

The economy of Portugal at the end of the twentieth century was significantly influenced by two events - the overthrow of the Salazar-Caetano regime in the year and accession to the EU in the year. Under the previous regime (1926-1974), capital was concentrated in the hands of a few industrial and financial family groups. Upward mobility was only possible for members of the educated middle class. Portugal's industry and agriculture remained inefficient and labor productivity low. Investments were directed mainly to African colonies. The income received in the colonies was used to maintain a positive trade and budget balance. The revolutionary government first weakened the economic base of the former elite by granting independence to the African colonies. Following the failure of a right-wing coup in 2009, large landholdings in the southern and central regions were expropriated. Banks and insurance companies were nationalized, followed by the nationalization of most large and medium-sized industrial enterprises. Most of the new state-owned enterprises faced extremely difficult organizational and financial problems. As a result, the overall government budget deficit and external public debt increased. Foreign investment in Portugal was withdrawn from the nationalization process; subsidiaries of foreign corporations became important in the country's economy.

The manufacturing industry contributes about 40% of GDP and accounts for 32.6% of all employment. Traditional industries - textiles, clothing, footwear, ceramics, shipbuilding. They are characterized by low labor productivity and outdated technologies. New industries - automotive, electronics, electrical, chemical. Industrial productivity in Portugal is lower than in other EU countries.


3. Agriculture and forestry

Agriculture and forestry contribute only 6.5% of Portugal's GDP and account for 11.5% of employment. Gross agricultural output per worker is significantly lower than in other EU countries; the exceptions are the fertile Tagus River valley and the irrigated areas of the Alentejo province. Portugal imports a number of agricultural products, especially grains, sunflower seeds and meat. The main grain crop in Portugal is wheat, followed by corn. In addition, legumes, oats, rye, barley and rice are of commercial value. Potatoes are an important food crop. Portugal is one of the main exporters of ketchup. Olives are used in large quantities for food, but mainly serve as raw material for the production of olive oil. Viticulture and winemaking play a huge role in agriculture. Portugal is one of the leading Western European wine exporting countries. The most important viticulture areas are the northern river valleys

Extraction of pyrites, tungsten, uranium, tin, iron ore, coal.

The most important traditional industries are textiles (cotton and wool), clothing, winemaking, olive oil production, canned fish production, and cork bark processing (leading in the world). Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering (shipbuilding and ship repair, automobile assembly, electrical engineering); The chemical, oil refining and petrochemical, cement, glass and ceramic (production of blue facing tiles) industries are developing.

Industry in Portugal accounts for 24.4% of GDP and employs 30% of the workforce. Three quarters of Portugal's total manufacturing capacity is concentrated in two industrial regions: Lisbon-Setubal in the south and Porto Braga-Aveiro in the north of the country. In the Lisbon-Setúbal area there are enterprises in the oil refining, chemical, steel, automotive, electronics, pulp and paper, food, and construction materials industries. Electronic equipment is also produced in Lisbon County.

The energy industry operates mainly on imported energy resources - oil and gas. Electricity production 44.47 billion kWh. About 70.3% of electricity production comes from oil, gas and coal, 25.9% from hydropower resources, 4.06% from others. The oil refining industry operates on imported raw materials and is located in coastal cities. 2/3 of the chemical industry's products are petrochemicals, artificial fertilizers and pharmaceutical products (AtralCipan, Medinfar, Tecnimede, Laboratorio Azevedo).

Light industry predominates in the North: Porto produces textiles, shoes, furniture, wine; Aveiro - pulp, paper and wood products; Braga - clothing, electronics, consumer goods.

Textile and clothing production plays an important role in the Portuguese economy (7% of GDP and 33% of exports).

The most important export industries are also the automobile industry (Ford, Volkswagen) and mechanical engineering, ship repair (Liznave is the largest shipyard in Europe).

Important export industry is the food industry. The production of wine, canned fish, and olive oil is especially developed. The catch of fish and other seafood is 215 thousand tons. Portugal ranks 6th in the world in wine production (8 million hl). The average annual production of olive oil is 0.2 million tons.

In general, industry is distributed very unevenly. The bulk of all capacities are concentrated in the coastal strip between Lisbon and Porto. The contribution of the Lisbon agglomeration to GDP is 36%; there are 1.1 million of the country’s economically active population on its territory.

PORTUGAL (Portugal), Portuguese Republic (Republica Portuguese), is a state in the extreme southwest of Europe, located in the western part of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as on the islands of the Azores and Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean. The area is about 92 thousand km 2, incl. islands over 3 thousand km 2. Population 10.2 million people (1984). The official language is Portuguese. The capital is Lisbon. Administratively, it is divided into 22 districts, including 4 island districts. The currency is the Portuguese escudo. Member of the EEC (since 1986).

General characteristics of the farm. Portugal is an industrial-agrarian country. In terms of economic development (GNP, volume of industrial production, national income per capita) it occupies one of the last places in foreign Europe. Industry is dominated by large enterprises of transnational and national monopolies, although there is still a large share of small-scale production and handicrafts. About 2/3 of the industrial potential is concentrated on the Atlantic coast of the country. The share of industry in the structure of GNP reached 35%, and the share of agriculture decreased to 13% (1984). Portugal's GNP in 1985 was 38.5 billion escudos. The country's economy is highly dependent on foreign capital and world market conditions. The dominant positions are occupied by the imperialist monopolies of Great Britain, which own over 75% of the total volume of capital investments in the economy.

Relatively more developed sectors of the national economy are manufacturing (including textiles), petrochemicals and mining. The share of the latter in the structure of GNP is small (about 1%).

Hydro resources occupy the main place in the country's fuel and energy balance; Hydroelectric power plants satisfy more than 90% of the country's energy needs. The construction of nuclear power plants is being planned. The main mode of transport is automobile. The length of roads is 51.9 thousand km. The length of the railways is about 4 thousand km. Merchant marine tonnage 1.4 million gross register tons (1980); The main ports are Lisbon and Porto.

Nature. Portugal is located in the subtropical zone. The northern part of the country is mainly occupied by the deeply dissected outskirts of the Meseta plateau, above which individual crystalline massifs rise. The predominant heights are 1000-1200 m, the highest is 1991 (in the Ceppa da Estrela ridge). In the west, the mountains drop steeply to the coastal plain. To the south of the Tagus River there is a large part of the Portuguese Lowland, which consists of flat areas alternating with low hilly ridges; in the east, the lowland is bordered by a plateau with individual ridges 600-1000 meters high. In the extreme south are the lowlands of Ceppa da Algarve (height up to 902 m), the southern slopes of which drop steeply to the coastal lowland. The climate is mild. Due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. Average temperatures in January are 8-11°C, in July 20-27°C. Precipitation ranges from 800 mm on the plains to 2500 mm in the mountains. The river network is dense. Within Portugal there are the lower reaches of large rivers - Tagus (Taxo), Douro (Duero), Guadiana. Only the first two are navigable in the lower reaches at a distance of no more than 200 km from the mouth. They have large reserves of hydroelectric power.

Geological structure. Most of Portugal's territory is located within the so-called. Iberian Meseta, which represents the protrusion of the Hercynian folded region of Central and Western Europe, at the base of which formations lie. They are represented by metamorphic schists and gneisses with interlayers of marbles, quartzites and volcanic rocks. Above that lie the Lower and (up to the Middle Carboniferous) formations, predominantly terrigenous (with the participation of volcanics). They are folded and broken through by intrusions of granitoids of Upper Paleozoic age. A strip of weakly dislocated Mesozoic-Cenozoic rocks stretches along the western and southern coasts of Portugal. Ring intrusions of alkaline rocks from the end to the beginning are also known here. The carbonate rocks of the Precambrian are associated with strata deposits of iron ores of sedimentary-volcanogenic origin (the Evora crystalline massif in the south of Portugal), as well as minor deposits of manganese ores. The formation of skarn iron ore deposits is associated with intrusive massifs of the tonalite series. The maximum intensity of mineralization is noted in the post-Stephanian time (Late Carboniferous - Early Permian). The final phases of the formation of intrusions are represented by small bodies of granites and granite-porphyries, which are associated with tin-tungsten mineralization. Deposits of uranium ores of the epithermal type, associated with veins of chalcedony-like quartz, also gravitate towards these same areas, but their formation is due to Alpine orogenesis (about 100 million years) and is associated with dikes of basic rocks. Ores are localized in crushing zones. The Alpine age in Portugal also includes polymetallic deposits and some ore occurrences of antimony and barite. These deposits are usually confined to zones of young faults in granites and Precambrian metamorphic shales.

Seismicity. Portugal is located in an active seismic zone. Earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 8 points or more occur in the country on average once every 2 years. The seismic hazard coefficient, varying from 0 to 2, for Portugal is 0.7. Epicenters, as a rule, coincide with zones of regional tectonic faults. The most powerful earthquakes (8.5 points) are associated with underwater, the most active tectonic structures.

Hydrogeology. On the territory of Portugal, 3 hydrogeological structures are identified: the West Portuguese and Algarve artesian basins and the Meseta hydrogeological massif. The main aquifer complexes, developed mainly in artesian basins, are complexes of Quaternary alluvial, Neogene-Paleogene sediments and Mesozoic predominantly carbonate rocks. Quaternary sands, gravels and pebbles contain pore water, mostly groundwater, lying at a depth of 1-30 meters. Pressure waters (with a head value of 6-81 m) lie at depths of the first tens of meters. The flow rate of wells in small river valleys is no more than 1 l/s, in large ones and on the ocean coast up to 10-34 l/s. The waters are mostly fresh (HCO 3 and HCO 3 - Cl, Ca=Na).

About 30 resorts operate on the basis of thermal mineral waters in the country. The total amount of groundwater used in the country is 1.8 km 3 /year.

Portugal has significant reserves of non-metallic minerals: limestone, granite, gabbro, nepheline syenite, etc., dolomite, gypsum, kaolin, marble. The main deposits are located in the areas of Vila Visoza, Borba, Estremoz. Granite deposits - Braga-Porto, Portalegre, Evora; nepheline syenites - Faro, serpentinites - Braganza.

History of mineral resource development. The oldest evidence of the use of stone (pebble flint) for making tools dates back to the ancient Paleolithic (early Acheulian, approximately 700-500 thousand years ago). Finds from this time were made mainly in the Tagus River basin (Taxo). Until the Neolithic era, flint served as the main material for the manufacture of tools and weapons. Since the Neolithic (approximately 5th-4th millennium BC), various types of clays have been widely mined, mainly for the manufacture of tableware. From the 4th-3rd millennium BC. (Copper and Bronze Ages) mining begins to develop on the basis of local deposits of copper ore. Large-scale mining of copper ores was carried out in various regions of Portugal. In Southern Portugal (province of the Algarve, Baixo Alentejo), several dozen deposits and ore occurrences with traces of ancient workings, presumably dating back to the 3rd-2nd millennium BC, are known. (deposits Alti, Mesinish, Almodovar, Castro Verdi, Aljustrel, Mina di San Domingos, etc.). Mainly oxidized copper minerals were mined - malachite and azurite; chalcopyrite - probably only from the end of the 2nd or 1st millennium BC. The ancient large center of copper ore mining was located in the province of Extremadura and Beira Litoral (Rio Mayor, Caldas da Rainha, Alcobaça deposits). In some ancient mines, bronze axes have been discovered, which are believed to have been used for driving mine workings; A few ancient deposits of cassiterite are also known (the area of ​​Viana do Castelo, etc.). In the Bronze Age, metallurgical production developed in the north of Portugal, the products of which were exported outside the country. Iron comes into use around the 8th-6th centuries. BC. Apparently local iron ores were used. From the 1st century BC. by 3rd century n. e., when the Iberian Peninsula became one of the provinces of the Roman Empire, the level of mining and the scale of extraction of various minerals here increased immeasurably; The Iberian Peninsula and the territory of Portugal, in particular, became one of the main mining and metallurgical areas of the Roman Empire. The mining of copper ores took on a particularly wide scale. In addition, limestone and other types of non-metallic building materials were mined in large quantities. Later 4-6 centuries. AD mining is in decline.

In the 8th-11th centuries. The extraction of precious metals was carried out by the Arabs, and from the 12th century it was continued by the Europeans who conquered these lands. Gold placers were concentrated in the lower reaches of the Tagus, in the town of Adisa, near Almada. In 1210, King Sancho I donated a tenth of the income from them to the Order of Santiago. Development was carried out here intermittently until the mid-17th century. Gold mines were located in the province of Traz-os-Montes, silver and copper mines in Alto Alentejo, and tin mines in the Algarve. Development was carried out by concessionaires or the treasury itself, which owned all the minerals. Portuguese kings in the 14th and 15th centuries. contributed to the development of the iron industry, the raw materials for which were extracted from the deposits of the Torri di Moncorvo region, as well as the mining of lead and copper ores; entrepreneurs were exempted during the first 5 years from paying taxes amounting to 1/5 of production. In 1300, King Dinis I issued concessions for the extraction of sulfur, as well as alum (Vila Nova de Gaia). The production of alum became especially significant in the 2nd half of the 15th and 16th centuries, when the development of the deposit began in the Azores Islands (San Miguel Island). In the 16th-17th centuries. mining of precious metals and lead ores is declining due to the influx of these metals from Brazil; At the same time, the iron industry is developing. In the 18th century, English entrepreneurs developed deposits of lead and copper pyrite ores on the Kaima River; gold, iron ore, and a small amount of alum were mined. In 1850, the state privilege for minerals was abolished, the right to extract them transferred to landowners. The development of Portugal in the 19th century was carried out mainly by foreign concessionaires; in the 80s. The British receive concessions for a number of deposits of lead, copper, pyrite ores and pyrites in the Aljustrel-Beja region (Baixo Alentejo province). In particular, the Mina di San Domingos mine, which was exploited for the purpose of extracting copper by the Phoenicians, produced about 700 thousand tons of copper-bearing pyrites in 1859-66.

Mining. Most large mining enterprises are state owned. State capital is represented: in the uranium mining industry by the company "Empresa Macional de Uranio" (ENU), in the iron ore industry - by the company "Ferrominas S.A.", in the coal mining industry - by the company "Empresa Carbonifera do Douro SARL", in the extraction of non-metallic minerals - by the company " Pirites Alentejanas SARL".

The equipment of mining enterprises is obsolete. It is planned to intensify prospecting and exploration work, strengthen research in the field of field development technology, take an inventory of mineral resources, and improve mining equipment. These plans are aimed at reducing mineral imports and increasing employment.

The main branch of the mining industry is the extraction of tungsten ores and other non-ferrous metals, pyrites, and iron ores (Table 2). By 1980, Portugal operated: 3 mines for the extraction of magnetite, 35 mines for the extraction of non-ferrous metal ores, incl. tin and titanium - 5, tin, titanium and tantalum - 4, tin and tungsten - 6, tungsten and copper - 1, tungsten, tin, copper - 1, gold and silver - 10, as well as about 170 quarries for the extraction of non-metallic minerals (piece stone, clay, sand). Overall, there were no significant changes in mining output in 1980. However, the production of tin and tungsten increased by 18%, copper - by 40% compared to 1979.

In the structure of the mining industry (1981), the extraction of non-ferrous metal ores accounts for about 34% of the value of the industry's products, non-metallic minerals - about 61%, coal - about 4% and ferrous metal ores - about 1%. The extraction of mineral raw materials in value terms increased more than 2 times between 1975 and 1984.

Coal mining in Portugal began shortly before the 1st World War. Both coal (anthracite) and lignite deposits were developed. Before World War II, total production did not exceed 0.33 million tons. In the post-war period, production first increased (maximum - 0.68 million tons in 1957), and then began to gradually decline and in 1986 amounted to about 0.2 million t, and in the 70s. production was temporarily stopped. In the north-west of the country there is a mine "Pezhan", which was reconstructed in the early 80s (deepening the shaft). This mine mines two steeply dipping seams. In the area of ​​São Pedro da Cova, near the city of Oporto, old dumps are being developed; The issue of building a quarry here with an annual capacity of up to 100 thousand tons of coal is being considered. It is planned to resume brown coal mining at the Rio Mayor deposit to supply power plants. Portugal imports coal (about 2 million tons in 1986) mainly from the USA (1.6 million tons). It is planned to increase coal consumption from 1.4 million tons of equivalent fuel in 1980 to 4 million tons in 1990 and 12 million tons in 2000, while domestic production should increase only to 0.6 million tons of equivalent fuel, and demand will be covered due to imports.

Uranium ore has been mined in Portugal for more than 75 years. Uranium is mined in two ore clusters: Urgeiris and Guarda. All ore is supplied to the mining and processing plant in Urgeiris with a daily capacity of 155 tons of ore. The production of uranium concentrates is completely controlled by ENU. It is planned to put into operation the Nisa plant based on deposits in the Alto Alentejo region with a design capacity of 120-144 tons of U per year. Mining is carried out both open (Niza) and underground (Cunha Baixa, Pinhel do Soto) methods. The production of uranium concentrates in Portugal averages 106 t U per year (1983). In 1980, Portugal exported 120 tons of uranium concentrates, of which 106 tons were delivered to Iraq, the rest to Germany. In 1981-84, supplies of uranium concentrates to foreign markets averaged 104 tons per year. Taking into account the construction of nuclear power plants (7-8 million kW by 2000), as well as the needs of importing countries, a significant (2-3 times) increase in U production is expected in the next 20 years.

Iron ore mining. Iron ore deposits have been exploited in Portugal since ancient times, but production was small. The most intensive developments date back to the period 1938-60. Until 1970, iron ore mining was carried out in 4 deposits: Torri di Moncorvo, Orada, Sercal and Maraun; since 1974 - only at the Torri di Moncorvo field. Maximum production was achieved in 1950 (0.3 million tons). Extremely low production levels continued into the 1980s. In total, during the entire period of exploitation of iron ore deposits (1884-1984), about 5 million tons of iron ore were mined in Portugal. Ferrominas, with the participation of the Swedish company Lkab, is completing a feasibility study for the development of the Torri di Moncorvo deposit with a projected mine capacity of 2.8 million tons of ore per year, which corresponds to 1.5 million tons of concentrates with a Fe content of 64% . It is planned to commission a plant in the Lisbon area to produce 2.3 million tons of iron ore pellets per year. In addition to modernizing existing mines, the country is searching for and exploring new iron ore deposits.

Tungsten ore mining. Portugal is the leading producer of tungsten concentrates in Western Europe; it occupies one of the first places in Europe and the world (excluding socialist countries). The development of tungsten ores is carried out by the joint Anglo-Portuguese company Beralt Tin and Wolfram (Portugal) SARL (BTWP) mainly at the Panashqueira mines and the French-Portuguese company Minas da Borralha SARL at the Borralha mine. Copper and silver are recovered along the way. Mechanization of mining operations was carried out at the Panashkeira mine; an underground crusher is equipped here and a 1.3 km long conveyor is installed that delivers crushed ore to the surface. After the completion of the reconstruction of the Panashkeira mine, annual ore production should increase to 700-800 thousand tons. Mining is carried out underground. Continuous (80%) and room-and-pillar (20%) systems for the development of ore bodies with partial and, in the case of particularly rich ore, with complete extraction of pillars are used. The average ore recovery for the mine is 75%. Tungsten ore concentrates are exported mainly to the countries of the common market (EC), the USA and Japan. In 1980, 704 tons were exported to the EEC countries (46% of production and production), to the USA - 248 tons (17%) and Japan - 247 tons (17%).

Mining of ores of other non-ferrous metals. Portugal is the largest exporter of pyrite. When obtaining pyrite cinders, copper, zinc, lead, tin, silver, and gold are extracted from pyrites. The state plan provides for the modernization and expansion of existing mines (Alzhustrel, Sines) and the development of new deposits (Neves-Corvo). As a result of the reconstruction of the Alzhustrel mine, it is planned to produce 1.2 million tons of pyrite per year, which will ensure the production of sulfur and sulfuric acid. It is planned to simultaneously extract a number of metals, for which a mining and metallurgical complex will be created. To develop the large sulphide polymetallic deposit of Neves Corvo, the Somincor company was created, 51% of the capital of which is controlled by the state, the rest of the capital is distributed between French companies (24.5% each). The opening of the ore body is carried out by a vertical shaft with a diameter of 5 m, a design depth of 700 m, as well as an inclined shaft with a cross-section of 17 m 2 and a length of about 5 km. With the commissioning of the first stage of the mine (1986), production amounted to about 1 million tons of copper ore, the second stage (1990) will reach 1 million tons of complex ores per year. It is planned to build a copper smelter with a capacity of 50 thousand tons of copper per year on the basis of the mine. In addition to copper, it is planned to extract zinc, silver, and lead from the ores. In the country, pyrite is exported to the EEC countries - Belgium, the Netherlands, and is also used for the production of sulfuric acid and sulfur.

In 1980, the development of non-metallic minerals was carried out by 352 mining enterprises. The total value of non-metallic minerals mined in Portugal (1980) exceeded 3.6 billion escudos. 406 million tons of piece stone (crystalline limestone, marble, granite, acid porphyry, gabbro, nepheline syenite) were mined for the production of decorative slabs and blocks, 1.2 thousand tons of barite, 1200 tons of lepidolite waste rocks in hollows and ravines in tiers not high more than 25 m, with berms 10 m wide, slope angles no more than 30° (these measures contribute to the biological stage of reclamation); protecting rivers from pollution and siltation as a result of water discharge from quarries and processing plants by creating settling basins; dust control (use of watering machines and creation of water curtains on roads); combating noise and ground vibrations during drilling and blasting operations. Constant monitoring of the level of radiation, chemical reagents, purity of drinking water, fauna and flora of adjacent forests is also carried out.

It is planned to create a special environmental control department for quarries with an annual productivity of more than 700 thousand tons.

Geological Survey. Scientific institutions. Personnel training. Seal. Geological work in Portugal is carried out by: Geological Survey of Portugal - geological mapping, methodological developments; Mining Development Service - study of the country's mineral resources, incl. search and exploration of new deposits. Mineral exploration, exploitation and processing are the responsibility of district departments, such as the Northern District Mining Authority.

There is no single scientific coordination center in Portugal. The state finances research through ministries and special research centers. In addition, scientific research is carried out by the Lisbon Academy of Sciences (founded in 1779), the Portuguese Association for the Advancement of Science, scientific societies and private firms.

The main periodicals in the field of geology and mining: "Publicacо da Direccо geral de Minas e"Servicos geologisоs" (1948-52), "Voletin de Minas" (since 1963).

Portugal is an industrial-agrarian country, one of the relatively underdeveloped economically in Western Europe. In 1974-75 the economy underwent profound transformations. The largest industrial and financial companies were nationalized. After joining the EU in 1986, the economy became more diversified with the predominant development of the service sector. The process of re-privatization of the public sector, modernization and liberalization of the economy, and its adaptation to EU requirements has accelerated. The state's share in the economy decreased from 40% of GDP in 1975 to 7-8% of GDP in 2001, the share of wages in the public sector amounted to 15% of GDP. In 1986-99, Portugal received assistance from the EU in the amount of 29.7 billion euros to restructure and modernize its economy.

In 1996-2000, Portugal's annual GDP growth was one of the highest in the EU - 3.4%, but already in 2001 - 1.7%, and in 2002 - 0.7%. GDP (at current prices, billion euros): in 1998 - 101.0; in 2001 - 123.0; in the third quarter of 2002 - 128.9. Despite the fairly high rates of GDP growth compared to the European average, GDP per capita in Portugal is still 74% of the EU average (in 2001 - $12.2 thousand). Portugal's share in the world GDP of OECD member countries is 0.7%, in the EU GDP - 2%, in industrial production - 0.8 and 2.3%, respectively (1995).

Unemployment is 4.7% - one of the lowest rates in the EU, inflation - 3.7% (2002). Agriculture accounts for 3.8% of GDP, industry 30.5%, and the service sector 65.7% (beginning 2002). Agriculture employs 10% of the workforce, industry 30%, and services 60% (2001). The role of the mining industry is small. It is represented by enterprises producing non-ferrous metal ores, copper, tin, zinc, lead, uranium, etc. Portugal ranks first in the EU in the production of copper concentrate. The mining industry employs only 0.3% of the economically active population. The bulk of the products in this industry are supplied to Europe. The energy industry operates mainly on imported energy resources - oil and gas. Electricity production 43.242 billion kW/h with consumption 41.146 billion kW/h; 70.3% of electricity production comes from oil, gas and coal, 25.9% from hydropower resources, 4.06% from others. The oil refining industry uses imported raw materials and is located in coastal cities. 2/3 of the chemical industry's products are petrochemicals, artificial fertilizers and pharmaceuticals. The main enterprises of the industry are concentrated in the Lisbon agglomeration and in the Porto area (6, p. 97).

Traditional manufacturing industries: textiles, clothing, footwear, food, forestry and woodworking (cork, pulp and paper production), ceramics and ship repair. Among the new industries are the automotive industry, the production of resins, plastics, some types of electrical and electronic equipment, and mechanical engineering for the light and food industries. The manufacturing industry produces 25.8% of GDP, employs 23.3% of the workforce, and produces 2.0% growth.

Textile and clothing production plays an important role in the Portuguese economy (7% of GDP and 33% of exports, 2000). The textile industry is concentrated in the northeast of the country (cotton fabrics) and the southeast (production of woolen fabrics). Sewing enterprises are mainly located in densely populated areas near large centers (Lisbon, Porto, Braga). In the food industry, the production of canned fish, wine and olive oil is of greatest importance. The catch of fish and other seafood is 215 thousand tons (2000). The main fish canning factories are located near the main fishing ports - Porto, Setubal, Portimão, etc. Portugal ranks 6th in the world in wine production. Forestry occupies an important place in the industrial structure of Portugal. The main export product of this industry is oak cork, annual production is 130-200 thousand tons. Portugal accounts for about 60% of world exports of this product.

The automotive industry has achieved the greatest success among new industries. In 1991, sales in this industry amounted to 250 million dollars, in 2001 - 3.2 billion dollars, of which 2.5 billion were intended for export. In 1995, the largest automobile plant, AutoEurope, was built near Lisbon. Its products account for 11% of exports and 2.2% of GDP.

In general, industry is distributed very unevenly. The bulk of all capacities are concentrated in the coastal strip between Lisbon and Porto. The contribution of the Lisbon agglomeration to GDP is 36%; there are 1.1 million of the country’s economically active population on its territory.

Compared to the general background of Western European countries, agriculture has lower technical, economic (1 tractor per 4 farms) and social indicators. It does not satisfy the country's needs for a number of agricultural products. Up to 60% of food and feed are imported from abroad. Cereals, citrus fruits, vegetables, olives, grapes and other crops are grown. The main industry is crop production. OK. 3/5 of the sown area is occupied by the main grain crops - wheat and corn. The most important types of agricultural products in Portugal are grapes and olives (1,041 thousand and 327 thousand tons, respectively). In the north of the country, apples, pears, and plums are grown, in the south - citrus fruits, figs, pomegranates, and almonds. Livestock farming is poorly developed; the country does not provide itself with meat. The main direction is sheep breeding (7, p. 86).

Portugal's transport system is underdeveloped. The total length of railways is 35,820 km, of which 873.2 km are electrified (2001). Passenger transportation predominates in railway transport. The length of roads is 68,732 km, of which 59,110 km are paved, 797 km are express roads. There are 4.932 million cars and 1.540 million trucks in the country (1999). Inland water transport does not play a big role. Mostly, only small vessels use the rivers. There are 67 airports in Portugal, the 3 main ones being in Lisbon, Faro and Porto (2001). Pipeline transport: 22 km for transportation of crude oil, 58 km for petroleum products, 700 km for gas pipeline. Maritime transport is of great importance, providing major connections between the mainland and the islands, as well as coastal shipping. The tonnage of the maritime fleet is 1.164 million tons, the merchant fleet includes 360 ships, of which 140 have a carrying capacity of 1000 tons and above, about 65% of foreign trade cargo is transported by sea (2000).

In Portugal there are 5.3 million telephone lines and 3.07 million mobile phones (1999), the number of Internet users is 2 million people.

GDP growth in the service sector in 1997-99 was 3.5%. The leading industry is retail trade and tourism. In terms of the scale of development of retail trade, Portugal ranks one of the first places in the EU. In 2002, 12.2 million people visited Portugal, mainly tourists from the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries. The country ranks 15th in the world in terms of the number of tourists and is among the ten most visited EU countries. Tourism income: $5 billion (2000). This industry employs 8% of the economically active population. The most visited area is in the south of the country in the Faro district - 52% of tourists, followed by Madeira - 18% and Lisbon - 14%.

Portugal's economic policy is aimed at achieving the goals of the Maastricht Agreements (reducing inflation, budget deficits, public debt, interest rates). Programs for “quick and effective” reprivatization and modernization of production, personnel training, and, since 1998, programs for stabilization and development were successfully implemented. Social policy is aimed at reforming the labor relations system. New labor legislation was adopted, providing for a system of collective agreements, and the volume of social benefits decreased slightly (7, p. 47).

In the monetary sphere, measures were taken to maintain financial discipline, reorganize and re-privatize banks. Financial policy was used as a tool to influence the economic activities of enterprises and stimulate savings. The country's banking system includes 39 banks, of which 5 are foreign, and 3,296 branches. The Central Bank has the right to issue banknotes, controls the activities of all credit and financial institutions and accumulates gold - the country's foreign exchange reserves. The latter amount to 14.261 billion dollars, of which 5.353 million are gold reserves. Five large banks control 80% of the country's financial sector; in terms of bank consolidation, Portugal ranks 5th in Western Europe. Interest rates on loans are 5.16%, on deposits - 2.4% (2001). The bond market does not play a big role; the bulk of their issues go through private placement channels. The financial market is peripheral, the level of capitalization and liquidity is lower than in other EU countries. The largest stock exchange is located in Lisbon.

After the reform, the fiscal sphere ensured an influx of government revenues, and control over government spending was established. Portugal budget: expenses 48 billion dollars, revenues 45 billion, deficit - 2.8% of GDP (2002). Almost 90% of budget revenues came from taxes. The current account balance of payments deficit increased by 9.2% and amounted to 11,539 million euros (2001). For 3 quarters of 2002, the balance of payments deficit reached 7,961 million euros. Portugal's external debt is $15 billion (2002). The country's total public debt is $61.16 billion, or 55.6% of GDP (2001). The total volume of foreign direct investment accumulated in Portugal is $32.671 billion, Portuguese direct investment abroad is $24.881 billion (2001). In 2001, the outflow of Portuguese capital (5.7 billion euros in the form of direct investment) for the first time exceeded the influx of foreign investment into the country (3.6 billion euros). Portfolio investments in Portugal reached $52.9 billion, Portuguese portfolio investments abroad amounted to $42.531 billion (2001). Portugal's investments in the Russian Federation amounted to $3.394 million (2001).

Exports of goods and services increased by 6.1% and amounted to $24.8 billion, imports by 5.3% and reached $37.8 billion (2001). The share of Portugal in world exports is 0.4%, in imports - 0.6% (2000). OK. 85% of exports are finished products. Main articles: clothing, footwear, mechanical engineering products, chemicals, cork, paper. 79% of exports come from the EU (Spain - 19%, Germany - 18, France - 13, England - 11%), 6% - to the USA (2001). Main imported goods: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, oil, textiles, agricultural products. Main import partners: EU countries - 74% (Spain - 25, Germany - 14, France - 11, Italy - 7, UK - 6%), USA and Japan - 3% each (2001) . Portugal's foreign trade turnover with the Russian Federation is $231 million (2001). Free economic zones operate on the Azores Islands (Santa Maria, located on the island of the same name), on the island of Madeira (since 1980). At the same time, the archipelago has the jurisdiction of an offshore zone.

In terms of living standards, Portugal ranks 24th in the world (Human Development Index - 0.874 in 1999). Wages are traditionally lower than in other EU countries (minimum - 348 euros per month, average - about 700 euros). In 2001, private consumption increased by 3.6% and per capita amounted to $7,190. Private income actually increased by 1.1% with GDP growth of 1.7% (2001). National savings 17% of GDP. In 1989, a new scheme for paying unemployment benefits was adopted, but it has not yet been introduced everywhere.