Lisbon, Sept. 10, 2026 (Lusa) - The Confederation of Portuguese Farmers (CAP) on Thursday welcomed the measures announced by the Government for winegrowers in the Douro region, but warned that the entire sector is facing a crisis, calling for the support measures to be extended.
Farmers pointed out that the domestic market is under pressure from the «massive influx» of Spanish wine, often unregulated, and sold at prices with which Portugal cannot compete.
«Our solidarity with the Douro is unequivocal. We welcome the measures announced by the Government. What CAP does not accept is that this solidarity should result in producers in other regions being overlooked», said CAP leader, Luís Mira, in a statement.
In this regard, the confederation called for a «fair, coherent and nationwide» public response, which does not overlook the fact that the wine sector is facing a crisis across the whole country.
Farmers also highlighted the need to narrow the competitiveness gap between Portugal and Spain.
As they pointed out, Spain has been receiving support for production inputs – such as energy, fuel and fertilisers – that is more than 30 times higher than that received by Portuguese farmers.
Added to this is the fall in consumption, the decline in exports to various markets and pressure on prices.
«All these difficulties are made far worse by bulk wine imported from Spain, which all too often enters our market without certification of origin, frequently without any supervision or control, and at rock-bottom prices,» he insisted, emphasising that this costs Portuguese producers tens of millions of euros a year.
CAP is therefore demanding that the State ensure full traceability, inspection and effective control of this process.
«Without this, producers lose out, the entire production value chain loses out, and consumers also lose out, as they often have no clear understanding of the wine's true origin,» CAP stressed.
On Friday, the Government announced support of around €12 million for Douro winegrowers who, this season, are unable to sell their produce.
At the press conference following the Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet office minister, António Leitão Amaro, said that this is a «one-off solution for this year, which differs from the solutions of previous years, which were support schemes for distillation».
«This is support for unsold production, with a maximum amount set at €12 million, but a decision has already been taken that, going forward, the solution for the Douro region must be a structural one, based on the creation of a permanent fund designed to help manage these market fluctuations and difficulties,» he added.
PE/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
