Porto, Portugal, Oct. 16, 2025 (Lusa) - Cement consumption in the domestic Portuguese market totalled 2.657 million tonnes up to August, down 1.6% year-on-year, despite growth in the residential property market, according to data released on Thursday by the industry association.
"This trend contrasts with the expansion observed in both the residential market and the public works segment, suggesting that activity in the sector has not been proportionally reflected in the consumption of this essential material," says the Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industrialists (AICCOPN).
In the "Construction Outlook - Quick Information" report released today, the association highlights the "particularly intense dynamics" of the housing market in the second quarter, in which 42,889 homes were sold, a year-on-year increase of 15.5% corresponding to 5,764 units.
In terms of value, the overall volume of transactions reached €10.27 billion, reflecting "significant growth" of 30.4%.
During this period, the Housing Price Index reached a new all-time high, with a year-on-year variation of 17.2% and a quarter-on-quarter variation of 4.7%, "confirming the trend of accelerated increases in residential prices already observed in previous quarters".
According to AICCOPN, this "strong dynamism" in the property market was also reflected in the evolution of licensing processes: In the first seven months of 2025, local authorities issued a total of 15,846 licences, 1,445 more than in the same period in 2024, corresponding to a year-on-year change of 10%.
With regard to the area licensed for buildings, up to July there was a cumulative growth of 18.1% in the housing segment, in contrast to a "more moderate" expansion of 2.1% in the case of non-residential buildings.
At the same time, the association points to the "significant growth" that the mortgage market has been experiencing throughout 2025.
Excluding renegotiations, the amount of new credit in August showed a cumulative year-on-year variation of 37.7%, a performance that "confirms the maintenance of robust dynamics in financing to individuals, reinforcing the role of credit as an essential support for housing demand".
In the public works market, indicators also show "a strong growth trajectory in activity," notes AICCOPN.
By August, the total amount of construction tenders promoted amounted to €7.915 billion, 28% more than in the same period in 2024, with the value of contracts signed and registered on the Base Portal reaching €3.948 billion, a year-on-year increase of 48%.
PD/AYLS // AYLS
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