The growing uncertainty of the economic environment is today the main challenge for the business sector in Portugal, according to the latest Credit Risk Management Study promoted by Crédito y Caución and Iberinform.
Four in ten companies (40%) point to this uncertainty as one of the biggest difficulties in daily operations.
Next, in order of importance, come the reduction in commercial margins (37%), labor costs (35%) and the difficulty in attracting new customers (33%). Increased competition worries 28% of companies, while 27% refer to bureaucratic and regulatory burdens as a significant problem.
The study reveals signs of financial fragility, as 18% of companies consider payment delays among their main concerns and 15% report difficulties in obtaining financing, indicators that point to liquidity risks. Additionally, 14% highlight tariff uncertainty and geopolitical tensions as relevant challenges.
In terms of tariffs, uncertainty in their evolution already affects one in four Portuguese companies. The study indicates that 27% are feeling the effects of trade tensions that put pressure on product costs and that these pressures reduce margins in 12% of cases. A small portion (2%) admits looking for new commercial partners to avoid the cost of tariffs.
In short, the set of risks — economic, commercial and financial — is creating a more complex operating environment for Portuguese companies, with direct implications for liquidity, margins and commercial strategy.