Plastic waste exports in Portugal
Portugal: Plastic waste exports was 53,082 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Portugal, 1988–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Portugal recorded 53,082 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.8% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Portugal peaked at 72,289 tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, 846.17 tonnes, in 1993.
That places Portugal 15th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Portugal, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 1,892 tonnes | — |
| 1989 | 2,286 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1990 | 1,223 tonnes | -46.5% |
| 1991 | 1,659 tonnes | +35.6% |
| 1992 | 2,194 tonnes | +32.3% |
| 1993 | 846.17 tonnes | -61.4% |
| 1994 | 3,501 tonnes | +313.8% |
| 1995 | 5,944 tonnes | +69.8% |
| 1996 | 4,789 tonnes | -19.4% |
| 1997 | 3,682 tonnes | -23.1% |
| 1998 | 3,940 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 5,296 tonnes | +34.4% |
| 2000 | 8,768 tonnes | +65.6% |
| 2001 | 7,340 tonnes | -16.3% |
| 2002 | 6,295 tonnes | -14.2% |
| 2003 | 8,634 tonnes | +37.2% |
| 2004 | 13,773 tonnes | +59.5% |
| 2005 | 15,037 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 2006 | 21,701 tonnes | +44.3% |
| 2007 | 25,347 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 2008 | 38,775 tonnes | +53.0% |
| 2009 | 47,833 tonnes | +23.4% |
| 2010 | 62,642 tonnes | +31.0% |
| 2011 | 59,785 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 63,812 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 58,663 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2014 | 62,820 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2015 | 60,305 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 72,289 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 2017 | 52,974 tonnes | -26.7% |
| 2018 | 48,365 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2019 | 52,800 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 2020 | 53,003 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 65,854 tonnes | +24.2% |
| 2022 | 65,464 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 58,827 tonnes | -10.1% |
| 2024 | 53,082 tonnes | -9.8% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 53,082 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 11.6× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 53,082 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 7.4× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Portugal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +313.8% | 846.17 tonnes | 3,501 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,089 tonnes | 1,892 tonnes | 2,286 tonnes | 2 |
| 1990s | 3,308 tonnes | 846.17 tonnes | 5,944 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 19,350 tonnes | 6,295 tonnes | 47,833 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 59,445 tonnes | 48,365 tonnes | 72,289 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 59,246 tonnes | 53,003 tonnes | 65,854 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More environment data for Portugal
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.6043 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.5127 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.44 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.15 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.1607 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Portugal?
- Plastic waste exports in Portugal was 53,082 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 72,289 tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 846.17 tonnes in 1993.
- How does Portugal rank for plastic waste exports?
- Portugal ranks 15th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.