In 2023, the Distribuitive Trade sector had 217.4 thousand enterprises (217.2 thousand in 2022) and 842.4 thousand employees (+2.0%; +3.4% in 2022), having achieved a Turnover of EUR 194.8 billion (+4.6%; +17.9% in 2022). The Gross Value Added stood at EUR 26.5 billion (+8.6%; +13.5% in 2022), Global commercial margin at EUR 35.3 billion (+6.0%; +15.2% in 2022) and Commercial margin per company at EUR 162 thousand (+5.9%; +14.5% in 2022).

In the activity of Automobile trade, there were increases of 17.7% in Turnover (+14.5% in 2022) and in Global commercial margin (12.9%; +19.3% in 2022) and by company (10.3%; +16.7% in 2022). Persons employed rose by 3.3% (+2.8% in 2022). 

In Wholesale trade, there were also increases, in the Turnover (0.5%; +20.0% in 2022), in Global commercial margin (2.8%; +12.0% in 2022) and by company (2.0%; +11.5% in 2022) and in the persons employed (2.6%; same as in 2022). 

In Retail trade, the Turnover grew by 6.1% (+16.3% in 2022), the Global commercial margin rose by 7.9% (+17.8% in 2022) and by company by 8.8% (+17.4% in 2022). The number of enterprises decreased by 0.8% (+0.4% in 2022), while the number of persons employed increased by 1.4% (+3.9% in 2022).

In 2023, Enterprises with Large-sized Commercial Units establishments accounted for 44.3% of Turnover (42.8% in 2022) and 31.8% of Persons employed (31.4% in 2022) of Retail activities to which they belong, although they covered only 0.4% of the number of enterprises (same as in 2022).

See the infographic (only available in Portuguese)