According to a study conducted by Global Blue, Chinese tourists are the biggest spenders on ‘tax free’ shopping in Portugal, shelling out an average of €641 on each transaction. According to Global Blue, which specializes in VAT refund operations, Chinese tourists made up 13 percent of the market in 2015, an increase of 42 percent from 2014. Among the best shoppers in Portugal in 2015 were American tourists, whose total purchases rose 30 percent, placing in the top five, while Angolans purchases fell by 8 percent. Brazilians, the second least thrifty tourists visiting Portugal (16 percent of the total) saw their average transaction price fall 12 percent to €219. Among the biggest gainers were visitors from Mozambique, whose 4 percent market share represented an increase of 19 percent. Their average transaction presented for VAT refunds was €227.
