"About 23,000 vehicles from AutoEuropa, accumulated during the stoppage, have already been loaded,” said Vitorino in a hearing of parliament’s committee on economy, innovation and public works. “About 800 vehicles produced per day are being shipped out, as previously planned."

The port is now operating “normally”, the minister said, citing provisional data for January that show Setúbal handled 3.4% more goods than the same month a year earlier.

The recent agreement between employers and the dockers’ union made it possible to establish "better" working conditions, in the form of a collective employment contract, she said, adding that talks on its details “have already begun" and are to continue through February.

In December, the Union of Dockworkers and Logistics Activity (SEAL) and companies operating at the port signed an agreement that foresaw the hiring by Operestiva and Setulsete of 56 of the 90 dockers who had been working on a casual basis.