This work aims to present the main results of an overview study of the nut sector in Portugal. Within the group of horticultural products, different kinds of nuts have been receiving EC financial supports for several years. The objective was the achievement of a technical recovery and the improvement of commercial organisations. In spite of this help, the sector does not show a clear signal of dynamism. In this study, information has been taken from data series on production, exports and imports and also about empirical approaches on market mechanisms. These instruments have helped to better identify problems that seem to be responsible for the lack of performance of the Portuguese nut sector in international markets.