Porto, Aug. 25, 2025 (Lusa) - Exports by the Portuguese footwear industry increased by 5.4% in quantity and 3.7% in value in the first half of the year, totalling 36 million pairs and €843 million, the sector association announced on Monday.
Quoted in a statement, the president of the Portuguese Footwear, Components, Leather Goods and Related Products Industry Association (APICCAPS) said that 2025 is going to be a very demanding year for the footwear industry at the international level, but emphasised that the Portuguese industry has been gaining share against the main international players.
"The fact that we export more than 90% of our production to 170 countries allows the Portuguese industry to show an overall positive performance," says Luís Onofre.
Even so, the association leader warns that the sector remains "very dependent on the evolution of the main economies to maintain this record in the second half of the year and consolidate 2025 as a year of affirmation for Portuguese footwear in foreign markets".
After a start to the year marked by uncertainty and double-digit losses, APICCAPS points out that Portuguese footwear exports to the US “have started to recover”, totalling €40 million at the end of the first half of the year, a year-on-year drop of 6.4%.
Reiterating that the US market "is a priority for Portuguese footwear", the president of APICCAPS points out that, in a "more favourable tariff environment - in which countries like Brazil are penalised by 50%, China by 30%, India by 50% and Mexico by 25% - this "could be the opportunity" for the Portuguese footwear sector to strengthen its presence in the US, "where demand for premium, sustainable and historic products is growing".
"Portugal, given the investments underway - more than €100 million under the RRP [Recovery and Resilience Plan] in the fields of automation, robotics and sustainability - can establish itself as a solid alternative to mass production that is environmentally unsustainable," emphasises Luís Onofre.
According to APICCAPS data, in the first half of the year, China, responsible for around 55% of the world's footwear production, saw its exports fall by 12.5%.
Mexico and Turkey, pointed out as “two benchmark producers”, saw their international trade fall by 19.3% and 15.3% respectively.
In Europe, Italy and Spain, two of Portugal's major competitors, also saw a 2.6% and 2% drop in exports.
Between January and June, Germany strengthened its position as the main destination for Portuguese footwear, growing 13.1% to €217 million.
France also maintained a positive trend, with an increase of 1.4% to €167 million.
On the other hand, the sector is "concerned" about the performance of the Netherlands, where sales fell 5.3% to €94 million.
PD/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
