Portugal was 18th overall producer and 13th exporter of footwear

Dand according to the data of the World Footwear Yearbook 2026, released by the Portuguese Association of Industrials of the Footwear, Components, Articles of Pele and its Succession (APICCAPS), within the national participation in the international fairs Micam, Lineapelle and Simac, in Milan, Portugal represented last year 0.3% of the world production in quantity and 0.5% in value, selling abroad about 93% of the footwear produced, in 174 markets in the five continents.

In this context of strong concentration of production in Asia, APICCAPS points out that “Portugal maintained a relevant industrial position”, with 74 million pairs produced in 2025, occupying the 18th place worldwide.

The country ranked 13th among the world's largest exporters in value, with sales of 1,949 million dollars, equivalent to approximately 1,718 million euros, and 17th place in quantity, with 69 million pairs exported.

The average export price increased by 2.5% to USD 28.25 per pair, keeping Portugal in second position worldwide, behind Italy.

An indicator that, according to APICCAPS, “translates the specialization of Portuguese companies into segments of higher added value”, also proves that more than half of national exports in quantity (58%) have corresponded to leather footwear.

After a two-year reduction in sales abroad, Portuguese exports of footwear grew by 0.8% in 2025, contrary to the negative developments of the Italian and Spanish industries.

APICCAPS also points out that the Portuguese industry distanced itself from the Spanish competitor in the productive sector, by manufacturing 14 million more pairs, with Spain producing 60 million pairs.

“ The Portuguese industry is going through a very difficult period, common to the large world producers. Still, Portugal has managed to resist better than many of its competitors and preserve an international position based on the value, quality and responsiveness of companies,” says Paulo Gonçalves.

In 2025, Portugal consolidated its leadership over Spain in footwear production and remained the second largest producer in Europe, with exports of national footwear growing by 0.8% to EUR 1,718 million, recovering after two years of fall and contrary to the negative trend of Italian and Spanish industries.

Germany was the main destination of Portuguese footwear, accounting for 24% of exports, followed by France with 20%, Holland and Spain, both with 11%, and the United Kingdom with 6%.

In the first half of 2026, Portuguese exports of footwear fell by 2.1%, in homologous terms, to EUR 813 million, in a context of “general deceleration in the global trade in footwear”.

APICCAPS points out that this fall was still lower than that recorded by Italy and Spain, the two main competitors of Portugal, whose accumulated losses until May amounted to 4.3% and 7.3%, respectively.

At the international level, the association notes that in the first five months of 2026, “all great players have shown great difficulties”: China accumulates losses of 10.9%, Brazil of 15.7% and Turkey of 5.3%, while Vietnam seems to be resisting better than Asian competitors and retreats only 1.3%.

While recognizing that “the contraction of exports cannot be minimized,” Paulo Gonçalves points out that “it should be seen in the context of a general slowdown in the global shoe trade” and considers that “the results show that Portugal’s strategy remains adequate and that companies have managed to defend their markets in an environment of enormous pressure”.