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Portuguese Footwear Association promotes professional footwear abroad

Dec 8, 2025 Portugal

The expected growth in European defence investment could present an opportunity for the Portuguese footwear industry, which aims to double exports of technical footwear to 100 million euros by 2030

The Portuguese footwear industry is strengthening its presence in international professional and technical footwear markets, driven by APICCAPS’ strategy and the expected growth in European defence investment. The sector has set itself a target of doubling technical footwear exports to 100 million euros by 2030, a target that may even be revised upwards.

“This is an opportunity for our sector”, emphasises Luís Onofre, president of APICCAPS. He adds that Portugal “has a long tradition of supplying the main European security and military forces”, and that the planned budgetary reinforcement in NATO countries “could open up new business opportunities for Portuguese industry”.

The dynamism of the sector is largely due to the FAIST mobilising project, which brings together 45 partners with the aim of developing advanced technology for producing technical footwear.

According to Florbela Silva, the FAIST coordinator, “reindustrialisation and high-productivity processes are enabling companies to produce faster and at competitive prices, giving them the capacity to enter large international distribution chains”. She assures us that the project is “repositioning Portuguese industry on the international stage”.

Reinaldo Teixeira, president of the Footwear Technology Centre (CTCP), reinforces this view: “We have the knowledge and the capacity to expand our offering, even in the military sector. Portugal now has all the conditions necessary to establish itself as a benchmark in the development of technical footwear.”

Portuguese companies respond to growing demand

According to Albano Fernandes, CEO of AMF, “Professional footwear in Portugal has evolved extraordinarily over the last 20 years”. Greater demands from customers and regulators have driven constant innovation in materials, certification and technology. “There is now a growing demand for products of this nature”, he says.

Teófilo Leite, president of the ICC, also points out that the Portuguese production of professional footwear is on a par with the best in the world. However, he notes that this is a highly regulated segment with no room for improvisation. “Rigour and patience are essential even before you start designing good models, choosing materials, investing in technology or building a brand”.

Source and Image Credits: apiccaps.pt

Portugal APICCAPS Companies CTCP FAIST Footwear Investment Portuguese Shoes Strategy