Trade

Portuguese footwear exports resist international downturn in 2025

Feb 17, 2026 Portugal

Against a backdrop of global instability, the Portuguese footwear sector ended 2025 on a positive note, in contrast to the downward trend observed among the world’s leading producers

According to INE (National Statistics Institute) data, the industry exported 68 million pairs of shoes worth 1.718 billion euros in 2025. Compared to the previous year, this result represents growth of 0.8%, reflecting moderate but positive progress in an environment that is particularly challenging for international trade.

The Portuguese performance is noteworthy when considered alongside that of its main international competitors. Traditional sector leaders saw declines in exports, including two of Portugal’s main direct competitors: Italy, with a 1% decline, and Spain, with a 3% decline. Among the world’s major producers, China – responsible for over 50% of global production – stands out with an 11% decline, while Turkey saw a 13% drop. Brazil also recorded a contraction of close to 2%.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese footwear sector maintained a generally positive trend, mainly thanks to its performance in European markets (with growth of 3.3% to 1.420 billion euros), while seeking to mitigate the effects of instability in the US market. In fact, Portuguese footwear faced the greatest difficulties in the United States in 2025, with exports declining by 12.3% to 84 million euros.

According to Paulo Gonçalves, “the results highlight the Portuguese footwear industry’s ability to adapt and compete in an especially challenging international environment”. The Executive Director of APICCAPS emphasises that “the sector faces a global scenario marked by growing uncertainty and commercial volatility, with reference markets such as Germany and France showing signs of slow and moderate recovery, while a situation of strong instability persists in the United States”.

He also points out that independent European retailers continue to “undergo a significant restructuring process, with thousands of points of sale disappearing, which has greatly penalised Portuguese companies”.

“These results confirm the importance of the Portuguese industry’s focus on segments with higher added value, prioritising quality, design, innovation and a rapid response to markets”, he argues. However, he cautions that “maintaining international competitiveness necessitates ongoing efforts by companies to modernise, invest, and adapt to the evolving dynamics of global trade”.

Source and Image Credits: apiccaps.pt

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