Clothing and footwear sales have improved since January, with the latter already exceeding last year’s figures, but overall retail remains slightly below 2024’s levels. Although holiday forecasts point to moderate growth, rising inflation, falling consumer confidence and shifting interest rates suggest an economically fragile backdrop. Trade pressures are also having an impact on the sector: the value of footwear imports increased, but their volume fell, suggesting that retailers are absorbing higher costs through surgical price increases. A one-year suspension of additional tariffs on Chinese footwear provides temporary relief, but economic uncertainty persists   

The FAIST project aims to transform the Portuguese footwear industry by advancing automation, digital manufacturing, and sustainability. It plans to deliver 80 innovations under its 50 million euros investment   

Portuguese tannery exports grew by 5.8% year-on-year up to September 2025, reflecting the recovery in external demand and the ongoing efforts of the sector to modernise production   

The US-based company reported better-than-expected third-quarter sales. However, margin pressures and dilution from Stuart Weitzman have led Caleres to forecast a fourth-quarter loss   

Despite reporting a solid third quarter, the US-based footwear company has lowered its full-year guidance, having witnessed lower sales trends during regular shopping periods