Footwear with uppers of textile materials market in Portugal, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the Portuguese footwear industry's focus on innovation in design, materials, and quality underpinned its strong export orientation. Global supply chain disruptions in 2020, however, led to a decline in both import and export volumes, temporarily affecting the market.

A recovery followed from 2021, with Portugal rising to become Europe's second-largest footwear producer by 2022. Exports of footwear with textile uppers grew by 18.8% that year, driven by industry-wide commitments to sustainability, product diversification into segments like waterproof footwear, and the hiring of nearly 1 500 new employees to support expansion.

The market saw a shift in 2023 as manufacturers adopted international production strategies in countries like Morocco and India to address domestic labor constraints, leading to a sharp drop in local production. This period was also marked by a continued push towards eco-friendly materials and circular processes, alongside a record industry commitment to invest 600 million euros by 2030 in innovation and sustainability, supporting trade growth through 2025.

Production footwear with textile uppers in Portugal

In value, 2018-2021, K $ US

In 2021, Portugal's output of footwear with uppers of textile materials was valued at 21 431 thousand US dollars, remaining virtually unchanged from 2020. Over the period from 2019 to 2021, production decreased by 2.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 0.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Portugal in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

In kind, 2018-2021, K 2u

In 2021, Portugal produced 851.1 thousand pairs of footwear with uppers of textile materials, showing little change compared to 2020. From 2019 to 2021, production fell by 7.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, K 2u

Exports footwear with textile uppers from Portugal

Exports in kind, K 2u

Portugal exported 4 924 thousand pairs of footwear with uppers of textile materials in 2021, up 14.9% year-over-year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, exports increased by 56.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 16.2%. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 5 196 thousand pairs, which saw the largest increase of 65.4%. In 2020, exports experienced the largest decline of 17.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, K 2u

From 2018 to 2021, Spain, France, and Germany were the primary buyers of footwear with uppers of textile materials from Portugal, accounting for 34.5%, 15.9%, and 15.7% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries represented 66.1% of total exports in kind.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, M $ US

Portugal's exports of footwear with uppers of textile materials increased for the second consecutive year in 2021, reaching 76.2 million US dollars, a sharp rise of 46.3% over the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, exports grew by 24.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.7%. The lowest export value was recorded in 2019 at 49.7 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 18.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Throughout 2018 to 2021, Spain, Germany, and France formed the key group of partners for Portugal's exports in value terms of footwear with uppers of textile materials, accounting for 20.4%, 19.7%, and 12.0% of exports, respectively. Together, they represented 52.2% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021

Imports footwear with textile uppers to Portugal

Imports in kind, K 2u

Portugal's import market for footwear with uppers of textile materials showed an unstable trend from 2018 to 2021. In 2021, imports totaled 21 899 thousand pairs, up 13.1% over the previous year. The peak import volume was recorded in 2019 at 21 899 thousand pairs, which saw the largest increase of 121.1%. The lowest point was in 2018, with a 2.2-fold variation between these years. In 2020, imports experienced the largest decline of 27.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, K 2u

From 2018 to 2021, Spain, China, and France were the main sources of imports in kind of footwear with uppers of textile materials to Portugal, accounting for 41.6%, 34.8%, and 5.6% of imports, respectively. Together, these three countries comprised 82.1% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, M $ US

After a two-year decline, Portugal's imports of footwear with uppers of textile materials increased in 2021, amounting to 176.4 million US dollars, a strong rise of 16.5% over the previous year. The lowest import value was recorded in 2020 at 151.5 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 9.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

In 2018 to 2021, Spain, China, and France accounted for the largest share of imports in value terms of footwear with uppers of textile materials to Portugal, with shares of 49.4%, 15.2%, and 6.3%, respectively. Together, they comprised 70.8% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2021