Felgueiras brings ten companies to the 102nd edition of MICAM Milano, the largest international footwear fair, which runs from September 13 to 15, at Fiera Milano Rho. The Portuguese delegation present at the event is made up of 29 companies, a third of which are from the municipality, reaffirming the weight of the local industry in the national export landscape. Among the companies from Felgueiras are names such as 1 Hundred Shoes, Last Studio, Carité, Mazoni, Felmini, Ladrical, Jefar/Pratik, Joséli, Sojor and Walkys.
This year's edition comes in a particularly demanding context for the sector, both nationally and internationally. APICCAPS executive director Paulo Gonçalves acknowledges that the Portuguese industry is going through a very difficult period, common to most major world producers, but emphasizes that Portugal has managed to resist better than many of its competitors and preserve an international position based on value, quality and the responsiveness of companies.
First half 2026 figures confirm this relative resilience. National footwear exports declined 2.1% year-on-year, to 813 million euros — a smaller drop than that recorded by Portugal's two main European competitors: Italy, with a cumulative loss of 4.3% through May, and Spain, with 7.3%. In the international scenario, China accumulates losses of 10.9%, Brazil 15.7% and Turkey 5.3%, with only Vietnam performing better, declining 1.3%.
MICAM, founded in 1931 in Vigevano and based in Milan since the early 2000s, brought together more than 900 international brands at this edition. The Portuguese presence at the fair is part of a joint promotional strategy by APICCAPS and AICEP, with support from European funds. In addition to the companies from Felgueiras, the Portuguese delegation includes companies from Guimarães, Santa Maria da Feira, Alcanena, Oliveira de Azeméis, Ponte de Lima, São João da Madeira and Romariz.
