Portugal rose in 2025 to 18th place among the world's largest footwear producers and 13th place among the largest exporters by value, according to data from the World Footwear Yearbook 2026 released by APICCAPS. The country produced 74 million pairs and exported 69 million pairs worth approximately 1.718 billion euros, maintaining 2nd place among European producers and consolidating its overtaking of Spain, which manufactured only 60 million pairs.
The average export price increased 2.5% to $28.25 per pair, placing Portugal in second place worldwide behind Italy and reflecting the specialization of Portuguese companies in higher value-added segments. More than half of national exports by quantity (58%) corresponded to leather footwear. After two years of declining foreign sales, exports grew 0.8% in 2025, defying the negative evolution of the Italian and Spanish industries.
The main destinations for Portuguese footwear were Germany (24%), France (20%), the Netherlands and Spain (both with 11%) and the United Kingdom (6%). In the first half of 2026, exports fell 2.1% to 813 million euros, but this decline was smaller than that recorded by Italy (4.3%) and Spain (7.3%).
The executive director of APICCAPS, Paulo Gonçalves, stated that the Portuguese industry is going through a difficult period common to major global producers, but managed to resist better than many competitors, preserving an international position based on value, quality and the responsiveness of companies.
