Portugal surpasses Spain in footwear
Recent data illustrates Portugal's emergence as the EU's second-largest footwear producer, surpassing Spain by 2 million pairs.
Portugal's output reached 85 million pairs in 2022, growing by 14.4% since 2012, while Spain's fell by 14%. Despite Italy remaining the top producer with 162 million pairs, its sector saw an 18.6% decline since 2012. This highlights a broader slowdown in the European footwear market, which contracted by 19.6% over the past decade.
President of industry body APICCAPS, Luis Onofre, attributes Portugal's success to strategic investments and tailored policies, positioning the country favourably for future growth. Italy leads in business numbers with 3,381 registered footwear companies, followed by Spain with 2,808 and Portugal with 2,428.
Portugal's rise reflects both economic resilience and potential for increased market share in Europe.
