“We are always dependent on the evolution of international markets, but in the last decade we have doubled our exports to the USA,” said the spokesman for APICCAPS – the Portuguese Association of Footwear, Components, Leather Goods, and Goods Manufacturers, Paulo Gonçalves, at the MICAM fair in Milan, Italy.
The Portuguese footwear sector aims to strengthen this focus, especially at a time when a customs agreement between the European Union and the USA was signed, imposing a 15% tariff on European products.
By the end of this decade, the US market could be among the top three destinations for Portuguese footwear.
Regarding this agreement, Paulo Gonçalves stated that the scenario is now “considerably better,” considering that the major players in the sector will face higher tariffs compared to Portugal.
India and Brazil are expected to pay a 50% tariff, China 30%, and Mexico 25%.
“On the international competitive scene, we are relatively well-positioned,” he emphasized.
However, competition may increase if these countries boost their exports to markets strategic for Portugal, a side effect that “cannot be precisely assessed.”
Also at the MICAM fair, Secretary of State for the Economy João Rui Ferreira already argued that the Government views with optimism the competitiveness of the Portuguese industry, highlighting that the customs agreement offers advantages for Portugal.
The Government noted that this is not the time to divest from the North American market, but rather the opposite, given that Portugal will have a lower tariff than other markets.
MICAM, celebrating 100 editions, features more than 1,000 brands and expects around 42,000 visitors.
Forty-two Portuguese companies are participating in the event.
According to data provided by APICCAPS, in the first half of 2025, Portuguese footwear exports rose by 3.7% in value, reaching 843 million euros.
Between January and June, 36 million pairs were exported, an increase of 5.4%.
In 2024, the footwear cluster’s exports reached 2.147 billion euros.
Last year, Portugal produced 80 million pairs of shoes, exporting 68 million pairs, valued at 1.724 billion euros.
During this period, Portuguese footwear was marketed in over 170 countries, with Belize as the most recent destination.
The Strategic Plan for the Footwear Cluster anticipates an investment of 600 million euros by 2030.
