Portugal’s footwear industry saw robust growth in 2025, driven largely by a surge in technical footwear exports, data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed. While traditional leather footwear exports remained largely flat, the country’s focus on specialized shoes helped maintain overall export growth despite challenging global markets.
According to INE, exports of technical footwear—including safety, performance, and specialty industrial shoes—increased by 14.5% in 2025, reaching €213 million in value. In contrast, leather footwear exports, historically the cornerstone of Portugal’s shoe industry, grew just 0.2% to €1.413 billion. Overall, Portugal exported 68 million pairs of shoes worth €1.718 billion, marking a modest 0.8% year-on-year increase.
Technical footwear categories that contributed most to the growth included plastic-based footwear, textile uppers, and safety shoes. Plastic footwear exports surged 25%, safety footwear rose 14.1%, and textile upper shoes gained 6.6%, reflecting strong international demand from industrial, construction, and defense sectors.
Industry analysts note that Portugal’s shift toward high-value, specialized footwear has helped it stand out as global competitors struggled. Major footwear producers such as China, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Brazil recorded export declines ranging from 1% to 13% in 2025, highlighting Portugal’s competitive advantage in innovation-driven products.
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APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear, Components, and Leather Goods Association, said the growth in technical footwear is part of a broader strategy to focus on specialized, higher-margin segments. Investments in research and development, flexible production systems, and innovative materials have allowed Portuguese manufacturers to capture niche markets worldwide.
“Technical footwear has become a key driver for our industry, particularly in sectors where performance, safety, and durability are critical,” said an industry representative. “This approach not only supports export growth but also strengthens Portugal’s position as a leader in specialized footwear production.”
Experts say the industry’s resilience comes from a combination of strategic focus on high-value segments and an ability to respond quickly to market demands. With continued investments in innovation and production capacity, technical footwear is expected to remain a growth engine for Portugal’s exports in the coming years.
Portugal’s footwear sector now serves as a model of how mid-sized exporters can thrive globally by targeting niche, specialized products that differentiate them from larger mass-market producers.
