27 Feb Portuguese footwear exports surge 8%; New Campaign to Double Exports by 2025
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by Andy Polk
Footwear exports from Portugal increased by 8 percent to €1.70 billion in 2013, as per the data released by the Portuguese Association of Industrial Footwear, Components, Leather Goods and their Substitutes (APICCAPS).
According to the APICCAPS data, the country exported around 74 million pairs of footwear during last year amounting to €1.70 billion. The Portuguese footwear sector has grown by 28 percent since 2010, as per the APICCAPS data.
During last year, exports of footwear from the country to non-European Union (EU) nations registered a surge of 47 percent to €223 million compared to the €151 million footwear exported during 2012. Footwear exports to countries in the EU amounted to €1.51 billion during 2013, recording a rise of 3.8 percent, compared to 2012.
As per the APICCAPS data, Portugal exported footwear worth €18 million to Canada, €49 million to Russia, €27 million to Angola, €6 million to China, €5 million to United Arab Emirates and €2 million to South Korea, registering significant rise in exports to these countries compared to 2012.
According to APICCAPS, around 1,696 firms operate in the Portuguese footwear, components and leather goods sector, employing 41,295 people directly in the country, with 1,354 companies operating in the footwear sector employing 35,355 people, 245 firms in the components sector providing jobs for 4,919 workers, and 97 companies operating in the leather goods sector employing 1,021 people.
At a meeting with journalists on Thursday in Oporto, the executive director of the industry association, APICCAPS, João Maia, said that 90% of the money would be spent on taking part in international trade fairs.
Among new promotional actions foreseen by the association are support for the development of business communications plans for 50 member companies, in order for them to “take on great protagonism and have a differentiated image”. This plan, budgeted at €1 million a year, is to raise the sector’s profile with a view to doubling exports by 2025 from the 2010 level of €1.2 billion.
Next month alone, the association’s communications director, Paulo Gonçalves noted, the association and its members will be represented at 20 trade fairs around the world, with a view to being in contact with the “more than 100,000 importers” that are likely to be present.
