Follow Portugal Immigration and Portugal Economic news: Despite the adverse effects of the economic downturn in Europe and domestically, the Portugal footwear industry continued to grow against the trend in 2013, with footwear export value exceeding 1 billion euros in the first three quarters.
According to data recently released by the Portuguese Footwear Association, in the first three quarters of this year, the export volume of Portuguese footwear products exceeded 56 million pairs, with an export value reaching 1.336 billion euros, an increase of 7.2% compared to the same period last year. Last year, the export value of Portuguese footwear products exceeded 1 billion euros for the first time in history.
Affected by factors such as the European debt crisis, demand in the European Union, the traditional export market for Portuguese footwear, has been declining, while demand in emerging markets remains strong.
Data shows that in the first three quarters of this year, the export value of the Portuguese footwear industry to countries outside the European Union increased by 53% compared to the same period last year. The Portuguese footwear industry attaches great importance to exploring the Chinese market. Currently, Portugal has become the seventh-largest supplier of footwear products to China. In the first 9 months of this year, Portugal's footwear exports to China increased by 31% year-on-year.
Portugal is the fourth-largest footwear exporter in Europe, following Italy, Spain, and Belgium, with more than 95% of its footwear production destined for export.