The Portuguese footwear industry started the year — quite literally — on the right foot. In the first quarter of the year, the sector exported 20 million pairs of shoes, worth 453 million euros. Compared to the previous year, this represents a 4.9% increase in quantity and a 5.4% increase in value.

"This is a very promising start to the year, in a particularly difficult international context,” admits Luís Onofre, President of APICCAPS. Indeed, Europe has once again become the main market for Portuguese footwear. From January to March of this year, 18 million pairs were exported to Europe (a 6.6% increase), worth 382 million euros (up by 8.3%).

Notable performances in the first quarter of 2025 include strong growth in Germany (up 18.8% to 114 million euros), France (up 1.3% to 96 million euros), and Spain (up 31% to 46 million euros). Within the EU, there is some concern about a decline in the Netherlands, down 5.6% to 49 million euros.

Outside the EU, Portuguese footwear continues to grow in the United Kingdom (up 9% to 27 million euros). However, in the United States and Canada, there was a decrease of 12.7% and 14%, respectively, to 18 and 4 million euros.

The situation in the U.S. is currently the greatest cause for concern. "We are living through a period of great uncertainty,” following the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the imposition of new tariffs. "Even though we already export more than 90% of our production to 170 countries, we still consider the North American market to be strategic and the industry's main focus for the next decade,” emphasized Luís Onofre. "The current situation is worrying, but we will not abandon the market,” stated the APICCAPS President.

It’s worth noting that the United States is the largest footwear market in the world, importing nearly two billion pairs of shoes annually, corresponding to a value close to 26 billion dollars (24.9 billion euros). For Portugal, the U.S. is the sixth-largest destination for footwear exports, which have doubled over the last decade to approximately 100 million euros last year.

Overall, at the start of the year, the Portuguese footwear industry exported 90% of its production to 170 markets across five continents. According to the APICCAPS President, "even though there are many variables disrupting global trade, there is an expectation that 2025 will be a year of consolidation for Portuguese footwear abroad, where we already hold a strong position.”