The Portuguese footwear industry headed to Milan earlier this year. At MICAM, the world’s largest footwear trade fair, the Portuguese delegation was composed of 39 companies.
Since the beginning of the year, the Portuguese footwear sector had intensified its focus on internationalization, carrying out 11 external promotion initiatives in just two months. The initiative was led by APICCAPS in partnership with AICEP, with the support of the Compete 2030 program. In the same period last year, the sector had taken part in only seven international initiatives. "In just two months, nearly 100 Portuguese companies joined actions in international markets, confirming the dynamism and export ambition of the sector,” highlighted Luís Onofre.
Throughout these initiatives, Portuguese companies were present in eight strategic markets — Germany, Colombia, Denmark, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom — reinforcing the positioning of Portuguese footwear among clients, distributors, and international partners.
According to the President of APICCAPS, this collective effort was particularly significant in the current international economic context. "Portuguese footwear companies made a remarkable effort to explore new markets and consolidate existing ones, at a particularly complex economic moment. Internationalization remained a central pillar of the sector’s competitiveness.”
He also stressed that this approach reflected the adaptability of Portuguese companies. "Even in a scenario marked by uncertainty, inflation, and a slowdown in consumption in some markets, the sector maintained a proactive stance, investing in external promotion, innovation, and the strengthening of international business relationships.”
In February, particular emphasis was placed on the Portuguese "invasion” of Milan, Italy, with nearly 80 companies participating in MICAM (39) and Lineapelle (29).
"APICCAPS considers that the strong participation of companies in international initiatives demonstrated their confidence in the value of the national product and in the differentiation of Portuguese footwear, recognized for its quality, design, and sustainability,” Luís Onofre noted.
Since the beginning of the year, the Portuguese footwear sector had intensified its focus on internationalization, carrying out 11 external promotion initiatives in just two months. The initiative was led by APICCAPS in partnership with AICEP, with the support of the Compete 2030 program. In the same period last year, the sector had taken part in only seven international initiatives. "In just two months, nearly 100 Portuguese companies joined actions in international markets, confirming the dynamism and export ambition of the sector,” highlighted Luís Onofre.
Throughout these initiatives, Portuguese companies were present in eight strategic markets — Germany, Colombia, Denmark, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom — reinforcing the positioning of Portuguese footwear among clients, distributors, and international partners.
According to the President of APICCAPS, this collective effort was particularly significant in the current international economic context. "Portuguese footwear companies made a remarkable effort to explore new markets and consolidate existing ones, at a particularly complex economic moment. Internationalization remained a central pillar of the sector’s competitiveness.”
He also stressed that this approach reflected the adaptability of Portuguese companies. "Even in a scenario marked by uncertainty, inflation, and a slowdown in consumption in some markets, the sector maintained a proactive stance, investing in external promotion, innovation, and the strengthening of international business relationships.”
In February, particular emphasis was placed on the Portuguese "invasion” of Milan, Italy, with nearly 80 companies participating in MICAM (39) and Lineapelle (29).
"APICCAPS considers that the strong participation of companies in international initiatives demonstrated their confidence in the value of the national product and in the differentiation of Portuguese footwear, recognized for its quality, design, and sustainability,” Luís Onofre noted.
Currently, the footwear and leather goods cluster exports more than 90% of its production to 174 countries across five continents, generating annual revenues of approximately €2.1 billion.