Portuguese textile industry at a good pace

After having closed 2021 with the best record ever in foreign trade, with a growth of 16.5% to 5.419 billion euros in exports, the Portuguese textile sector maintains its accelerated pace in 2022.

The textile and clothing industry closed the first half of the year with exports of 3135 million euros, an increase of 18.6% compared to the same period of the previous year. Community markets are up 19.3%, totalling 2327 million, and extra-Community markets were worth 808.3 million, up 16.5%.

In a particularly adverse context, it was a "very positive" first semester, in the words of Mário Jorge Machado. For the president of the ATP (Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal) "we went through a very positive first semester, with Portugal being sought after by the main European brands, and some global brands, for the production of higher added value garments and for the highest segments".

The coming months will be of some uncertainty, with the definition of the events in the war in Ukraine that overshadows Europe, and with the increase in the costs of raw materials and energy and, consequently, inflation generating some concern. "July was already complicated, with requests for postponements of deliveries, some cancellations and decreases in quantities ordered," explained the association leader.

The Textile and Clothing Industry is one of the most important industries for the Portuguese economy, representing 10% of total Portuguese Exports; 20% of Manufacturing Employment and 9% of Manufacturing Turnover.

In the fashion sector, Portugal has around 6,000 registered companies, responsible for over 130,000 jobs, mostly in the North of Portugal, in cities such as Oporto, Braga, Guimarães and Vila Nova de Famalicão.