The Portuguese footwear components sector will strengthen its international presence over the coming months through participation in a wide range of promotional and commercial initiatives in strategic markets such as Spain, the United States, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
These actions are supported by APICCAPS as part of its strategy to internationalize and enhance the value of the national footwear supply chain. The planned initiatives include participation in specialized trade fairs and promotional activities that prioritize direct contact with international buyers and brands. The goal is to showcase the technical excellence, innovation capacity, and competitiveness of Portuguese components companies, reinforcing their integration into international value chains. The footwear components sector consists of 238 companies, employs 4,378 people, and exports approximately 72 million euros annually.
The sector plays a central role in promoting the Portuguese industry, being recognized for its high specialization, production flexibility, and ability to meet the demands of international brands. Strong investment in research, development, and sustainability has enabled national companies to position themselves as strategic partners of reference in the European and global context. According to the president of APICCAPS, these initiatives represent "a decisive step in strengthening the international visibility of the components sector, which is a true pillar of the competitiveness of Portuguese footwear.” Luís Onofre adds, "There is no strong footwear industry without an equally solid, innovative, and market-aligned components sector.”
Onofre also highlights that "Portugal now has a complete industrial ecosystem, where components, materials, technology, and design work in an integrated manner,” adding that APICCAPS’ support aims to "create conditions for companies to grow, diversify markets, and capture new business opportunities.” With this focus on key markets, the Portuguese footwear components sector reaffirms its international ambition and its strategic contribution to the overall performance of the Portuguese footwear industry, consolidating an image built on quality, innovation, and sustainability — values that are increasingly decisive in international purchasing decisions.
