Apparel market in Portugal - statistics & facts
Despite the decreasing number of manufacturing enterprises and employees registered over the past years in the apparel market in Portugal, this sector accounted for 8.6 billion euros in revenue in 2022, and the production value of textiles and clothing reached 8.63 billion euros in 2022. The apparel and footwear retail trade revenue index reached 154 in April 2024, with the base year 2021 having a value of 100. Additionally, the harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP) was nearly 88 in April 2024 for both clothing and footwear.
The sector of apparel and footwear in Portugal promises to continue its growth path, helped by consumers embracing the customer-to-customer (C2C) business model, which makes it easier to buy products at lower prices, a priority of the Portuguese when shopping.
Apparel exports outweigh imports in Portugal
Both imports and exports of textiles and apparel in Portugal have increased since 2020. The export value in the sector is superior to the import value. Spain is the most relevant trade partner of Portugal in this segment. However, the value of apparel imported by Portugal from Spain is above that of exports to Spain. Overall, the countries belonging to the European Union are the most significant clients and suppliers of Portugal in the textile and clothing sector. With regards to footwear, leather shoes dominate Portuguese exports, while textile shoes stand out in import categories.Clothing retail and e-commerce in Portugal
The Spanish fashion retail group Inditex, the owner of brands such as Zara, Pull&Bear, Bershka, and Stradivarius, is one of the best-known retailers of clothes in Portugal. In 2023, Inditex had 286 stores in the country. Moreover, the group excels in terms of fashion e-commerce, profiting from the fact that the Portuguese changed their purchasing habits during and after the lockdown and continue to purchase wearing apparel, footwear, and accessories online. The group presented decreasing revenue numbers after the COVID-19 pandemic, which were overturned in 2023. Zeitreel, the fashion group managed by Sonae that includes brands like MO or Salsa Jeans, is another major market player. Nonetheless, it continues to have lower earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) than in 2020. The e-commerce presence of this group is significantly less relevant compared to other retailers, such as Nike or Shein, which dominate the footwear e-commerce segment.Apparel consumer preferences
When purchasing apparel, the Portuguese mostly consider how comfortable and practical it is. The consumers predominantly buy tops, T-shirts, and shirts. Apparel and footwear are the product categories with the highest purchase intention in the country, as the majority of the population does not feel guilty when making such purchases. Nevertheless, a third of the Portuguese consider the sustainability of the product when making decisions as to which items to purchase.The sector of apparel and footwear in Portugal promises to continue its growth path, helped by consumers embracing the customer-to-customer (C2C) business model, which makes it easier to buy products at lower prices, a priority of the Portuguese when shopping.
