Technical Absorbents
Techtextil Frankfurt

Free membership

Receive our weekly Newsletter
and set tailored daily news alerts.

Industry Talk

Portugal bounced back in 2021

Knitwear and home textiles are now in high demand and saw sales climb to €5.4 billion last year.

28th March 2022

Innovation in Textiles
 |  Pousada de Saramagos, Portugal

Clothing/​Footwear

After two years of frustration due to the pandemic, the Portuguese textile and clothing sector reached an all-time high in international markets in 2021, according to leading manufacturer Riopele.

In 2021, Portuguese textile and clothing sector exports were €5.4 billion – 4% higher than in 2019.

Exports of knitwear and home textiles were crucial to this result. Knitwear exports were €2.336 billion, up €193 million on 2019, equivalent to +9%. Home textiles exports were €763 million, up €112 million on 2019, growth of 17%. Apparel fabric sales have not yet recovered from the effects of the pandemic, amounting to €796 million.

Spain, which remains the leading destination for Portugal’s textiles and clothing, suffered the most significant drop of  –14 % or €220 million. In 2019, Spain represented 31% of total Portugese exports and in 2021 it represented 25%.

France strengthened its position as the second most important destination for Portugese taxtiles, having recorded the most significant increase in absolute terms, with a rise of €119 million (equivalent to +18%), now representing a 15% share of total textiles and clothing exports.

The United States was the fastest-growing non-EU destination, with an increase of €107 million (+31.5%), accounting for 8% of total exports by the sector.

Founded in 1927, Riopele, based in Pousada de Saramagos near Porto, exports over 95% of its production worldwide. With 1,083 employees, it currently has over 750 active customers in over 30 markets.

Vertically integrated from raw material to finished fabric, the company has a monthly output of around 700,000 metres of fabrics based on synthetic, natural and recycled fibres, with a specialisation in polyester, viscose and elastane blends. Production is 24 hours a day over three shifts and the company’s key fabric brands are Çeramica, Tecnosilk and Tenowa.

www.riopele.pt

Latest Reports

Business intelligence for the fibre, textiles and apparel industries: technologies, innovations, markets, investments, trade policy, sourcing, strategy...

Find out more