Fashion
Portuguese footwear exports rose 5.4% in volume and 3.7% in value in H1 2024.

By
Agência LUSA
Translated by
Nazia BIBI KEENOO
Published
August 25, 2025
In the first half of 2024, Portugal’s footwear industry exported over 36 million pairs of shoes valued at €843 million, marking a year-on-year growth of 5.4% in volume and 3.7% in value, according to APICCAPS, the Portuguese Footwear, Components, Leather Goods and Related Products Industry Association.
“This has been a very demanding year for the footwear industry globally,” said Luís Onofre, president of APICCAPS, in a statement. “But the Portuguese industry has been gaining market share against major international players.”
With over 90% of production exported to 170 countries, Portuguese footwear has shown resilience despite global challenges. “This diversified export base enables us to maintain a positive overall performance,” said Onofre.
Still, APICCAPS warns that the sector’s success will depend heavily on how global economies perform in the second half of the year, which will be crucial to consolidating 2024 as a year of progress for Portuguese footwear abroad.
After a difficult start to the year marked by uncertainty and double-digit export declines, sales to the U.S. market have begun recovering. Exports to the United States totaled €40 million in the first half—down 6.4% year-on-year.
Onofre emphasized the strategic importance of the U.S. market: “Given a more favorable tariff environment—where Brazil is penalized by 50%, China by 30%, India by 50%, and Mexico by 25%—this could be the opportunity for Portugal to strengthen its position in a market where demand for premium, sustainable and heritage products is growing.”
With more than €100 million in investments underway through the national Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), focused on automation, robotics, and sustainability, Onofre believes Portugal is positioned to offer a credible alternative to unsustainable mass production.
According to APICCAPS data, global competitors are faltering. China, which produces around 55% of the world’s footwear, saw its exports fall by 12.5% in the first half of the year. Mexico and Turkey, identified as “benchmark producers,” recorded export declines of 19.3% and 15.3%, respectively.
European competitors also saw declines: Italy’s footwear exports fell 2.6%, while Spain’s dropped 2%. In contrast, Germany strengthened its role as the top buyer of Portuguese footwear, increasing imports by 13.1% to €217 million. France remained stable, with a modest 1.4% increase to €167 million.
However, there are concerns regarding the Netherlands, where sales fell 5.3% to €94 million.
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Fashion
Bangladesh’s RMG exports up 4.7% in Q1 FY26, but Sept shipments dip

Woven garment exports slightly outpaced knitted garment exports in terms of growth. Knitwear exports (Chapter **) rose by *.** per cent to $*.*** billion, compared to $*.*** billion in the same period of fiscal ****–**. Woven apparel exports (Chapter **) increased by *.** per cent to $*.*** billion, up from $*.*** billion in July–September ****, EPB data showed.
Home textile exports (Chapter **, excluding ******) also grew, rising by *.** per cent to $***.** million, compared to $***.** million in the same period of the previous fiscal. Collectively, exports of woven and knitted apparel, clothing accessories, and home textiles accounted for **.** per cent of Bangladesh’s total exports, which stood at $**.*** billion during the period. Higher demand for diversified and value-added textile products supported this growth.
Fashion
Dutch manufacturing flat in August, up 1.7% from July: CBS

Slightly more than half of the various industrial sectors produced less than they did one year previously. Of the eight largest industrial sectors, output rose the most sharply in the repair and installation of machinery, while it fell the most sharply in the transport equipment industry.
A more accurate picture of changes in short-term output is obtained when the figures are adjusted for seasonal effects and the working-day pattern. After adjustment, manufacturing output rose by 1.7 per cent in August relative to July, CBS said in a press release.
In August 2025, Dutch manufacturing output remained unchanged year-on-year, although output declined in over half of the industrial sectors.
After seasonal adjustment, output rose by 1.7 per cent compared to July.
The strongest growth was seen in the repair and installation of machinery, while transport equipment recorded the sharpest decline.
After adjusting for seasonal and working-day effects, manufacturing output often fluctuates significantly. In the spring of 2020, output declined rapidly, reaching a low point in May 2020. This was followed by an upward trend until May 2022. The trend has reversed since then.
Producer confidence was less negative in September than it was in August. Manufacturers were more positive regarding output for the next three months, in particular.
Germany is an important market for the Dutch manufacturing sector. In September, German manufacturers were more negative than they were in August, as reported by Eurostat. In August, the calendar-adjusted output of the German manufacturing sector was down by 5.1 per cent, year on year. Relative to July, output fell by 5.5 per cent, as reported by Destatis.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)
Fashion
ADB commits $82.5 mn to drive Cambodia’s energy transition

The first subprogramme, approved in 2022, introduced pivotal policy measures that guided the energy sector toward a more efficient and renewable development pathway. Building on this foundation, subprogramme 2 advances regulatory reforms to strengthen the energy efficiency framework and enhance policy clarity to attract private sector investment. A key milestone under the subprogramme is the introduction of the country’s first set of regulations establishing Minimum Energy Performance Standards for electrical appliances, starting with air conditioners, which account for the largest share of energy consumption in the residential sector, ADB said on its website.
Subprogramme 2 will also establish an Energy Efficiency Revolving Fund aimed at facilitating access to finance for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to invest in energy-efficient technologies. The revolving fund will be set up through a financial intermediation structure to enable local banks to extend loans to SMEs for energy efficiency investments. By mobilizing domestic financial institutions and supporting SMEs, the revolving fund is expected to accelerate the nationwide scale-up of energy efficiency investments.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $82.5 million for Phase 2 of Cambodia’s Energy Transition Sector Development Programme to support clean energy through policy reforms and investments.
The programme introduces energy efficiency standards, establishes a revolving fund for SME financing, and also aims to attract private investment.
“ADB is honoured to support Cambodia in its ambitious and transformative journey in the energy sector. Through a comprehensive reform package, combining policy support with strategic investments, the Energy Transition Sector Development Programme will support turning the government’s ambitious vision into reality,” said ADB acting country director for Cambodia Anthony Gill. “This includes the goal of achieving 70 per cent renewable energy in the power mix by 2030, along with a strong commitment to advancing energy efficiency, which is essential to ensure that Cambodia’s growth remains both sustainable and affordable.”
Subprogramme 2 will be followed by a third phase in 2027, which will further deepen reforms by expanding the energy efficiency regulatory framework and introducing technical standards for renewable energy, buildings, and industry to further attract private sector investment.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)
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