Portuguese textile and clothing exports in 2021 were worth a record €5.419 billion, up by 16.5 per cent compared to 2020 and 3.9 per cent above the 2019 figure, according to the Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal (ATP), which recently said knitted garments exports were worth €2.336 billion, up by 9 per cent compared to the 2019 figure.
Home textiles exports in 2021 were worth €763 million, up by €112 million (plus 17 per cent) compared to the 2019 figure.
In contrast, woven garments failed to recover from the effects of the pandemic, clocking an export figure of €796 million, down by €189 million (minus 19 per cent) compared to the 2019 figure.
France reinforced its second place in the ranking and was the market with the largest increase in absolute terms, with a rise of €119 million (plus 18 per cent). The French market now accounts for 15 per cent of total textiles and clothing exports, according to a report in a Macau-based news portal.
The United States was the non-European Union destination that grew the most, with an increase of €107 million Euros (plus 31.5 per cent), and now represents 8 per cent of the sector’s total exports.
Spain, although continuing to lead the table of the sector’s main export destinations, was the one that suffered the biggest drop of €220 million (minus 14 per cent). In 2019, the Spanish market represented 31 per cent of the total exports, while in 2021 its share fell to 25 per cent.
