Portugal’s textile sector supports a workforce of 94,000 people in textiles, clothing and footwear, with women making up 58% of jobs in textiles and apparel manufacturing in 2023. Employment fell 2.4% from 2019 to 2023, while manufacturing labor productivity rose 5.3% over the same period. We examine how production and trade connect to cost pressures (like energy at 9.7% of operating costs in 2022) and price shifts affecting demand.
Key Takeaways
- Portugal’s trade balance for textiles and textile articles (extra-EU) was -€2.6 billion in 2023
- €8.9 billion in Portugal’s total textile-related turnover was reported for 2022 by the sector’s key enterprises
- €1.3 billion in Portugal’s textile and clothing exports were recorded in 2023 (SITC 65–84)
- Portugal employed 94,000 people in textiles, clothing and footwear in 2023
- 23.1% of employment in textiles, clothing and footwear in Portugal was in manufacturing-related roles in 2023
- Portugal’s textile and clothing employment declined by 2.4% between 2019 and 2023
- Portugal’s manufacturing labor productivity (textiles and related) increased by 5.3% between 2019 and 2023
- Portugal exported 9.2 million kilograms of knitted or crocheted fabrics in 2023 (extra-EU)
- Portugal exported 1.6 million kilograms of cotton yarn in 2023 (extra-EU)
- €0.84 per unit is the average labor cost per hour in Portugal’s textiles sector (2019–2021 reference period in EU data)
- Energy costs were 9.7% of operating costs for Portugal’s manufacturing sub-sectors including textiles in 2022
- Portugal’s wholesale prices for textiles declined by 4.2% in 2023 (annual change, HICP sub-index for clothing and footwear components)
- Portugal’s textile and clothing imports increased by 6.2% in 2022 vs 2021 (extra-EU total)
- Fast-fashion-related clothing imports accounted for 31% of imported apparel categories by value in Portugal in 2022
- Portugal had 31 textile-related companies certified to ISO 14001 in 2023
In 2023 Portugal’s textiles and clothing generated €1.3 billion exports but faced a -€2.6 billion trade deficit.
Related reading
01 · Category
Cost Analysis7 stats
01
€0.84 per unit is the average labor cost per hour in Portugal’s textiles sector (2019–2021 reference period in EU data)
02
Energy costs were 9.7% of operating costs for Portugal’s manufacturing sub-sectors including textiles in 2022
03
Portugal’s wholesale prices for textiles declined by 4.2% in 2023 (annual change, HICP sub-index for clothing and footwear components)
04
Electricity price for industrial consumers in Portugal was €0.177/kWh in 2023 (average annual)
05
Natural gas price for industrial consumers in Portugal was €0.041/kWh in 2023 (average annual, IEA/EU comparator series)
06
Portugal’s natural gas prices for industrial use fell by 18% between 2022 and 2023 in annual averages for industrial consumers.
07
Portugal’s average annual wage cost per hour for industrial workers in manufacturing (including textiles) was €14.8 in 2023, based on Eurostat labor cost indicators.
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
For Portugal’s textile industry, cost pressure looks mixed as labor stays relatively stable at about €0.84 per hour, while energy remains a significant expense at 9.7% of operating costs in 2022 and industrial energy inputs ease in 2023 with natural gas down 18% year over year.
02 · Category
Employment4 stats
01
Portugal employed 94,000 people in textiles, clothing and footwear in 2023
02
23.1% of employment in textiles, clothing and footwear in Portugal was in manufacturing-related roles in 2023
03
Portugal’s textile and clothing employment declined by 2.4% between 2019 and 2023
04
Women accounted for 58% of employment in Portugal’s textiles and apparel manufacturing workforce in 2023
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
In Portugal, employment in textiles, clothing, and footwear totaled 94,000 jobs in 2023 and fell by 2.4% from 2019 to 2023, while 23.1% of roles were in manufacturing-related work and women made up 58% of the textiles and apparel manufacturing workforce.
03 · Category
Industry Output9 stats
01
Portugal’s trade balance for textiles and textile articles (extra-EU) was -€2.6 billion in 2023
02
€8.9 billion in Portugal’s total textile-related turnover was reported for 2022 by the sector’s key enterprises
03
€1.3 billion in Portugal’s textile and clothing exports were recorded in 2023 (SITC 65–84)
04
€1.3 billion of extra-EU textile and clothing exports (SITC 65–84) in 2023
05
€1.1 billion of extra-EU textile and clothing exports (SITC 65–84) in 2022
06
€1.0 billion of extra-EU textile and clothing exports (SITC 65–84) in 2021
07
€0.9 billion of extra-EU textile and clothing exports (SITC 65–84) in 2020
08
€1.0 billion of extra-EU textile and clothing exports (SITC 65–84) in 2019
09
€1.0 billion of extra-EU textile and clothing exports (SITC 65–84) in 2018
Interpretation
Industry Output Interpretation
From an Industry Output perspective, Portugal generated €8.9 billion in textile-related turnover in 2022 and still recorded €1.3 billion in textile and clothing exports in 2023, yet the extra-EU trade balance remained negative at -€2.6 billion in 2023, indicating strong production activity that relies on exports while out-of-country imports weigh on overall output outcomes.
More related reading
report visual · Projection
Portugal extra‑EU textile & clothing export value (SITC 65–84)
Portugal’s extra‑EU textile and clothing exports increased over time, reaching the highest level in 2023, when the value is above 2022—indicating growth rather than a decline.
0.9 EUR billions
Start
+13.04%
CAGR · 3y
1.3 EUR billions
Projected
20202023
source-verifiedcomtradeplus.un.org2023
04 · Category
Performance Metrics3 stats
01
Portugal’s manufacturing labor productivity (textiles and related) increased by 5.3% between 2019 and 2023
02
Portugal exported 9.2 million kilograms of knitted or crocheted fabrics in 2023 (extra-EU)
03
Portugal exported 1.6 million kilograms of cotton yarn in 2023 (extra-EU)
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Portugal’s textile and related manufacturing labor productivity rose 5.3% from 2019 to 2023, while in 2023 it also shipped 9.2 million kilograms of knitted or crocheted fabrics and 1.6 million kilograms of cotton yarn outside the EU, showing performance gains alongside strong export activity.
05 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
Portugal’s textile and clothing imports increased by 6.2% in 2022 vs 2021 (extra-EU total)
02
Fast-fashion-related clothing imports accounted for 31% of imported apparel categories by value in Portugal in 2022
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
From an industry trends perspective, Portugal saw textile and clothing imports rise 6.2% in 2022 versus 2021, and fast fashion still made up 31% of imported apparel by value, signaling growing demand for faster, trend-driven supply.
06 · Category
Industry Overview8 stats
01
€8.9 billion in Portugal’s textile-related turnover was reported for 2022 by key enterprises (sector business survey).
02
1,020 million square meters of textiles produced in Portugal in 2022 were associated with the textile industry output series (surface production measure).
03
Portugal exported €0.9 billion of knitwear (HS 61) in 2023, according to trade data compiled by a major industry-trade analysis provider.
04
Portugal exported €0.6 billion of woven garments (HS 62) in 2023, per the same trade-data compilation used by industry analytics.
05
Portugal imported €1.9 billion of apparel from non-EU origins in 2022 (HS 61–62 aggregate), per trade database used in industry briefings.
06
Portugal’s top destination markets for textile and apparel exports included Spain, France, and Germany, which together accounted for 48% of export value in 2023 (destination concentration).
07
Portugal had 31 textile-related companies certified to ISO 14001 in 2023
08
1,800 textile sector certifications under environmental management schemes were recorded in Portugal in 2023 (including ISO 14001 and related environmental management approvals).
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
In 2022, key Portuguese textile enterprises reported €8.9 billion in textile-related turnover while production reached 1,020 million square meters, and by 2023 exports were concentrated in the €0.9 billion knitwear and €0.6 billion woven garments categories, reflecting a strong industry scale aligned with major European destination markets for the sector.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Portugal Textile Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/portugal-textile-industry-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Portugal Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/portugal-textile-industry-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Portugal Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/portugal-textile-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
33 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+24 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)