Portugal’s textile sector recorded a trade deficit of €2.6 billion with extra-EU partners. Exports reached €1.3 billion while 94,000 people worked in textiles, clothing and footwear. Production figures, labor costs, energy prices, and ISO 14001 certifications show the factors behind these results.
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
Portugal’s textile industry reached €1.3 billion in 2022 turnover, with exports of €1.3 billion in 2023.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Output3 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)
Interpretation
Industry Output Interpretation
In the Industry Output view, Portugal’s textile sector shows strong production and sales, with total textile-related turnover reaching €8.9 billion in 2022 and exports of €1.3 billion in 2023, even though the trade balance for textiles with extra-EU partners still came in at -€2.6 billion in 2023.
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 2023 Portugal employed 94,000 people in textiles, clothing, and footwear, but employment fell 2.4% from 2019 to 2023, with manufacturing related roles making up 23.1% and women comprising 58% of the textiles and apparel manufacturing workforce.
03 · 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 extra-EU exports reached 9.2 million kilograms of knitted or crocheted fabrics and 1.6 million kilograms of cotton yarn in 2023, showing improving performance alongside strong export demand.
04 · 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
In the Portugal textile sector, cost pressures are easing but remain significant, with energy costs at 9.7% of operating costs in 2022 and natural gas dropping 18% from 2022 to 2023, while labor costs still average €14.8 per hour and industrial electricity costs remain €0.177 per kWh in 2023.
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
In the Portugal textile industry, imports rose 6.2% in 2022 versus 2021, and fast fashion made up 31% of apparel imports by value, signaling a clear shift in industry demand toward faster-moving clothing categories.
More related reading
06 · Category
Sustainability Metrics1 stats
01
Portugal had 31 textile-related companies certified to ISO 14001 in 2023
Interpretation
Sustainability Metrics Interpretation
In 2023, Portugal’s textile industry showed meaningful sustainability commitment with 31 textile-related companies holding ISO 14001 certification.
07 · Category
Firm Structure2 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).
Interpretation
Firm Structure Interpretation
In the firm structure of Portugal’s textile industry, key enterprises generated €8.9 billion in 2022 textile-related turnover, translating into 1,020 million square meters of production, which signals a strong link between enterprise-scale activity and overall output.
08 · Category
Market Size2 stats
01
Portugal exported €0.9 billion of knitwear (HS 61) in 2023, according to trade data compiled by a major industry-trade analysis provider.
02
Portugal exported €0.6 billion of woven garments (HS 62) in 2023, per the same trade-data compilation used by industry analytics.
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the Market Size outlook, Portugal exported €0.9 billion of knitwear (HS 61) and €0.6 billion of woven garments (HS 62) in 2023, showing knitwear leads its apparel export scale by a clear €0.3 billion.
09 · Category
Sustainability & Compliance1 stats
01
1,800 textile sector certifications under environmental management schemes were recorded in Portugal in 2023 (including ISO 14001 and related environmental management approvals).
Interpretation
Sustainability & Compliance Interpretation
In 2023, Portugal recorded 1,800 textile sector certifications under environmental management schemes, signaling strong momentum in Sustainability and Compliance as companies increasingly align with standards like ISO 14001.
10 · Category
Trade & Supply Chains2 stats
01
Portugal imported €1.9 billion of apparel from non-EU origins in 2022 (HS 61–62 aggregate), per trade database used in industry briefings.
02
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).
Interpretation
Trade & Supply Chains Interpretation
In the Trade and Supply Chains context, Portugal relied on non-EU sourcing for a sizable share of its apparel pipeline with €1.9 billion in imports in 2022 while keeping export demand heavily concentrated, since Spain, France, and Germany accounted for 48% of textile and apparel export value in 2023.
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
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+18 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)