Textile, clothing exports rack up 1.2% rise until August vs. 2019

Portuguese textile and clothing exports in August consolidated growth trends, adding €3.582 billion in the accumulated total since January, 1.2% more than in the same period of 2019, the industry association announced on Tuesday.

According to data published by Statistics Portugal (INE), “textile and clothing exports in August saw a monthly increase of around 10% compared to August 2019.”

In the first eight months of the year, the sector exported a total of €3.582 billion, registering a 1.2% increase compared to €3.540 billion in the same period of 2019 and rising 16.8% compared to €3.067 million in 2020.

The association of textiles and clothing manufacturers (ATP) notes, however, that “the recovery in the sector is not homogeneous, and there are activities and products that continue to suffer difficulties in recovery”, evidenced by their respective export performances, but which also have “implications for the activities that are upstream of their production”.

Thus, the products that have reported “better performances” compared to the period from January to August 2019 are bed, table, toilet and kitchen linen (with an increase of almost €79 million, +25%); jumpers, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles, knitted and crocheted (an increase of €61 million, +22%; and made-up textile articles, including moulds for clothing (up €28 million, +125%).

Also of note are the good results in the segments of men’s and boys’ suits, jackets, blazers, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts made of cloth (an increase of €26 million, +45%) and babies’ garments and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted (an increase of €14 million, +29%).

On the contrary, the products which are having the most difficulties in recovering are women’s suits, jackets, dresses, skirts, divided skirts, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts, made of fabric (a fall of €64 million, -30%); men’s suits, jackets, blazers, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts, made in fabric (fall of €54 million, -30%); and T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or crocheted (fall of €32 million, -5%).

Fabrics containing, by weight, < 85% synthetic staple fibres (down €23 million, -40%), and shirts, blouses, for women and girls, in fabric (down €20 million, -11%) have also suffered.

In terms of markets, the ATP highlights exports to France (up €67 million, +15%), the USA (up €56 million, +25%) and Italy (up €25 million, +12%).

In the period under review and compared to 2019, exports to Spain, the main customer of the Portuguese textile and clothing industry, recorded a drop of €178 million, having been “the most affected destination”.

Until August, the sector’s trade balance recorded a positive balance of €1.039 billion, with a coverage rate of 141%.