Portugal’s textiles and apparel exports to the US in 2018 rose 11.25 per cent over 2017. There’s considerable added-value when sourcing in Portugal. Beyond quality and product innovation, manufacturers in the country are also known for flexibility and adaptability—which allows small-batch production, something the industry’s digitally-native brands, in particular, seek in their sourcing strategies. Portugal’s textile industry has exclusive products and is able to offer tradition and industrial knowhow at the textile level, with a capacity for constant renewal and resilience.

There is a strong network of partners in the textile cluster, excelling at innovation and sustainability. This regional network is part of what adds to the country’s flexibility. What’s more, as part of a strategic plan for the textile and apparel sector, Portugal has made pointed commitments in sustainability and digitization to be competitive. The increase of the production scale assisted by digital technologies allows flexibility in the Portuguese textile business model. Flexibility is among Portugal’s key competitive advantages. Besides that, the country is among global leaders of the private label, in what is an essential differentiator in the textile market. Portugal is bringing its competitive offerings to light at a time when sourcing has been upset over changing trade relations, and companies are looking for new places to manufacture product.