Portugal exported almost 1 billion euros in cork in 2016, a record.
Portugal exported 937.5 million euros in cork in 2016, an absolute record. Industry association says growth is due to innovation and investment in communication out there.
Portugal exported 937.5 million euros in cork in 2016, an absolute record and a growth of 4% in relation to the previous year. The industry association considers the result “extremely positive” and sets the target for 2017 to reach even the billion euros in exports. The explanation for success? Innovation and investment in communication out there.
“This record is the result of yet another step in the process started by cork already a few years ago, in order to affirm not only in the world of wine, in which it wants to continue to prove that it is the best sealant, but also through a search incessant new applications, “says João Rui Ferreira, president of the Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR), in a statement sent to the press on Wednesday.
90% of the cork that is produced in Portugal is exported – to 133 countries, according to APCOR. The final use is mainly the stopper (72%) but also, for construction materials (25%) and other products (3%), the “new applications” that APCOR president speaks about.
The success is due to the effort in renewing processes and products, investing in innovation and a conscious and sustainable international communication policy over the last 15 years “(João Rui Ferreira, president of the Portuguese Cork Association).
The contribution to the Portuguese trade balance is “extremely positive”, says the association. Cork contributed 7.5% to the increase in national exports in 2016.
By 2017, “the goal is to reach a billion euros of exports and we will continue to pay attention to those that we consider the three main pillars of our value chain, with a clear bet on the market, the evolution of the industry and the proximity to the production, so we can have more and better cork in Portugal, “says João Rui Ferreira, president of the association based in Santa Maria da Feira.
Source: Observe
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