Portugal is the world’s largest producer of cork, responsible for roughly half of global output, and cork production is a major economic, cultural and environmental sector concentrated in regions such as Alentejo where cork oak landscapes dominate the countryside.
Uses and markets
Cork is valued for its lightness, compressibility and durability and is used in bottle stoppers, flooring, insulation, fashion and increasingly in sustainable design and high‑performance industrial applications, creating diverse revenue streams for Portuguese producers and exporters.
Economic impact
The cork industry supports thousands of jobs across harvesting, processing and manufacturing, sustains rural economies and feeds a specialised supply chain of small family producers and larger industrial firms that together keep Portugal at the centre of global cork production.
Environmental and cultural value
Cork oak montados are biodiverse ecosystems that store carbon, prevent soil erosion and host wildlife, and because cork is harvested without cutting the tree, the practice combines renewable resource use with landscape conservation and cultural heritage recognised across Portugal.
Quick related facts
- Global share: ~50% of world cork production comes from Portugal.
- Primary uses: wine stoppers; flooring; insulation; sustainable products.
- Landscape: cork oak forests (montado) are ecologically and economically vital.
- Employment: thousands work across harvesting and cork industries supporting rural communities.