The Cork Industry

The present outlook for the cork industry in Portugal is extremely promising. The country's cork oak forests represent 30% of the world total and Portugal produces more than half of the world's cork. Given that a cork oak produces cork tissue until it is 150 or even 200 years old, during which time it may be stripped 15 to 18 times, and that the average ages of trees presently in production is 85 years and that the area under plantation is growing by an average of 4% a year, cork production can look forward to a rosy future in Portugal.

There are at present more than 600 industrial facilities operating in Portugal, employing a labor force of about 15,000. Cork products were exported in 1990 to the tune of 670,000,000 Euros (corresponding to 105,516 tons). Imports of cork in the same year amounted to 67,850,000 Euros (23,859 tons). In the same period natural cork stoppers accounted for 55% of total cork product exports. At 372,000,000 Euros, this trade is worth more than the export of Port Wine.

About the Cork Oak

The cork oak is one of the essential features of our landscape, and our heritage. It has shared in the daily life of peoples who learned to love and nurture it, preparing it over years and years for the final, periodic harvest.

The cork oak is one of the country's main forest species. Covering 660,000 hectares (22%), it is second only to the pine (1,249,00 hectares, 40%). The holm oak and the eucalyptus occupy 464,000 hectares (15%) and 435,000 hectares (14%) respectively. The remaining 280,000 hectares (9%) of Portugal's forests are occupied by a variety of other species. Thanks to the cork oak, Portugal is the world leader in the cork industry, producing more and better than any of its competitors, and boasting the largest industrial and marketing structure.

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