With turnover of approximately 16 million euros recorded last year, Sorema had, in the words of company director André Relvas, «a good year, with some growth». However, the start of 2026 proved slower, particularly in the private label business, which accounts for around 60% of the company’s activity. According to André Relvas, the slowdown results «from the current instability surrounding raw materials and energy costs», he explained.
Construction of the new facilities in Espinho, announced last year, will finally begin after municipal approval took longer than expected. «Work will start during this year», reveals the director, adding that the aim is to replace the currently rented premises and redesign the factory layout, while production capacity is expected to increase «slightly».
The US, a market accounting for between 25% and 30% of the company’s business and where its best-selling product is bathroom rugs, went through «a difficult year» in 2025. «Customers were already being penalised by tariffs, and we were being penalised by the dollar», explains André Relvas. In 2026, the director identifies «some recovery» compared with the previous year, although there has continued to be «some postponement of decisions» since the second half of 2025, with a reduction in order volumes, albeit without the loss of customers. The Middle East market, which is also part of Sorema’s customer portfolio, was, in May, «completely at a standstill».
The company remains committed to products containing recycled fibres certified under the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), although it acknowledges differences in acceptance between markets. «There has been some demand for this, although recycled materials are not equally well accepted in every market», says André Relvas, adding that «some markets place greater value on organic materials as a sustainability option than on recycled ones». According to the director, Europe, particularly Northern Europe, is more receptive to recycled ranges than markets such as the US.
In 2026, Sorema took part in Maison & Objet in Paris, but chose not to attend Heimtextil in Frankfurt, a trade fair in which it had participated for 30 consecutive years. André Relvas justifies the decision by the declining appeal of the German fair and the clash of dates with Maison & Objet. «From a brand perspective, Maison is undoubtedly more important», he says, adding that Heimtextil would be more relevant to the private label business, but that in recent years the company has not achieved results that justify continuing to attend. Regarding Guimarães Home Fashion Week, Sorema’s director considers that the fair continues to offer a favourable cost-benefit ratio, despite a «more limited universe of customers».
As for future investments, the priority is to complete construction of the new facilities before moving ahead with new projects. «For now, the aim is to finish what we are doing and then perhaps think about a new cycle», he concludes.
