About Corticeira Amorim

Corticeira Amorim is the largest producer of cork solutions in the world, as well as the Portuguese company with the widest international reach. The company leads the whole sector, contributing like no other to the economy and innovation within the cork industry.

With its origins dating back to 1870, Corticeira Amorim was created through a family initiative to produce cork stoppers destined to be used in Port wine bottles. In 1922, the family’s second generation created Amorim & Irmãos (currently denominated Amorim Cork), and the company took its first steps into mechanization, the professionalization of workers and cork export – here in the form of cork stoppers.

In 1953, with the arrival of the third generation of the family, there was a broadening of the company’s vision and ambition, leading to a period of great growth and diversification. Production and export numbers increased, with Amorim cork being sold throughout the world. At the same time, the company started using and enhancing the percentage of cork which is not applied into the production of cork stoppers, by granulating it and using it for other ends. As such, the business units we now know as Composite Cork and Floor & Wall Coverings were created. At that time, these departments were concerned with issues that are still fundamental today: the verticalization of business practices, integrating a circular economy, efficiently managing the raw material and ensuring the sustainability of the company’s overall activity.

By the end of the 80’s, major international investments were made, which helped consolidate the company’s direct presence in major cork consuming markets. Corticeira Amorim created its own distribution network, which is geographically close to its main clients and markets.

With the entrance into the stock market, as well as the arrival of the fourth generation of the Amorim family, the company improved in several areas: professionalization of management, specialization in specific and independent business units (managed by highly qualified personnel), improvement of a management model (in order to protect the interests of all stakeholders), and building wealth for shareholders.

Corticeira Amorim has thus been reinforcing its leading position: the company’s investigation and research departments have been becoming more and more efficient, and Corticeira Amorim has been promoting knowledge about its main material by merging its internal achievements with the know-how of strategic partners. The company is committed the qualification and motivation of its staff, and seeks to grow – both in dimension and profitability – hand in hand with its stakeholders.

Global Reach

Corticeira Amorim is the largest exporter of cork in the world. It’s annual sales can reach 1021 million euros. Approximately 92.5% of these sales are made outside of Portugal, encompassing more than 100 countries, through Amorim’s vast distribution network, which accommodates over 30 000 clients worldwide.

Profile

As the oldest cork company with a continuous activity, Corticeira Amorim became the largest cork product transformation and exportation company in the world, generating an annual business of a billion euros.

Corticiera Amorim is committed to promoting cork, a unique raw-material, developing a varied portfolio of natural and sustainable products used by some of the most demanding and technological industries in the world, including wines & spirits, aerospace, automobile, construction, sports, interior design and fashion. In the field of contemporary creativity, it challenges designers, scientists, and architects to explore the infinite potential of cork.

The company is singular in its approach to making cork increasingly viable, and consequently, the conservation of the montado habitat, where the cork oak tree flourishes, resulting in a unique example of a green economy, sustained by an equilibrium between economic, social and environmental concerns. Furthermore, the determination to use and reinforce sustainable development practices make Corticeira Amorim one of the most sustainable companies in the world.

The operational activity of Corticeira Amorim, developed through a model of vertical integration, is structured in five business units:

• A unique portfolio of cork stoppers for all segments of wine, sparkling wine and spirits (6,1 billion cork stoppers sold in 2022).
• The most complete line of cork pavements and wall coverings (developed with Corcktech technology).
• A line of innovative cork composites for numerous sectors (aerospace, energy, sport, among many others).
• Excellent insulation solutions for sustainable construction (100% natural, negative carbon footprint, A+ air quality).

Each day, a team of almost 5000 people (1400 outside Portugal), professionally and enthusiastically accomplish the mission of adding value to cork in an ethical, competitive, differentiated and innovative way, that is in complete and perfect harmony with nature.

Research & Development + Innovation

By nature, cork is already such an extraordinary material that it would seem impossible to improve it. Yet, this is precisely what Corticeira Amorim has been doing since its foundation, working on differentiation through quality and contributing like no other player in the sector towards the reinvention of this exceptional natural resource.

Research & Development + Innovation (R&D+I) is a strategic pillar of Corticeira Amorim’s leadership in the various segments of its activity. Every Business Unit contains its very own R&D structures, proactively responding to the specific challenges of each business area. Capitalizing on the know-how and expertise of both internal teams and partnerships with renowned national and international scientific entities, R&D+I activity is continuous: beginning with the natural characteristics of cork and its enormous potential, the challenge is to develop new applications, capable of making a difference and creating added value.

As such, through R&D+I, an illimited field of possibilities is opened up for cork, materialized in a portfolio that is unparalleled throughout the sector.