Manufacture and Trade of Cork Products: an International Perspective

Relationships between people and the cork oak tree have evolved over many centuries in tandem with technical change. Both innovations increased demand for cork and stimulated the manufacturing industry’s development. Later, with the invention of agglomerate cork, these workshops became less prominent because much higher capital inputs were needed to make it. Thereafter , machines and factories began to lead the production process. The current situation of the cork industry is not good. The industry is generally located in rural areas and often appears to be concentrated in industrial district. However, the main characteristic of the cork business has always been its international dimension. Therefore, this chapter focuses on this aspect and its possible effects on the future of cork oak stands. The analysis concentrates on countries and on the last century.