SGMA: Sporting Goods Imports Increase 4.1%

While total sporting goods imports in 2003 increased by 4.1% to $9.375 billion, two other industry segments — jogging/warmup suits and sports equipment — had even larger import dollar value increases. Jogging/warmup suits grew by 14.2% to $1.09 billion in 2003 and sports equipment grew to $4.13 billion – an 8.2% increase over 2002.

The dollar value of athletic footwear totaled $4.15 billion, a 1.9% decline from 2002. Total athletic footwear pairs imported fell by 3.1% from 424 million pairs in 2002 to 411 million in 2003. The average price per pair increased by 1.2% from $9.98 to $10.10, possibly indicating a bottoming out in price deflation.

Among the major equipment categories, water sports equipment (+27%), billiard/bowling equipment (+24%), sleeping bags/tents (+21%) and gym/exercise equipment (+21%) topped the list of growth items. Imports of rollerskates (-44%), golf balls (-23%), and inflated balls (-10%) had the largest declines in dollar value.

The sports equipment export leaders are Mainland China (56%), Taiwan (9.3%), Canada (4.8%), Mexico (4.2%), and South Korea (2.5%). China’s share increased from 52.3% to 56%, slightly less growth than in 2002. Market shares for Taiwan and South Korea declined. Canada and Mexico’s shares remained the same as in 2002.

Mainland China is also the dominant exporter of athletic footwear to the U.S., a market share of 77.6% of the total dollar value in 2003. China’s share has maintained about a three-quarters share since 2000. Indonesia’s share fell to 11%. Vietnam widened its lead over Thailand for third place with a 6.2% share.

The statistics on import volume reported by SGMA International, while based on official U.S. Commerce Department data, should not be used as the sole basis for developing an estimate of total sporting goods imports because the product coverage in the report is limited to athletic footwear, archery, baseball, softball, inflated balls, gym/exercise, billiards, bowling, golf, snow ski, racket sports, fishing tackle, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, rollerskates, ice hockey, sports gloves, sports nets, water sports equipment and some miscellaneous sports equipment.

The U.S. Commerce Department’s coverage of athletic clothing and activewear is minimal in relation to the total amount of product actually imported in these categories. But, specific import data for jogging/warm-up apparel, such as jackets, pants and sweatshirts, is reported. For 2003, the total dollar value for these apparel items was $1.09 billion, an increase of 14% compared with $955.2 million in 2002.