The dollar value of sporting goods imported into the U.S. increased by 6.3% in 2002. Imports had posted declines in three of the past four years (1998-2001). This is the main finding of SGMA Internationals analysis of the U.S. Commerce Departments statistical data on imports of athletic footwear, jogging/warm-up apparel, and 14 sports equipment categories.
SGMA International reports that the total declared value of U.S. sporting goods imports for 2002 was $8.56 billion compared with $8.05 billion for 2001.
| Year | Total Imports (Billions) |
% Change Prior Year |
| 1993 | $6.881 | + 4.6 |
| 1994 | 6.516 | – 5.3 |
| 1995 | 6.803 | + 4.4 |
| 1996 | 7.220 | + 6.1 |
| 1997 | 7.862 | + 8.9 |
| 1998 | 7.608 | – 3.2 |
| 1999 | 7.556 | – 0.7 |
| 2000 | 8.088 | + 7.0 |
| 2001 | 8.050 | – 0.5 |
| 2002 | 8.557 | + 6.3 |
For 2002, total sporting goods equipment imports increased by 4.3%. Two other industry segments — athletic footwear and jogging/warmup suits — had even larger import dollar value increases. Athletic footwear import dollars grew by 8.2% to total $4.13 billion in 2002 and jogging/warmup suits imports rose by 6%. Total athletic footwear pairs imported climbed 12.9% to 428.7 million pairs compared with 379.6 million in 2001. The average price per pair declined by 4.2% from $10.07 to $9.65.
Among the major equipment categories, finished golf clubs (+105%), archery arrows (+69%), and exercise cycles (+50%) topped the list of growth items. Imports of ice hockey skates (-29%), golf balls (-24%), and ice hockey gloves (-16%) had the largest declines in dollar value.
The sports equipment export leaders are Mainland China (52.3%), Taiwan (10.3%), Canada (4.3%), Mexico (4.2%), and South Korea (3.1%). Chinas share climbed from 45.3% to 52.3%. Market shares for Taiwan and South Korea declined and Mexicos share remained the same in 2002 as in 2001.
Mainland China is the dominant exporter of athletic footwear to the U.S., a market share of 76% of the total dollar value in 2002. Chinas share decreased slightly in 2002 after several years of growth. Indonesias share grew to 13.5%. Vietnam passed Thailand for third place with a 4% share.
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
|
| 1. Mainland China | 75.74% | 76.4% | 74.7% |
| 2. Indonesia | 13.5 | 13.1 | 12.9 |
| 3. Thailand | 3.7 | 3.7 | 5.2 |
| 4. Vietnam | 4.0 | 2.6 | 1.8 |
| 5. South Korea | 1.3 | 2.1 | 2.2 |
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, gym/exercise, billiards, bowling, golf, ski, racquet sports, fishing, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, rollerskates, ice hockey, sports gloves, sports nets, sailboards, water skis and some miscellaneous sports equipment. The only apparel data available is for jogging/warm-ups.
The U.S. Commerce Departments 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 2002 the total dollar value for these apparel items was $791.1 million, a 6% increase over the $746 million in 2001.
