With Europe and North America described as stable, China’s reported first-half export growth in sporting goods concentrated in Latin America and Africa, alongside a 20.4 percent jump in skateboard shipments, pointing to emerging markets as the new growth engine.
China’s exports of sporting goods and equipment reached 67.53 billion yuan (US$9.96bn) in the first half of 2026, including 3.08 billion yuan (US$450m) worth of sports balls, according to figures cited by the China State Council Information Office (SCIO). China remains the world’s largest exporter of sports goods, accounting for more than 40 percent of global exports.
China-made sports equipment maintained a stable presence in Europe and North America, while also performing strongly in emerging markets like Latin America and Africa. In the first half of the year, exports to Latin America rose 18.9 percent while exports to Africa increased by 8.1 percent.
In the first six months of 2026, exports of fitness and rehabilitation equipment such as treadmills reached 2.67 billion yuan (US$390m), while water sports gear such as paddleboards totaled 4.77 billion yuan (US$140m). Exports of skateboards during the same period grew by 20.4 percent.
China’s total merchandise trade hit a first-half record of 25.47 trillion yuan, or US$3.75 trillion, representing a 16.9 percent increase over the same period last year and the first time the figure has exceeded 25 trillion yuan in any January-to-June period.
Eastern views
Asia-Pacific insights for the sporting goods industry
Analysis, insights, and expert perspectives on the sporting goods industry across Asia-Pacific — covering market trends, manufacturing, retail, and brand strategy from China to Southeast Asia to Oceania. With Jakarta-based contributing editor Yohana Belinda.
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