Sports product exports to China surge

Pakistani goods benefit from competitive pricing, improved quality standards

BEIJING:

Pakistan's sports product exports to China recorded impressive growth in 2025, with significant gains across a range of categories, including basketballs, footballs, volleyballs, sports gloves and outdoor game equipment.

According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), Pakistan exported a total of 1,353,927 units of basketballs, footballs and volleyballs to China, generating revenue of $9.07 million. This growth underscores China's expanding sports culture, with Pakistani products increasingly favoured for their competitive pricing and quality.

Chinese customs data showed that the export volume was distributed across key provinces and cities, with Jiangsu province receiving the largest share of 615,562 units, valued at $3.87 million. Other prominent import regions included Shandong province (470,336 units, valued at $3.49 million) and Shanghai Municipality (152,034 units, valued at $0.953 million).

The surge in demand for sports equipment aligns with China's rapid urbanisation, sports infrastructure expansion and a growing interest in outdoor and recreational activities.

In addition to basketballs, footballs and volleyballs, other key sports products also contributed to the growth in exports: sports equipment for outdoor games, including swimming gear and related products, registered exports of 80,232 units, with total revenues of $535,375. Sports gloves and mittens specially designed for various sports amounted to 16,126 units, yielding $949,432 in revenue. Sports footwear, predominantly made from rubber, plastics and leather, accounted for a smaller proportion of Pakistan's exports. Pakistani exporters told the China Economic Net (CEN) that the rise in exports reflects Pakistan's ability to tap into the potential of China's growing sports market. Key regions such as Zhejiang, Guangdong and Fujian have been major destinations for these products, where the demand for sports goods continues to increase as China's population becomes more active and engaged in fitness and outdoor sports.

They believe that Pakistan's sports product manufacturers are not only benefiting from competitive pricing but also from improved quality standards and enhanced compliance with international regulations. This positions Pakistan as an attractive partner of China, particularly as Chinese consumers continue to seek high-quality sports products for both professional and recreational purposes. Muhammad Ali, a Pakistani sports product exporter, told CEN that the successful export performance in 2025 is also supported by the growing e-commerce sector in China, which has facilitated smoother transactions and faster delivery for Pakistani exports. As both countries work to enhance economic cooperation under initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the sports goods sector is expected to play an even larger role in bilateral trade in the coming years.

He added that the outlook for Pakistan's sports product exports remains positive. As demand continues to grow in key sectors such as sports equipment, fitness gear and outdoor products, Pakistan is well-positioned to further strengthen its presence in the Chinese market and diversify its export portfolio.