D. Tighe
Research expert covering consumer behavior, sporting goods retail, and the global toy industry.
Sporting goods in the United Kingdom (UK)
From footwear to outdoor apparel, leisurewear to fitness equipment - the sporting goods market has been enjoying surging shares globally. The sports and leisure goods industry in the United Kingdom (UK) was not exempt from this global trend either. For instance, after years of fluctuating numbers particularly between 2011 and 2017, total annual turnover of sporting goods manufacturers grew considerably, reaching a grand total of more than one billion British pounds in 2022.
When it comes to sports and leisure goods, the UK has consistently had a negative trade balance. While the value of goods exported had been lower than usual in the last couple of years, figures had picked up once again in 2023.
UK sports product brands
Sports goods retail has an impressive presence in the UK apparel market. Some of the most ambitious names in UK retail are in sports fashion, including but not limited to JD Sports, Sports Direct, and Gymshark. The fitness apparel company known as Gymshark has had a major increase its annual turnover since 2017, reaching their peak back in 2021. JD Sports’ transformation from a sportswear retailer to a multi-brand company with high profile sports sponsorships was likewise dramatic. In its 2023 financial year, the company’s annual group revenue reached over 10 billion British pounds. Over the course of the last decade, these three companies expanded their impact on British high streets, while other sports and activewear brands, some examples being Mileta Sports and Jacob & Turner Ltd (Trespass), had just bounced back after experiencing a decline.Sporting goods trade
Without a doubt the leading exporter of toys, games, and sport requisites is China. In terms of export value, the country generated nearly 90 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. That said, the UK stood in eight place that year, accounting for an export value of just over two billion U.S. dollars for such goods. The majority of the sporting goods sent from the UK go to countries within the European Union. In terms of toy, game, and sport requisite imports, the UK ranked third globally, beaten only by the United States and Germany.When it comes to sports and leisure goods, the UK has consistently had a negative trade balance. While the value of goods exported had been lower than usual in the last couple of years, figures had picked up once again in 2023.
