Industry data · Updated 30 October 2026
Sportswear Manufacturing Statistics 2026
47 figures on sportswear and sports goods manufacturing: Pakistan and Sialkot exports, the combat sports and martial arts equipment market, global sportswear, and how US brands are sourcing in 2026. Every number names its source and year. Compiled by UZAS Sports, a sportswear manufacturer in Sialkot since 2005.
Key takeaways
- Pakistan's sports goods exports rose 10.08% to US$424.3 million in FY2025-26, led by footballs. (Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 2026)
- Around 99% of what Sialkot's factories make is exported, earning more than US$2.5 billion a year. (Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, 2026)
- The combat sports equipment market is forecast to grow from US$11.32 billion in 2025 to US$18.32 billion by 2034. (Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
- 92% of surveyed US fashion executives rank trade-policy uncertainty as a top-two challenge in 2026. (Source: USFIA Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study, 2026)
- Footballs$256.7
- Other sports goods$108.1
- Gloves$59.6
(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via APP, 2026)
- 2025$11.32
- 2026$12.1
- 2034$18.32
(Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026; 2026 and 2034 are forecasts)
Pakistan sports goods exports
Pakistan's sports goods industry is centred on Sialkot. Official export figures for the fiscal year July 2025 to June 2026:
- US$424.3mPakistan's sports goods exports in FY2025-26, up 10.08% from US$385.5 million the year before.(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via APP, 2026)
- US$256.7mFootball exports in FY2025-26, up 11.72% from US$229.8 million, making footballs about 60% of sports goods exports.(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via APP, 2026)
- 4.7mFootballs exported in FY2025-26 (4.705 million), up 18.45% from 3.972 million the year before.(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via Nukta, 2026)
- US$59.6mGlove exports in FY2025-26, down 5.91% from US$63.3 million.(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via APP, 2026)
- US$108.1mExports of all other sports goods in FY2025-26, up 16.93% from US$92.4 million.(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via APP, 2026)
- US$282.7mSports goods exports in the first eight months of FY2025-26 (July to February), up 13.26% year on year.(Source: SDPI, citing Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 2026)
Sialkot, the manufacturing hub
Sialkot, in Punjab, is where most of Pakistan's sports goods, gloves and sportswear are made.
- 99%Share of Sialkot's locally manufactured products that are exported.(Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, 2026)
- US$2.5bn+Foreign exchange earned each year by Sialkot's small and medium-sized industries.(Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, 2026)
- 25,000+Active firms registered with the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry.(Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, 2026)
- 40mEstimated number of footballs made in Sialkot every year.(Source: SDPI, 2026)
Pakistan textile and apparel exports
Sportswear sits inside Pakistan's wider textile and clothing export sector. FY2025-26 compared with FY2024-25:
- US$17.93bnPakistan's total textile group exports in FY2025-26, up 0.26% from US$17.89 billion.(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via APP, 2026)
- US$4.97bnKnitwear exports in FY2025-26, down 0.88%.(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via APP, 2026)
- US$4.29bnReadymade garment exports in FY2025-26, up 3.87% from US$4.13 billion.(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via APP, 2026)
- US$3.11bnBedwear exports in FY2025-26, flat on the year before.(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via APP, 2026)
- US$1.67bnCotton cloth exports in FY2025-26, down 7.55%.(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via APP, 2026)
- US$1.06bnTowel exports in FY2025-26, down 1.93%.(Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics via APP, 2026)
Global sportswear market
Market sizing for sportswear worldwide.
- US$419bnGlobal sportswear market size in 2025 (US$419.05 billion).(Source: Arizton, 2026)
- US$531bnProjected global sportswear market by 2031, a 4.04% compound annual growth rate from 2025.(Source: Arizton, 2026)
- ~55%Apparel's approximate share of the sportswear market in 2025 (the rest is footwear and accessories).(Source: Arizton, 2026)
- 39%+North America's share of the global sportswear market.(Source: Arizton, 2026)
Combat sports and martial arts equipment
Boxing, MMA, BJJ and other martial arts gear is a fast-growing niche within sporting goods.
- US$11.32bnGlobal combat sports equipment market in 2025, forecast to reach US$12.10 billion in 2026.(Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
- US$18.32bnForecast combat sports equipment market by 2034, a 5.32% CAGR from 2026.(Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
- 45.06%Martial arts equipment's share of the combat sports equipment market in 2025.(Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
- 44.39%Online retail's share of combat sports equipment sales in 2025.(Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
- 36.5%Europe's share of combat sports equipment sales in 2025 (US$4.13 billion), the largest region.(Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
- US$1.34bnUS combat sports equipment sales in 2025, about 11.8% of the global total.(Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
- US$0.45bnUK combat sports equipment sales in 2025.(Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
- US$5.10bnGlobal martial arts equipment market in 2025, forecast to reach US$8.57 billion by 2034 (5.75% CAGR).(Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
- US$4.91bnGlobal boxing equipment market in 2025, forecast to reach US$7.97 billion by 2034 (5.35% CAGR).(Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
- 51.57%Gloves' share of the boxing equipment market in 2025, the largest product segment.(Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
How US fashion brands source in 2026
From the USFIA Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study 2026 (about 30 executives at leading US brands, retailers and importers, 80% with more than 1,000 employees):
- 92%Rated protectionist US trade policy and related uncertainty as one of their top two business challenges in 2026.(Source: USFIA Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study, 2026)
- 49Countries the surveyed companies sourced from in 2026, up from 46 in 2025.(Source: USFIA Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study, 2026)
- 65%Share of large firms sourcing from ten or more countries.(Source: USFIA Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study, 2026)
- 21%Plan to source from additional countries through 2027, down from 59% in 2025.(Source: USFIA Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study, 2026)
- 63%Renegotiated supplier contracts to deal with tariffs; 58% diversified where they source.(Source: USFIA Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study, 2026)
- 10%Named sourcing more "Made in the USA" products as a tariff response.(Source: USFIA Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study, 2026)
- 56%Use AI for demand forecasting and inventory planning.(Source: USFIA Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study, 2026)
Who is buying: US sports participation
Demand for team kits and training gear follows participation. From SFIA's 2026 Topline Participation Report (2025 data):
- 250mAmericans took part in at least one sport, fitness or leisure activity in 2025, the first time the figure reached 250 million.(Source: SFIA Topline Participation Report, 2026)
- 90m+Team sports participants in the US, passing 90 million for the first time; team sports grew fastest of the seven categories.(Source: SFIA Topline Participation Report, 2026)
- 158.8mCore (regular) participants, up 1.3% year on year.(Source: SFIA Topline Participation Report, 2026)
- <20%Share of totally inactive Americans, below 20% for the first time after seven years of decline.(Source: SFIA Topline Participation Report, 2026)
- 126Sports and activities tracked by SFIA, after adding disc golf and padel.(Source: SFIA Topline Participation Report, 2026)
What this means for brands and academies
Sialkot already supplies a large share of the world's footballs, gloves and martial arts gear, and its factories export almost everything they make. For a gym, academy or new apparel label, that means experienced suppliers for BJJ gis, boxing gloves, fight shorts and sublimated team kits. With US brands cutting back on new sourcing countries, choosing a factory that offers a prototype before bulk and no minimum order lowers the risk of trying a new supplier.
Get a quote from our Sialkot factoryBefore you order
COMMON QUESTIONS
How much are Pakistan's sports goods exports worth?+
Pakistan exported US$424.3 million of sports goods in FY2025-26 (July 2025 to June 2026), up 10.08% on the previous year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Footballs made up US$256.7 million and gloves US$59.6 million.
Why is Sialkot important for sportswear manufacturing?+
Sialkot is Pakistan's sports goods hub. Around 99% of what its factories make is exported, its small and medium industries earn more than US$2.5 billion a year in foreign exchange, and more than 25,000 firms are registered with the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Associated Press of Pakistan, 2026).
How big is the combat sports equipment market?+
Fortune Business Insights values the global combat sports equipment market at US$11.32 billion in 2025, growing to a forecast US$18.32 billion by 2034. Martial arts equipment is the largest type at 45% of the market, and Europe is the largest region.
Are US fashion brands still diversifying where they source?+
Yes, but more slowly. In the USFIA 2026 benchmarking study, surveyed companies sourced from 49 countries (up from 46), but only 21% plan to add more countries through 2027, down from 59% in 2025. 92% named US trade policy uncertainty as a top-two challenge.
About this page and how to cite it
Compiled by Saad Zaheen, Sales & Operations at UZAS Sports, a custom sportswear and martial arts gear manufacturer in Sialkot, Pakistan. Figures were checked against each named source on 30 October 2026. Market forecasts are the publishers' estimates. You are welcome to use these figures; please credit "UZAS Sports" and link to this page.