China Fishing Tackle Exports Hold Steady at $1.98B in 2025 as Global Demand Diversifies

China’s fishing and hunting equipment exports under HS 9507 reached $1.98 billion in the full year 2025, cementing the country’s dominant position as the world’s leading supplier. China now holds 50.4% of global fishing equipment exports — ranking #1 worldwide — with the category landing as the nation’s 310th most exported product, according to OEC World trade data.

Monthly figures for 2026 show continued momentum. In May, China exported $181 million in fishing equipment, up 1.05% month-over-month from $179 million in April, signaling stable demand despite broader trade uncertainties.

The United States remains the largest single market at $542 million in 2025, representing roughly 27% of total export value. Japan followed at $181 million, with Poland ($81.5 million), Russia ($80.9 million), and Indonesia ($67.4 million) rounding out the top five destinations. The fastest-growing markets between 2024 and 2025 reveal a notable geographic diversification: Kazakhstan surged $30.6 million, Poland added $22.3 million, and Indonesia grew $18.4 million. Central Asian and Southeast Asian demand is increasingly supplementing traditional Western markets for Chinese tackle exporters.

On the import side, China brought in $208 million worth of fishing equipment in 2025, a 35% decline from the prior period that partly reflects the maturation of domestic manufacturing capabilities. Top import origins were Japan ($105 million), Malaysia ($30.7 million), Vietnam ($24.4 million), Thailand ($12.5 million), and Indonesia ($12.3 million). The fastest-growing import sources by dollar value were Malaysia (+$4.68 million), North Korea (+$2.16 million), and Vietnam (+$765,000).

China ranks 25th out of 130 economies on the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.07), underscoring its highly diversified manufacturing base. Fishing equipment carries a product complexity score of -0.35 — relatively low-tech and widely produced globally — but China’s scale, supply chain integration, and cost advantages remain formidable. Among the top corporate traders of Chinese fishing tackle with the United States are Walmart (68 shipments), Amazon (64), and Dollarama (17), reflecting the product’s deep penetration into mainstream retail channels.

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