US Tariff Refund Adds $15m to Johnson Outdoors Q3 as Fishing Division Grows 7%

A tariff refund of approximately $15 million helped one of the world’s leading suppliers of outdoor recreation equipment post a five percent increase in revenue during its fiscal third quarter, a fresh sign that the shifting US tariff regime is beginning to put cash back into the hands of tackle industry players.

Johnson Outdoors — whose portfolio includes Minn Kota trolling motors, Humminbird fish finders and Old Town fishing kayaks — reported third-quarter revenue of $189.7 million, up from $180.7 million in the same period a year earlier. The Fishing Division led the way with a seven percent revenue increase, driven by strong performance from the Minn Kota brand. The Camping & Watercraft Recreation sector, which includes the Old Town fishing kayak brand, saw sales decline 13 percent amid weak marketplace conditions.

Tariff Refunds Move the Numbers

Chief Financial Officer Asad Rahman told investors that the company recognised approximately $15 million of tariff refunds during the quarter, with part of that benefit offset by broader cost inflation and other expense increases. “As tariff policies continue to evolve, we remain cautious about the outlook for costs and are monitoring developments closely,” he said.

For the year-to-date, net sales reached $525.1 million, a 15 percent increase over the prior year’s nine-month period. Gross margin improved to 40.6 percent, helped by the tariff refunds, pricing actions, improved overhead absorption and cost-saving initiatives. Profit before tax for the year to date was $32.2 million, against a loss of $4.3 million in the same stretch last year.

What It Means for China’s Export Pipeline

The refunds are significant for Chinese fishing tackle exporters because they illustrate how tariff policy changes are flowing through the financial statements of major US importers and brand owners. With the US market accounting for roughly one fifth of China’s fishing tackle exports, any relief on landed costs for American buyers tends to stabilise order patterns for the factories and trading companies that supply them.

The quarter also confirms that end-market demand for fishing gear in the US remains firm — a positive signal for the OEM pipeline that feeds American brands. Johnson Outdoors said inventory increased compared with the prior-year quarter as the business positioned itself to support sales demand, another indicator that distributors and brand owners are still committing capital to tackle inventory.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Helen Johnson-Leipold described the quarter as solid, with growth reflecting “the strength of our market-leading brands,” while cautioning that macroeconomic conditions remain uncertain.

For Chinese suppliers, the takeaway is twofold: tariff refunds are becoming a real line item for US buyers, and the appetite for fishing gear in the US market shows no sign of fading even as trade policy continues to evolve.

Source: Johnson Outdoors fiscal Q3 2026 results, as reported by industry sources.

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