Nike Stock: Analyzing 5 Key Suppliers (NKE)

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J. William Carpenter
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J. William Carpenter is an economist who writes financial topics. He is an author of published works for higher education and business clients.
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Updated December 23, 2022
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Robert C. Kelly
Robert C. Kelly
Reviewed by Robert C. Kelly
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Robert Kelly is managing director of XTS Energy LLC, and has more than three decades of experience as a business executive. He is a professor of economics and has raised more than $4.5 billion in investment capital.
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Nike (NKE) is the largest seller of athletic footwear and apparel in the world. Its business is focused on product design and development, marketing, and sales. Key product categories are running, basketball, the Jordan Brand, soccer, training, and sportswear. Nike has 1,100 retail stores in the United States and internationally, and employs approximately 75,400 workers worldwide. For the 2020 fiscal year, it reported $37.4 billion in revenue.

Nike is supplied by 122 footwear factories located in 12 countries. For fiscal 2020, contract factories in Vietnam, Indonesia, and China manufactured approximately 50%, 24%, and 22% of total Nike Brand footwear, respectively. The company also contracts with 329 apparel manufacturers operating in 38 countries. China is its largest source of apparel at 28%, followed by Vietnam with 23% and Thailand at 12%.

Nike also relies on technology companies, equipment suppliers, professional services firms, and other suppliers to carry out its operations. Here are a handful of key Nike suppliers operating in countries around the world.

Key Takeaways

  • Nike is the largest seller of athletic apparel and footwear, generating nearly $37.5 billion in sales.
  • Most of its products are sourced from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand.  
  • Major suppliers include Pou Chen, PT Pan Brothers, Fulgent Sun International, Delta Galil, and Eagle Nice. 
  • These major suppliers also do business with other shoe and apparel brands such as Adidas, Under Armour, and The North Face.

1. Pou Chen Corporation

Pou Chen Corporation is the largest manufacturer of branded athletic and casual footwear in the world. Its customers include Nike, Adidas, Asics, New Balance, and Timberland. It makes more than 300 million pairs of shoes annually and accounts for roughly 20% of the global wholesale value of branded athletic and casual footwear.

Pou Chen was founded in Taiwan. It has factories in China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar. In addition to producing footwear, the company sells sportswear under its own YYSports brand in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

2. PT Pan Brothers

PT Pan Brothers is an apparel manufacturer with a client roster that, in addition to Nike, includes major brands such as Uniqlo, The North Face, Adidas, Hunter, Lacoste, H&M, J. Crew, L.L. Bean, Geox, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Prada, and Columbia.

The company manufactures fall and winter jackets, pants, shorts, casual pants, dress shirts, snowboarding and ski outerwear, polo shirts, golf shirts, tracksuits, sweatsuits, and other activewear at its factories throughout Indonesia. The company sells to Nike through its subsidiary PT Prima Sejati Sejahtera.

3. Fulgent Sun Group

Fulgent Sun Group is a sports and outdoor footwear manufacturer based in Taiwan. The company makes shoes in Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. In addition to supplying Nike, Fulgent Sun is a contract manufacturer for other major brands such as Columbia, The North Face, Timberland, Toms, and Under Armour (UA). Fulgent Sun has supplied Nike since 2009.

4. Delta Galil Industries

Delta Galil Industries (DELTY) is an Israeli-based maker of private label apparel with factories throughout southeast Asia. The company produces intimate apparel, socks, and activewear for global brands such as Nike, Victoria's Secret, Calvin Klein, Maidenform, Tommy Hilfiger, Lulu Lemon, and Under Armour. Delta Galil also makes private-label products for Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), Marks & Spencer, and Amazon (AMZN). Delta Galil manufactures a variety of clothing products for Nike. It operates with Nike a strategic development center for socks in the U.S.

5. Eagle Nice International Holdings

Eagle Nice International Holdings is a maker of down jackets, sweaters, sports pants, and other sportswear. The company is based in Hong Kong and manufactures apparel primarily in China and also Vietnam and Indonesia. In addition to Nike, Eagle Nice manufactures products for brand names such as Puma and North Face for the Asia-Pacific market. The company reported HK$2.7 billion in sales in 2019, or US$348 million. It does not provide figures detailing its business with Nike.

Article Sources
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  1. Nike. "2020 Form 10-K."

  2. Nike. "Nike Global Manufacturing Data Export."

  3. Pou Chen Group. "Footwear Business."

  4. Pou Chen. "Overseas Locations."

  5. Pou Chen. "Retail Business."

  6. PT Pan Brokers. "Clients."

  7. PT Pan Brokers. "Holding and Subsidiary Company."

  8. Nike. "Nike Global Manufacturing Data Export," Page 42.

  9. Fulgent Sun. "Operating Locations."

  10. Fulgent Sun Group. "Years of OEM Brands."

  11. Fulgent Sun Group. "Our History."

  12. Delta Galil Industries. "2020 Periodic Report," Page 3.

  13. Eagle Nice International Holdings. "Corporate Profile."

  14. Research in China. "Eagle Nice (International) Holdings Limited (02368.HK)."

  15. Eagle Nice International Holdings. "Annual Report 2020," Page 3.

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