Future prospects in the Chinese market
Despite the major upheavals caused by the Covid pandemic, the Chinese equestrian market has demonstrated remarkable resilience and is once again poised for a period of exciting growth and development as the sector attracts new investment across all levels making it more accessible to a much wider audience.
China’s strong economic performance over recent decades has created a large and aspirational middle class who have the disposable income and time to invest in new sports and leisure activities. The country’s professional horse sports and leisure industry is directly benefiting from this trend given the country’s longstanding equine heritage, active national and regional government support, the sector’s increasingly high-profile and sophisticated image and its undoubted physical and mental health benefits for all participants.
Such is the interest in equine sports and leisure activities, new rider training facilities are emerging in cities across China including high growth locations such as Shanghai. By providing convenient access to millions more people, this is also driving a growth in participation levels and demand for equine products and services.
It is generally accepted that the more than 1 million riding club members (pre-pandemic) are just the tip of the iceberg and strong future growth is virtually assured.
Over recent years, the impressive increase in club membership and the launch of new riding, training and breeding facilities across China, we are seeing a surge in sales for a full range of high-end products including quality horses, facility and riding equipment, clothing, accessories, and equine nutrition and health care products and services. It is an ideal time for new international suppliers to enter the Chinese market and for existing suppliers to boost their market presence and sales.
With its substantial purchasing power and huge future potential, China should be a priority market for all suppliers and manufacturers of professional equine products and services.
● In 2019, the equestrian population in China was put at 1,195,100, an increase of 9.8% compared to 2018.
● The number of equestrian clubs in China increased by nearly 20% compared to 2018 and was projected to reach 2,160 by the end of 2019…and projected to grow strongly in the future. The distribution of equestrian clubs is also becoming more widespread throughout the country with developments in Shanghai, Beijing, Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang, Hebei, Hubei and Guangdong. The CHF team constantly monitor the market and are in contact with all the major riding facilities across China i.e. your future customers!
● 90% of equestrian club members are under the age of 18 and female members are becoming the main consumers, a very healthy trend when projecting future growth.
● In 2019, the increase in the number of horses registered with equestrian clubs in China was 77,557 of which the number imported was 35,415, 26% higher than in 2018. The number of these club horses owned by individuals was 23,655, of which 19,209 were imported from overseas.
● Many of the imported horses came from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, UK, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
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