Nike and Adidas are again popular with Chinese consumers after both faced boycotts in March due to the Xinjiang region controversy, according to Citi Research's survey in September.
Citi had conducted a survey of 1,000 Chinese consumers in June when it already showed a gradual recovery in the popularity of western athletic brands.
When asked which athletic brands they considered purchasing next, 81 percent of Chinese consumers surveyed in September indicated they planned to buy Nike, up from 48 percent in the June survey. For Adidas, 49 percent said they planned to buy Adidas, increasing from 31 percent in June.
Chinese brands Peak and Li Ning were down significantly on purchase intent from June to September, with only 7 percent and 4 percent of respondents considering Peak and Li Ning.
Both brands garnered 54 percent in June.
The survey in September suggests the fallout from the Xinjiang cotton controversy continues to wane for western brands, according to Paul Lejuez, Citi’s lead analyst in the athletics’ space.
The labor conditions in Xinjiang’s Western region, home to Muslim Uighurs, became the subject of a diplomatic row between China and the West.
China denied allegations of human rights abuses after the EU, the US, the UK, and Canada imposed sanctions on its officials.


Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape
Ford and Geely Explore Strategic Manufacturing Partnership in Europe
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran
SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks
Hims & Hers Halts Compounded Semaglutide Pill After FDA Warning
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch 



