The Canadian Sporting Goods Industry manufactures a broad range of recreational and fitness equipment for individual and group activities.

The industry consists of about 200 establishments and employs over 10 000 people. Annual shipments of goods are about $1.25 billion of which almost 60 percent are exported.

Canadian companies range from many, small operations serving niche markets to large, globally-competitive companies with the resources and management depth to compete internationally against well-known brand names.

The market for sporting goods is heavily trade-dependent with about 1/3 of the market being subject to international trade flows.

Canada’s strength lies in its international reputation as a provider of high quality, well-engineered and well-designed products. All Canadian suppliers have the opportunity to take advantage of this reputation and expand their markets into the international realm with the burgeoning of electronic commerce.