For the past two decades, Nike has worked to gradually diversify its manufacturing beyond China, with Vietnam emerging as the company’s most important market for production. On Wednesday afternoon, President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs that will impact Vietnamese-made goods more than those from almost any other country.
The impact of those import tariffs will be far-reaching across the global economy—shortly after the announcement an S&P 500 ETF fell 2%. They will particularly impact the companies that import the bulk of their goods from the countries with the highest rates. On Trump’s list, Vietnam had the fourth highest rate at 46%, trailing only Cambodia (49%), Laos (48%) and Madagascar (47%).
In fiscal 2024, factories in Vietnam manufactured 50% of all Nike Brand footwear, by far its largest market. Factories in Vietnam also manufactured 28% of all Nike Brand apparel, also its largest market.
The second most important manufacturing market for Nike is likely China. The country accounts for 16% of Nike apparel manufacturing, second only to Vietnam, and 18% of footwear, third behind Vietnam and Indonesia. Trump’s new tariffs include a 34% rate on China-made goods, but White House officials told CNBC that the those tariffs would come on top of the 20% already imposed on Chinese imports. That implies a true tariffs rate of 54%.
Nike stock (NYSE: NKE) fell 7% in after-market trading.
Representatives for Nike didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Tariffs only came up once on the company’s latest earnings call on March 20, with CFO Matthew Friend mentioning specifically that the company’s latest guidance included newly implemented tariffs on imports from Mexico and China. Those tariffs are separate from the ones announced this week.
Throughout the 1990s Nike was frequently criticized for the labor conditions of its overseas factories, particularly those in China. Since then, the company has worked to diversify its supply chain. It’s not alone—U.S. companies of all sorts have spread out their manufacturing in that span, some searching for lower prices, others looking to insulate themselves from potential volatility and geopolitical relations between the U.S. and Chinese governments.
Vietnam quickly emerged as Nike’s most important market for manufacturing. In 2001, for example, Vietnam accounted for just 13% of the company’s footwear goods and was not included in a list of 12 countries that accounted for most of Nike’s apparel manufacturing, according to SEC filings. A decade later, in 2011, Vietnamese factories were making 39% of Nike’s footwear, its biggest market, and appeared to be third for apparel. It became the company’s most important country for apparel manufacturing for the first time in 2020 and has remained at the top in both categories ever since.
The Nike filings only list where the goods are made, and not where they are sold. That’s likely more relevant in China—many companies are more intentional about selling China-manufactured goods in China—than it is in Vietnam, which has a population that is about 1/14th of its northern neighbor.
Indonesian factories accounted for 27% of Nike footwear in 2024, according to the filing, which put it in front of China and behind Vietnam. Trump’s announcement included a 32% tariff on Indonesian goods. The third most important country for manufacturing Nike clothing was Cambodia, at 15% of the company’s apparel. The Cambodian tariff rate of 49% was the highest of any rate announced Wednesday.
