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RESEARCH CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS of NAS of Ukraine (KHARKIV, UKRAINE)

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Liburkina L. M.

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The Sports Industry in the Global Economy: Trade Trends and Forecasts for Sports Goods Imports
Neukhatska S. O.

Neukhatska, Svitlana O. (2026) “The Sports Industry in the Global Economy: Trade Trends and Forecasts for Sports Goods Imports.” Business Inform 3:97–104.
https://doi.org/10.32983/2222-4459-2026-3-97-104

Section: International Economic Relations

Article is written in Ukrainian
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UDC 339.5:796.062:519.86(100)

Abstract:
This article examines the role of the sports industry in the global economy and its impact on international trade, particularly on the dynamics of sports goods imports. The study aims to identify key trends in the development of the global sports goods market, assess the influence of trade, crisis, and technological factors on its functioning, and provide predictive insights into the sector’s future development. The methodological basis includes comparative, structural, statistical, and econometric analysis, enabling a comprehensive evaluation of market dynamics and structural changes. The research relies on statistical data from the World Trade Organization for 2017–2022. The study analyzes the regional structure of sports goods imports, identifies major product categories, and reveals cyclical market fluctuations under the influence of global factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in consumer behavior. It was found that America, Europe, and Asia dominate global sports goods imports. The carried out trend analysis and econometric modeling allowed forecasting of import development in the medium term and assessing potential market risks. The scientific novelty lies in identifying the absence of a direct relationship between tariff levels and import volumes, as well as substantiating the decisive role of market capacity and consumer demand in shaping trade flows. The practical significance of theobtained results lies in their applicability for formulating efficient trade policies, business development strategies in the sports industry, and predicting global market dynamics. It is demonstrated that the contemporary sports industry is transforming into a high-tech, globalized, and commercialized economic sector, with key drivers including digitalization, changes in consumer behavior, integration into related spheres such as health, entertainment, and sustainability, and the active introduction of innovative technologies into production and service components.

Keywords: global economy, imports of sporting goods, sports industry, WTO, time series, forecasting.

Fig.: 2. Tabl.: 1. Bibl.: 15.

Neukhatska Svitlana O. – Postgraduate Student, Department of International Management, Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman (54/1 Beresteiskyi Ave., Kyiv, 03057, Ukraine)
Email: [email protected]

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