The adidas Group's global apparel production from 2008 to 2021

In 2021, the adidas Group produced approximately 482 million units of apparel worldwide, an increase of 17 million units on the previous year. This represented a growth of around 3.7 percent.

Asia at the center of global operations network

The adidas Group’s apparel production has risen year-on-year since 2012. To keep costs down, the company outsources almost all of its production to independent manufacturing partners, the majority of which are located in Asia. The continent is a hub for sourcing and manufacturing products: over 90 percent of the adidas Group’s apparel was produced in Asia in 2021, and almost all of its footwear was produced in the region. Footwear production has increased each year since 2009, with approximately 340 million pairs of shoes produced in 2021.

Rivals team up to take on Nike

In August 2005, the adidas Group bought Reebok in a transaction valued at 3.8 billion U.S. dollars. The deal created a larger competitor for Nike, which remains the leading athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories company worldwide. At the time, the acquisition increased the visibility of the adidas brand, particularly in the United States, where the takeover expanded adidas’ share of the sports footwear market to around 20 percent. In 2021, however, the adidas Group sold Reebok, as it struggled to match the growth of the adidas brand.