According to a report on angling consumption trends released by Douyin E-commerce in December 2025, the platform sold a cumulative total of 404 million fishing-related items, with fishing reels ranking among the best-selling products.
On a global scale, China is the world’s largest producer of fishing reels and holds a distinct brand advantage internationally. Incomplete statistics from the fishing tackle industry association indicate that there are currently around 360 large-scale fishing rod manufacturers and nearly 40 fishing reel manufacturers in China. The global fishing reel market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% between 2020 and 2027; based on sales of $4.39 billion in 2020, the market value is expected to rise to $5.97 billion by 2027. In 2019, 87% of global fishing reel revenue was generated through offline channels, with specialty stores, discount stores, supermarkets, and sporting goods stores serving as the primary sales outlets. Data released by Chinese Customs for the first half of 2022 shows an overall upward trend in China’s fishing tackle trade; specifically, exports of fishing reels reached 85 million units, valued at $230 million. Due to various factors, numerous warehouses and factories supplying fishing reels in North America have shut down, resulting in severe shortages at U.S. tackle shops-a situation expected to drive a sharp surge in demand for overseas products.