Mainland garment maker Shenzhou International Group said the Olympic Games in Beijing next year had helped it expand sales to Europe and the United States, cutting its reliance on Japan.
It received a single order worth US$60 million from US sportswear brand Nike, three times the US$20 million order it received from the firm last year, according to secretary to the chairman Aaron Chan.
'The Beijing Olympics is an opportunity for us to expand our sales with US and European customers,' Mr Chan said. 'We will also benefit as many of our overseas customers are now expanding their sales in China.'
Kappa, an Italian sports brand, also recently placed orders with the company for the first time, he added.
Sales from Japan, including casual wear retailer Uniqlo, accounted for 75.5 per cent of Shenzhou's total revenue last year, down from 81.2 per cent in the year before.
'Our sales in Japan will continue to grow but the proportion to total sales will decrease as we are diversifying to the US and Europe,' he said.