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Footwear Makers Diverge: Freetrend Surges 72% While Feng Tay Faces Headwinds
Consumer Non-Durables · Apparel/Footwear · economic_daily · 2026-10-08
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Outdoor footwear manufacturer Freetrend-KY reported a 72% year-over-year revenue jump in September, while industry giant Feng Tay struggled amid weak Nike guidance.
What Happened
Freetrend Revenue Growth: Outdoor footwear manufacturer Freetrend-KY reported September consolidated revenue of NT$1.597 billion, a significant 72% increase year-over-year. The company's cumulative revenue for the first nine months reached NT$14.369 billion, and management remains optimistic that second-half orders will exceed those of the first half.
Feng Tay Faces Challenges: Major footwear manufacturer Feng Tay saw its September revenue decline by 4.7% to NT$6.44 billion, with year-to-date profits also falling by 25.4%. The company is currently navigating headwinds stemming from conservative financial guidance issued by its primary client, Nike.
Market Divergence: While the broader athletic footwear sector faces pressure from softening global demand, the outdoor and trail-running segment remains a bright spot. Freetrend is actively expanding production lines to meet robust demand from outdoor brands like Salomon, highlighting a shift in consumer preferences.
Analyst Outlook: Market analysts note that Feng Tay's order visibility remains limited to a 3-to-6-month window, with expectations for a slight single-digit revenue decline for the full year. In contrast, Freetrend's diversified brand portfolio has allowed it to maintain stronger operational momentum compared to its peers.