Global Retail Sales of Licensed Goods Up 4.4 Percent in 2016

As per the 2017 International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association’s (LIMA) Annual Global Licensing Industry Survey, worldwide sales of licensed products and services rose 4.4 percent last year to $262.9 billion.

Entertainment/character licensing was still the largest industry category, accounting for $118.3 billion (45 percent) of the total global licensing market. Corporate/brand trademarks was the next largest, earning $54.6 billion in retail receipts for 20.8 percent of total revenues; followed by fashion, with $31.1 billion (11.8 percent); and sports at $25.3 billion (9.6 percent).

Apparel had 14.9 percent of total global licensed retail sales, followed by toys at 13.3 of the total, and fashion accessories at 11.3 percent. The fastest growing categories were infant and pet products. Sales of licensed home décor merchandise rose by 8.2 percent during the current survey period. The video games/software/apps segment grew 8.1 percent, and is now the fifth largest segment, with 6.9 percent of total revenues.

Royalty revenue from sales of licensed merchandise and services was up 1.3 percent to $14.1 billion. The U.S./Canada continued to be the largest market for licensed merchandise and services, with revenue at 57.9 percent of the global total, an increase from 57.7 percent last year. The Southeast AsiaPac region was the fastest growing of all areas globally, with 6.8 percent year-on-year growth; it now accounts for 3.4 percent of worldwide licensing revenue.

“The 2017 survey reinforces the positive momentum of licensed products worldwide and across all categories, especially the large and growing entertainment/character sector,” said Charles Riotto, the president of LIMA. “This year’s results also speak to the impressive reach and strength of licensing initiatives in growth markets around the world, contributing to the continued vitality of the industry.”