THE bigger Anta Sports Products Ltd. becomes, the more vulnerable it feels. That’s the tight rope China’s largest athletic apparel producer is walking as it expands beyond the Asian nation amid the trade tensions.

“In the past, Anta only focused on the China market and felt little impact,” said Lai Shixian, Anta’s chief financial officer. But now with its product sales and supply chain spread all across the globe, “the trade war is having a massive impact on all fronts.”

The sportswear maker struck a US$5.2 billion deal to acquire Finland’s Amer Sports Oyj in December to boost its overseas business.

The Fujian-based firm already has suppliers in Southeast Asia, according to Lai. If Anta keeps improving its operations, the impact of the trade war could “still be controlled at this point,” he said.

While the trade spat has reduced orders for Chinese factories, it has given local brands including Anta more sourcing choices. But Anta’s choice for sourcing partner will not be a simple function of cost, Lai said. Other parameters such as quality and delivery period will also be considered.

Investors have so far cheered Anta’s acquisition of Amer, the maker of Salomon ski boots and Wilson tennis rackets. It reported first-half revenue of 14.8 billion yuan (US$2.1 billion) Monday that beat analyst estimates. The stock has climbed 63 percent this year while the broader gauge Hang Sang Index slipped 0.6 percent.(SD-Agencies)