The toy company is already ramping up its efforts to diversify production away from China in order to avoid more of an impact from tariffs.
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Mattel Inc., the maker of Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels cars and other popular toys, said on Monday that it would have to raise prices for some products sold in the US “where necessary” to offset higher costs related to President Donald Trump's tariffs.
The El Segundo, California-based company said the increases are necessary even though it is speeding up its plans to diversify its manufacturing base away from China. Trump imposed a 145% tariff on most Chinese-made products.
Company executives told analysts on a conference call that China currently accounts for 40% of Mattel’s global production. The company plans to move roughly 500 products this year from manufacturers in China to sources in other countries, compared to 280 products last year.
For some highly sought after toys, Mattel said it would enlist factories in more than one country. To prevent possible shortages, the company said it was focusing on getting products to stores without interruptions.
The company said that even with price increases it expects 40% to 50% of its toys will cost customers around $20 (€17.60) more - or perhaps under this amount.
“The diversified and flexible supply chain in global commercial organizations are clear advantages to Mattel in this period of uncertainty,” CEO and Chairman, Ynon Kreiz, told analysts.
Mattel takes back its guidance outlook
Citing the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the president’s trade policies, however, Mattel withdrew its annual earnings forecast on Monday. The company said it would be “difficult to predict” consumer spending and the company’s US sales for the remainder of the year without more information.
Mattel reported larger-than expected first-quarter sales but also a wider loss. Mattel said sales rose 2% to $827 million (€728.9m) for the quarter that ended March 31.
The company’s loss expanded to $40.3m (€35.5m) in the quarter. That compares with a loss of $28.3m (€24.9m) in the corresponding quarter last year.
Mattel’s share price was down less than 1% in after markets trading in the US.