Mattel Inc., the toy company famous for Barbie and Hot Wheels, is taking significant steps to adjust to the newly imposed 145% tariffs on goods from China by the U.S. government. One of their immediate strategies is raising prices for some toys in the U.S. market. This move aims to counterbalance the increased costs associated with the tariffs, according to the latest report by Reuters.
In addition to price hikes, Mattel is actively diversifying its manufacturing footprint. The company plans to accelerate its transition away from Chinese manufacturing, aiming to relocate approximately 500 products to factories in other countries by the end of the year, a significant increase from the 280 products moved last year. This shift highlights Mattel's commitment to leveraging its flexible supply chain to navigate the current trade climate effectively, as reported by AP News.
Moreover, in light of the unpredictable nature of U.S. trade policies, Mattel has pulled its full-year earnings forecast. The company also reported financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, showing a 2% increase in sales to $827 million. However, they experienced a deeper net loss of $40.3 million compared to last year's $28.3 million loss. These strategic decisions reflect Mattel's efforts to manage costs and maintain product availability in response to challenging market conditions.