A report by The New York Times has claimed that some Labubu dolls may contain clothing materials linked to “Xinjiang cotton”, potentially placing Pop Mart (9992) at risk of violating US import restrictions.
According to the report, 20 Labubu figures were purchased from various retail channels last year, including physical Pop Mart stores, Amazon, eBay, and Shein, and were later sent for independent laboratory testing.
The results reportedly showed that 16 out of the 20 samples had clothing—mainly T-shirts worn by the figurines—that tested positive for materials identified as Xinjiang cotton. All samples were said to include QR codes confirming their authenticity as genuine products.
The US introduced restrictions in 2021 targeting goods suspected of being linked to forced labour, under which companies may be placed on a blacklist and have their products banned from entering the country. The report added that a non-profit organisation has already submitted the findings to US Customs and Border Protection, which is responsible for enforcing import bans.
The White House, when asked for comment by The New York Times, did not directly address the testing results, but said the government is monitoring potential violations by importers.
Pop Mart responded that it has launched an internal review of its supply chain to determine whether Xinjiang cotton is present. The company stressed that both it and its suppliers adhere to “the highest standards”.
It also said it is working on plans to replace cotton materials used in products destined for the US market with alternative materials.
The report noted that Xinjiang accounts for more than 90% of China’s cotton production, while China itself contributes about one-fifth of global cotton output.
Following the news, shares of Pop Mart (9992) edged up slightly by 0.9 yuan (0.578%) to 156.5 yuan in afternoon trading.
