Emma Thomasson 

German sportswear company Adidas (ADSGn.DE) sees only a short-term impact from Chinese calls in March for a boycott of its products, raising its 2021 sales forecast on Friday as it expects a resumption of big sporting events to drive demand.

Adidas now sees sales growing at a high-teens percentage rate in 2021, compared with a March forecast for mid-to-high teens growth, with a jump of around 50% expected in the second quarter.

It said the acceleration would be driven by new products such as Ultraboost running shoes that are designed to be recycled, as well as big events like the European soccer championship, the Copa America and the Tokyo Olympics.

Shares in Adidas, which had fallen in recent weeks on concerns about sales in China, were up 8.2% at 0907 GMT, the biggest gain on the German blue-chip index (.GDAXI). Shares in rival Puma were also up 2%.

Adidas initially saw a steep drop in demand but sales have since recovered slowly but steadily, Chief Executive Kasper Rorsted told journalists: "We are still very confident that we will have a very good year in China."

The row over Xinjiang could impact the sale by Adidas of its Reebok brand, as it could hit the appeal of the company to potential Chinese buyers, three sources told Reuters this week. read more

Adidas said the more upbeat outlook took into account problems with freight transport due to congestion at U.S. ports and the recent blockage of the Suez canal, as well as ongoing lockdowns in Europe, with 91% of stores now reopened globally.

Puma said last month it expected the consumer backlash against brands in China and congestion at ports to hit its sales, though it gave an upbeat outlook for 2021. read more

Adidas said first-quarter sales rose 20% to 5.268 billion euros ($6.35 billion), ahead analysts' average forecast of 5 billion, while net income from continuing operations jumped to 502 million euros.