Authentic Labubu Dolls Hit Record Sales Despite Knock-off Crisis

Pop Mart’s Labubu dolls have reached new heights of success, showing a staggering 400% profit increase in the first half of the year. These popular collectibles now face a serious challenge from counterfeit products flooding global markets. At Seattle’s airport alone, officials seized more than 11,000 fake Labubus worth over half a million dollars.

The collectible figures first appeared in China in 2015 and have gained worldwide popularity. Pop Mart’s revenue soared to $1.9 billion in the first half of 2025. The quality gap between authentic and counterfeit Labubu products becomes clearer as authorities continue to seize counterfeits. This year’s confiscations have already exceeded 1.8 million fake dolls meant for export. The secondary market tells an interesting story too. Hidden edition plush pendants that started at 99 yuan now fetch 1,400 yuan ($195). American consumers pay about double China’s retail prices, creating a market where buyers must choose between genuine products and cheaper alternatives.

Pop Mart Reports Record Sales for Labubu Dolls

Pop Mart, the Chinese toymaker, has shown remarkable financial performance with its revenue jumping to 13.88 billion yuan ($1.93 billion) in the first half of 2025 – a 204.4% increase from last year. The company’s results are a big deal as they mean that net profits have risen 396.5% to 4.57 billion yuan, well above analyst predictions of a 350% increase.

Revenue jumps 204% in first half of 2025

The growth rate has accelerated dramatically compared to last year’s 62% revenue increase during the same period. CEO Wang Ning believes Pop Mart will easily beat its original 2025 revenue target of 20 billion yuan ($2.78 billion). “30 billion yuan this year should also be quite easy,” he stated. Wang acknowledged that even he couldn’t predict the company’s earnings growth accurately as collectors worldwide rushed to buy their products.

Labubu becomes top-selling franchise for Pop Mart

The Monsters franchise, led by the toothy-grinned Labubu character, has become Pop Mart’s crown jewel. The series brought in 4.81 billion yuan ($670 million) in the first half of 2025 and made up 34.7% of the company’s total revenue. Sales have exploded by 668% compared to 2024. The franchise’s share of company revenue jumped from 14% in June 2024 to almost 35% a year later.

Original Labubu doll price surges on secondary markets

Labubu doll prices have skyrocketed in secondary markets. Resellers on China’s second-hand platform Xianyu now list the 4.0 series at more than double its original price. Some analysts suggest Pop Mart has created this supply-demand gap on purpose, which has led to a thriving resale market.

Limited editions have reached eye-popping prices. A Labubu x Vans Old Skool Vinyl Plush Doll from 2023 sold for nearly $10,000 on eBay. A first-generation Labubu commanded $150,000 at a Beijing auction. A life-sized version matched this price through a Chinese auction house in June.

The brand’s appeal has caught the attention of major celebrities like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, and Lisa from K-pop group Blackpink, helping propel development of its global recognition and value.

Counterfeit Lafufu Floods Global Markets

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The authentic Labubu doll’s worldwide popularity has sparked a wave of counterfeits called “Lafufu.” These unauthorized copies now make up much of the global Labubu-style collectible market. Consumers, manufacturers, and regulatory authorities have raised serious concerns about this trend.

Factories in Guangdong and Hebei mass-produce fakes

Small-scale factories across China’s Guangdong and Hebei provinces churn out these counterfeits. A manufacturer in Dongguan sold between 150,000 to 160,000 fake Labubu toys at peak times in July. Their profits reached 2 million yuan (about $278,000). The United States receives over 40% of this factory’s exports. Chinese customs officials have stepped up their efforts to curb these exports. They seized over 46,000 counterfeit Labubu toys during recent operations across three regions.

Lafufu features mimic real Labubu but add gimmicks

Social media users on TikTok now affectionately call these counterfeits “Lafufu”. These fake versions come with extra features you won’t find in genuine products:

• Singing and dancing functions with lit-up ears (sold as “Lagogo”)
• Wrong tooth count (real Labubus have exactly nine teeth, while fakes often have eight or ten)
• Different colors (authentic dolls use pale and peach face tones, but fakes use oranges, yellows, and pinks)

Quality problems are systemic. Many counterfeit dolls have face misprints and missing paint. Several countries have warned about safety risks from these knockoffs that could cause choking.

Fake Labubu dolls sold at a fraction of the price

Price differences drive consumers to buy Lafufu alternatives. Pop Mart’s China website sells authentic Labubu plush pendants for 99 yuan. Their regular plush dolls cost around 499 yuan ($69.45). Counterfeits cost about one-tenth of these prices. A buyer found a Lafufu toy for just 9.77 Singapore dollars (about $7.50), while the real version costs SGD 24.90. Some e-commerce sites even sell fakes for as little as SGD 0.60.

Joey Khong from Mintel market research explains that Lafufus show “a combination of systemic market inequalities and genuine human motivations: the desire to belong, to experience joy, and to participate in the cultural moment”.

Authorities Crack Down on Fake Labubu Exports

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Global authorities have taken decisive action against counterfeit Labubu exports. They seized millions of fake toys that worry consumers and regulators about safety risks.

Over 1.8 million Lafufu dolls seized in China

Chinese authorities confiscated more than 1.8 million counterfeit labubu dolls meant for export since early 2025. Shanghai customs officers stopped a shipment of 63,000 items that violated Pop Mart’s trademark during the first half of the year. Recent operations led to the seizure of nearly 49,000 suspected Lafufus. Ningbo officials also confiscated 200,000 fake Labubu goods in April.

US and UK issue safety warnings over choking hazards

Safety risks from counterfeit labubu dolls have prompted urgent warnings from US and UK authorities. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ordered thousands of units seized because Lafufus break apart easily and violate the ban on small parts for children under 3. These toys “pose a serious risk of choking and death”. Trading Standards teams across the UK have seized over 2,000 fake Labubu dolls from 13 retailers in North Tyneside. None of these counterfeits had the legally required UKCA or CE safety markings.

Seattle CBP destroys $500,000 worth of counterfeit dolls

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport caught 11,134 counterfeit labubu dolls worth $513,937.76 on August 26. Smugglers had labeled the South Korean shipment falsely as “LED Bulb”. Officers destroyed the whole shipment following standard procedure. No arrests have happened yet, though smugglers have “incurred a significant economic loss”.

Pop Mart files trademark for ‘Lafufu’ to protect IP

Pop Mart has filed to register the ‘Lafufu’ trademark as a strategic response. Corporate information platform Qichacha shows this application, which serves as a preventive measure against unauthorized sellers. Pop Mart’s lawyer, Hunan Guochu, explains that this trademark registration protects against malicious brand use. The company turned this challenge into a calculated business advantage.

Consumers Choose Between Authenticity and Affordability

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The world’s obsession with Labubu dolls has created an interesting dilemma between real and fake products. Collectors around the world are making unexpected choices as they look for these dolls.

Why some buyers prefer Lafufu over real Labubu

People actively look for fake Lafufu dolls because they come with features you won’t find in the real ones. These knockoffs can sing, dance, and light up their ears – things the original dolls just can’t do. The fakes do have quality problems, and buyers often spot face misprints and missing paint. But collectors actually love these little flaws and see these “little mess ups and quirks” as part of what makes them special.

Labubu price inflation drives demand for knockoffs

Skyrocketing prices of real Labubu dolls have created the perfect environment for fake ones to thrive. Real Labubus usually cost between USD 20.00-30.00. Pop Mart quietly raised their prices from USD 21.99 to USD 27.99. Some rare editions now sell for an amazing USD 7000.00. Lafufus cost just a tenth of what you’d pay for the real thing.

Lafufu as a form of rebellion against brand hype

Buying fake dolls has become a way to push back against what many see as corporate greed. One buyer put it simply: “Buying Lafufu is my way of rebelling”. A Chinese pastry chef, 29, shared that she “can’t stomach Labubu’s inflated price anymore” and wondered why anyone would “pay hundreds above that price for hype”.

Social media fuels both real and fake Labubu trends

TikTok has turned Lafufu into its own cultural movement. Creators show these knockoffs as budget-friendly options or use them for DIY projects. Unboxing videos of fake dolls get tons of views, and some go viral just “because of how bad the figure is”. Social media has made it okay to own knockoffs, and now there are thriving communities for both real and fake dolls.

The Labubu phenomenon has become a fascinating example of modern consumerism. Pop Mart’s record-breaking sales face major challenges from counterfeit producers who exploit price gaps and market needs. Authentic Labubu dolls fetch six-figure prices at auction, while Lafufu knockoffs cost less than $8. This price difference shows the economic gaps that drive consumer choices.

Global authorities work to stop the surge of counterfeits because of safety issues with low-quality materials and choking risks. Many consumers choose fakes knowingly, either because they can’t afford originals or to reject what they see as corporate greed and artificial shortages.

Pop Mart’s decision to trademark “Lafufu” shows how businesses can adapt and turn threats into opportunities. This smart move recognizes today’s complex collectible market where social media blurs the line between real and fake products.

Labubu and Lafufu’s parallel stories raise questions about value, authenticity, and access in consumer culture. Counterfeit markets harm intellectual property rights but also fill gaps that original manufacturers leave open. The balance between protecting brands and market access will shape collectibles’ future beyond the Labubu trend.