Shortage of Natural Feathers Pushes Up Badminton Shuttlecock Prices, Surpassing Gold

The ongoing topic of the price increase of badminton equipment in mainland China continues to draw attention, with some models experiencing a surge exceeding that of gold, reaching a 100% increase over the past two years. Yonex’s mainstream high-end model AS-05 has seen its price skyrocket further. Since the beginning of 2025, several badminton manufacturers have raised their prices, with brands like Victor increasing prices again on April 1st.

Since the beginning of 2025, several badminton manufacturers in mainland China have raised their prices. According to Orange Interactive, many badminton manufacturers have increased their prices since the beginning of the year, with Victor raising prices again on April 1st.

Many mainland media outlets have reported that in the past two years, the price of badminton equipment has actually increased faster than that of gold.

Some badminton enthusiasts have noted that it is becoming increasingly rare to find shuttles priced under 100 yuan (Chinese currency) per tube.

For example, Yonex’s mainstream high-end model AS-05 shuttlecock had its retail price increased from 210 yuan per tube before April 2024 to 225 yuan per tube, and further surged to 275 yuan per tube after July of the same year.

According to Blue Whale News, seasoned badminton enthusiasts like Chen Zui have stated that over two years ago, they used to purchase this model from wholesalers for 95 yuan per tube, but the current price has risen to 190 yuan.

Calculations show that the price of this model of shuttlecock has increased by 100% over two years, surpassing the increase in gold prices during the same period.

As shuttlecocks are consumables, the increasing trend in prices has led to a rise in interest in the second-hand shuttlecock market.

On social media platforms, many users have mentioned stocking up on shuttlecocks in advance.

The topic of rising badminton prices garnered attention last year.

According to Qilu Evening News, insiders explained that the main raw material for shuttlecocks is natural feathers. Making a shuttlecock requires the use of 16 feathers. However, only up to 7 feathers can be selected from each wing of a duck or goose to make a shuttlecock. This means that to produce one shuttlecock, feathers from over 2 ducks or geese are needed.

At the end of 2023, the wholesale price of feathers was approximately 200 yuan per kilogram, including around 600 feathers, which equates to less than 0.4 yuan per feather. By 2024, the price had risen to around 300 yuan per kilogram, a 50% increase.

The main reason for the increase in shuttlecock prices is mainly due to a shortage of raw materials. The fluctuation in the prices of duck and goose feathers, which are the core raw materials for shuttlecocks, directly impacts the overall cost of shuttlecocks. In recent years, influenced by various factors, the prices of duck and goose feathers have continued to rise, thereby driving up the market prices of shuttlecocks.

In recent years, due to various factors, the production of ducks and geese in mainland China has declined. According to reports by Yangcheng Evening News, domestic duck and goose production reached its peak in 2019 and has since declined after 2020.

According to official data released in February 2024, the output of ducks in 2023 was 4.218 billion, and geese reached 515 million. By 2029, the output of ducks is expected to reach 4.878 billion, and geese to 634 million.

Correspondingly, the supply of feathers has decreased, leading to a higher demand for feathers and subsequently pushing up the prices, thereby contributing to the increase in shuttlecock prices.

Although shuttlecocks can also be made from synthetic feathers, the imitation of natural feathers in terms of shape and structure through design and engineering optimization often falls short in achieving the same level of flight accuracy and stability. Additionally, synthetic shuttlecocks are inferior to natural feathers in terms of hardness and elasticity, affecting players’ perception of racket touch and, consequently, impacting the accuracy and comfort of shots.

Furthermore, under the trends of cost and efficiency, breeders are inclined to choose breeds with shorter rearing periods and lower breeding costs, further exacerbating the shortage of raw materials for shuttlecocks.