Badminton shuttlecock prices rise in China
Just half a year ago, prices for a pack of 12 shuttlecocks were 210 yuan (approx. PLN 112), and now they start at 275 yuan and up, which has recently sparked a number of discussions in the country, where badminton is perceived as the national sport and is the second most popular discipline.
A high-quality shuttlecock is typically made from 16 overlapping feathers, usually goose or duck, and cork covered with a layer of leather.
The impact of pork prices on the feather market
The price hike is mainly due to the increase in the cost of such pens, but not only, writes Singaporean broadcaster CNA, citing several market experts. It is linked to the fall in pork prices, which highlights the interconnectedness of supply chains and the domino effect.
If the price of pork is lower than that of duck or goose, it will have greater demand among consumers, which means fewer farmers will want to raise ducks and geese, so feathers become more expensive, explains the Shanghai daily Jiefang Ribao, which was among the first to note the phenomenon.
China as the largest consumer of pork
CNA points out that China is the world’s largest producer, consumer and importer of pork. Official statistics show that the country consumes about 700 million pigs per year.
According to Chinese government data, the price of live pigs has been falling continuously since November 2022, reaching a low of 14.95 yuan (approx. PLN 8.2) per kilogram in March this year. This is almost half of the 28 yuan (PLN 17.6) per kilogram just before the decline began.
Rising costs of producing feathers
A feather collector quoted by CNA said duck feathers currently cost about 20 yuan (about 10.7 zloty) per 500 grams, while goose feathers are priced at 40 yuan (about 21 zloty). Their purchase prices have increased by 10 yuan and 20 yuan year-on-year, respectively, which means sellers will likely charge factories more, which will affect the cost of the final product.
Increased demand for darts due to exams
“Jiefang Ribao” points out, however, that this is not the only reason for the increase in the price of shuttlecocks, as their supply exceeds demand, which is also caused by the inclusion of badminton in the scope of the physical education examination for higher education, which means even more people play this sport.
From Beijing Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)
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