BEIJING - Skyrocketing raw material prices in China have caused shuttlecock prices to more than double in recent months as suppliers struggle to meet rising demand from badminton enthusiasts around the world.
However, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) insists the shortage is not "at a crisis level yet".
"We are aware of the global supply chain challenges and subsequent increases in feathered shuttlecock prices impacting badminton communities around the world," BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund said in written statement.
"And while we are naturally concerned by this barrier to participation, in our dialogue with the large-scale manufacturers and their assessment of the situation, we don't believe this is at a crisis level yet."
The shortage can, in part, be attributed to changing consumer habits in China.
The production of shuttlecocks relies heavily on the supply of duck and goose feathers. One high-quality shuttlecock requires 16 carefully selected feathers, typically sourced from the wings of ducks or geese.
A single shuttlecock can use feathers from two birds, with premium models requiring up to four.
This dependence on poultry has caused strain. Duck and goose output in China, the global leader in shuttlecock production, has declined sharply in recent years.
The China Animal Agriculture Association, cited in state media reports, said 4.22 billion ducks and 569 million geese were slaughtered in 2024. That was 10 percent down from 2019 peaks as pork production has rebounded following the African swine fever outbreak which started in 2018.