Taiwanese media outlet Tai Bao reported on the 1st that "the feather shortage in China has shocked the badminton market, with Japan's Yonex and Mizuno raising shuttlecock prices by 20-30%."

According to the article, which cited a Nikkei Asia report, a pack of 12 Yonex competition shuttlecocks currently costs 7,700 yen, and practice shuttlecocks cost 6,380 yen, representing an increase of approximately 30% compared to the past two years. Yonex has revised prices three times. Rival company Mizuno raised the price of natural feather shuttlecocks by approximately 25% last summer, and Gosen followed suit this year.

All companies state that the main reason for the price increase is the continued surge in feather prices. Feather prices rose by approximately 20% to 40% last year alone.

Many manufacturers have factories in China, and China is also the main source of feathers. 16 feathers are required to make one shuttlecock. These are mainly feathers from poultry such as geese and ducks, and are usually recycled after meat processing. However, in recent years, due to bird flu outbreaks occurring almost annually worldwide, poultry farmers have had to increase investment in disease prevention costs, and are facing greater pressure.

A Yonex executive states that "a change in Chinese meat consumption preferences is also a factor." While pork and beef consumption is increasing in China, demand for duck meat is stagnant. Due to declining profits from poultry and a decrease in poultry supply, the cost of procuring feathers has further increased.

The number of badminton players in Japan is on an upward trend. According to the Nippon Badminton Association, the total number of registered members for fiscal year 2025 reached 299,493, which is approximately double the number from 25 years ago.

Badminton is an official Olympic sport, and its international popularity has continued to grow in recent years. Yonex's badminton business sales for fiscal year 2025 increased by 20% year-on-year, with overseas markets accounting for over 80% of this increase.

As natural feathers become increasingly difficult to obtain, manufacturers are actively working on developing shuttlecocks made from synthetic materials such as nylon. Starting in March this year, synthetic shuttlecocks jointly developed by Yonex and Victor have been approved for use in official competitions. (Translation/Editing: Yanagawa)