Down. Current price, quality, & supply.

[DemostiX]

IHopefully more light will be shed on the subject that can provide a clearer picture of the market/supply chain.

Read threads here on pillows. I tell ya, its the guys who who are filling their little hamock pillows with 4-5oz of down and touting the virtues that are causing the surge in demand and the shortage.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...08&postcount=7
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...3&postcount=16
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...7&postcount=21

And then there's the down cardigans, vests, and sweaters, some for big guys (and gals)
eg; https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...65&postcount=1 (notice the fill-power for an XXL cardigan !!! )

[sr1355]

Several factors are contributing to the increase the global shortage. Increased world wide demand for down is exhausting a limited supply. Many down suppliers are using the limited supply of high fill power down to make lower fill power down meet specification by mixing the downs resulting in less high power down available for sale.

The EU has made live harvest of down illegal, as they should, while most reputable suppliers do not use live harvest down those that did use it are now having to purchase down through other avenues. Down is typically a by product of the food industry, birds are raised for food consumption and the down is used in the textile industry after the bird has been processed.

We personally have not had any issue with supply but have seen a solid 50% increase in the wholesale cost of 850+ down over the last twelve months. We do know of one major US supplier that has exhausted its supply of fill over 800 and see no positive change in market conditions in the short term.

My very first DIY project several years ago was filled with 800FP WGD that was purchased from Downlite consumer division for $70/#, todays price is $130#.

Until global demand is reduced we can expect to continue to see the high prices remain and if market conditions worsen prices and supply will be affected accordingly.

[HappyHiker]

I tell ya, its the guys who who are filling their little hamock pillows with 4-5oz of down and touting the virtues that are causing the surge in demand and the shortage.

And then there's the down cardigans, vests, and sweaters, some for big guys (and gals)
(notice the fill-power for an XXL cardigan !!! )

Looks like you're not too far off the mark

Several factors are contributing to the increase the global shortage. Increased world wide demand for down is exhausting a limited supply. [snip]
Until global demand is reduced we can expect to continue to see the high prices remain and if market conditions worsen prices and supply will be affected accordingly.

Thanks for the fantastic reply! I did a little research last night and everything you stated mirrors what I found (which isn't a whole lot, but paints a clear picture of the market).

For anyone interested, here are some links and some quick highlights from each:

http://blogs.wsj.com/photojournal/20...p/?mod=WSJBlog
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...948610514.html

A pound of white goose down that cost about $12 in 2009 sells for around $28 today. Prices of other down varieties and grades have also increased. Duck down, around $9 a pound in 2009, now costs about $19 a pound.

China is one of the largest producers of down, a byproduct of its raising geese and ducks for food. As China’s wealth improves, more people are moving from farms to cities, reducing farming, according to distributor Allied Feather & Down.

Dietary changes around the world that favor other types of meat and fish also are undercutting demand for geese and ducks.

Clothing makers want more of it.


http://www.plumeriabay.com/main/info/news.aspx

…refers mostly to goose down from China. In Europe, and Hungary (where our goose down comes from) the price rise has been even more dramatic.

http://downandfeathercouncil.com/pdf...%2012-2009.pdf

The fixed nature of the supply of down and feathers is the other half of the equation responsible for the recent price volatility.

One factor in the increased demand for down and feathers is that a new market for natural fill bedding is beginning to open. According to Stephen Palmer, co-president of United Feather and Down, Inc. and chair of the American Down and Feather Council, “We are now witnessing the first stages of growing Chinese domestic demand for down filled comforters. This new demand, along with increasing world-wide demand associated with improving economies, will continue to put pressure on down prices from the demand side of the equation.”

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So it appears to not be a shortage per se, simply demand outstripping supply, and supply being reduced somewhat. Most of these trends were being noted as far back as 2009 and the last solid reports were from about a year ago and the trend continues.

Good thing I have more than a closet full of down items.

[sr1355]

Excellent research HappyHiker..