(Yicai) Nov. 21 -- Duck down prices in China, already on the rise this year, have surged after a cold snap last month tightened supplies of the insulating material used in bedding, jackets, and other clothing.

The price of 90 percent white duck down has exceeded CNY570 (USD80.19) per kilogram after starting the year at CNY425 (USD59.79) per kg, according to data from Down Golden Network.

While prices earlier this year had retreated from last year’s highs, the recent rally has pushed them beyond 2024’s levels, with some merchants asking for over CNY640 per kg, said Wang Xiao, a duck down trader.

Supply and demand changes are behind the recent price spike, Wang said. A deep cold spell in mid-to-late October depleted inventories of duck down and feathers, causing a shortage, while depressed duckling prices in the first half prompted many farmers to cull older birds, shrinking the population of down-producing ducks in this half, he said.

Following last year’s big runup in goose down prices, some outerwear brands scaled back goose down usage and substituted more duck down to cut costs, a shift that has further tightened duck down supply, said Wu Yu, operations director at Down Golden Network.

Nevertheless, the room for further increases in duck down prices is very limited, Wang pointed out. The price is already near a record high and lacks the momentum for another major breakout, so will likely fluctuate at these elevated levels, Wang added.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev