2025 Table Tennis Equipment Market Observations, Part 3
8. Diversifying Manufacturing Origins — Chinese-Made Is the Clear Trend
This is most evident with Stiga. They used to manufacture primarily in Sweden, but production has since branched out. Some models have shifted to Chinese manufacturing (the Inspira Carbon King and various Banda blades), while others now come from Korea (the Inspira Hybrid Carbon and Surge Hybrid Carbon). Swedish workers enjoy strong benefits and generous vacation time, which has turned many new blade releases into something like pre-orders — announced months in advance, only to land on shelves half a year later. Chinese and Korean manufacturing has helped ease that problem, though Korean-made still requires some waiting. For the Chinese market specifically, Chinese manufacturing is naturally the most efficient.
Chinese-made and Korean-made blades have their own character. The lamination and pressing process feels noticeably different from Swedish production in some ways, but there are still plenty of excellent blades coming out of both.
Swedish-made blades continue to have their own unmistakable feel, and that will carry on in the years ahead. The new Fate Carbon and I1 have already won over a dedicated following.
Nearly every foreign brand is expanding its Chinese-made lineup. Their more affordable models are mostly manufactured in China. Chinese manufacturing is by no means inferior — factories like Zhongshan Fengji and Jiangsu Aist may not carry the same R-and-D reputation as Yinhe or Sword, but their quality control is solid. That said, some foreign brands have been cutting costs by sourcing from smaller, even obscure contract manufacturers just to squeeze out margins. In those cases, you’re honestly better off buying from a dedicated Chinese brand.
The same diversification is happening with rubber production. Doublehappy has started its blade manufacturing journey in Korea, and ESN may soon be contracted for rubber production as well. At the same time, more and more foreign brand rubbers are now made in China. Yasaka’s Flying Dragon, the Chinese-made Yasaka line, Moristo SP, and Moon 12 are all reasonably solid. The quality gap between Chinese-made and ESN-made rubbers is genuinely narrowing.
9. The Same Product, More Polarizing Opinions Than Ever
Information spreads faster now, and everyone’s needs are just different.
Take the Competitor Power Special as an example. For me, it grips the ball well but feels soft when I swing through — not enough power at the bottom end. For other players, that same softness might feel like stability. Or take the Yinhe Black Horse custom KLC: some people see its powerful backhand punch, while others feel the forehand doesn’t grip the ball as comfortably as the 968. Different needs lead to different verdicts. We can’t expect everyone to remain objective and consistent all the time.
To put it more bluntly: there are no bad products anymore, just different styles. Every product can find its fans. For brands, the challenge is no longer making a great product — it’s attracting customers.
That said, I still believe that if you make something genuinely good, the market will eventually embrace it. As long as you’re patient, you will be seen. This newsletter of mine is proof of that. When I started, I told myself: no shortcuts, no playing to the crowd — just write as honestly and objectively as I can about equipment. Almost ten years later, the recognition and readership keep growing.
10. The Market Is Converging — Variety Is Hard to Come By
One troubling trend is that equipment is becoming increasingly homogeneous. The innovation spirit is fading, and part of the reason is simple: the market doesn’t reward it. Brands need to survive first.
Outer ALC and inner KLC together dominate the market. Thankfully, green fiber carbon has emerged in recent years as at least a modest addition. But consumers are resistant to new structures. It’s outer or inner, with variations in fiber — that way sales remain predictable. As the game has evolved, more amateur players have adopted a two-backhand-rubber style. To guarantee a sales floor, brands have to follow mainstream construction.
The same goes for rubber. Out of every ten new rubbers released, at least seven take the “semi-tacky” route. That’s a bit boring. Semi-tacky rubbers struggle to excel at either spin or speed. But the concept sells.
We lament that blades aren’t as interesting as they used to be, while also knowing full well: if we buy something with an unusual structure, it won’t be easy to resell secondhand.