Authors :
Ayaan Talwar
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 7 - July
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/4km5vknx
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/v7xbz4yn
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jul157
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
This paper examines why China has become the leading force in the global table tennis equipment industry
and why Indian and European manufacturers face difficulty competing with Chinese firms. Table tennis requires a
wide range of manufactured products, including blades, rubber sheets, rackets, balls, tables, nets, and training
accessories. Over recent decades, Chinese companies such as DHS, Double Fish, Yinhe, Sanwei, and Friendship 729
have developed strong international reputations and have become major suppliers to recreational players,
professional athletes, clubs, and tournaments.
The study argues that China’s dominance is not explained by low costs alone. It is the result of a closely
connected industrial ecosystem built on a large domestic market, economies of scale, specialised manufacturing
clusters, integrated supply chains, continuous product development, athlete-led testing, and long-term public
support for table tennis as a national sport. WITS trade data for HS 950640, articles and equipment for table
tennis, show that China exported approximately US$168.82 million of table tennis equipment in 2024, with the
United States, Germany, France, Australia, and South Korea among its largest destinations [11].
European firms such as Butterfly, Donic, Tibhar, JOOLA, and Stiga retain strong positions in premium
segments through quality, heritage, and technical design [1, 7]. However, they face higher labour costs, stricter
regulatory obligations, smaller domestic markets, and greater dependence on outsourced or specialised component
production. India presents a different challenge: despite its large population and rising interest in table tennis,
domestic manufacturers remain constrained by fragmented supply chains, limited research and development, weak
global brand recognition, and insufficient links with elite players and sporting institutions. The paper concludes that
India can improve its competitiveness by developing sports-equipment clusters, investing in research and
development, strengthening athlete-manufacturer collaboration, and pursuing an export-oriented manufacturing
strategy under broader national manufacturing initiatives.
Keywords :
Table Tennis Equipment, China, India, Europe, Economies of Scale, Industrial Clusters, Comparative Advantage, Sports Manufacturing, International Trade.
References :
- Butterfly Global. (2025). Company profile and product information. Retrieved from https://www.butterfly-global.com
- Shanghai Double Happiness Group. (2025). Company history and product information. Retrieved from https://www.dhs-group.com/picture/185/detail/1.html
- Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. (2024). National manufacturing initiatives. Government of India. Retrieved from https://dpiit.gov.in
- Fortune Business Insights. (2025). Table Tennis Equipment Market Size, Share & Forecast. Retrieved from https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/table-tennis-equipment-market-112295
- G. K. Industries. (2025). About GKI Table Tennis. Retrieved from https://www.gkitabletennis.com
- International Table Tennis Federation. (2025). Equipment regulations and authorised equipment information. Retrieved from https://www.ittf.com
- JOOLA. (2025). About JOOLA. Retrieved from https://www.joola.com
- Government of India. (2024). Make in India. Retrieved from https://www.makeinindia.com
- PingSunday. (2024). What are ESN table tennis rubbers? European table tennis rubbers. Retrieved from https://pingsunday.com/what-are-esn-table-tennis-rubbers/
- Table Tennis Federation of India. (2025). Official website. Retrieved from https://ttfi.org
- World Integrated Trade Solution. (2024). China exports of HS 950640: Articles and equipment for table tennis. World Bank. Retrieved from https://wits.worldbank.org
This paper examines why China has become the leading force in the global table tennis equipment industry
and why Indian and European manufacturers face difficulty competing with Chinese firms. Table tennis requires a
wide range of manufactured products, including blades, rubber sheets, rackets, balls, tables, nets, and training
accessories. Over recent decades, Chinese companies such as DHS, Double Fish, Yinhe, Sanwei, and Friendship 729
have developed strong international reputations and have become major suppliers to recreational players,
professional athletes, clubs, and tournaments.
The study argues that China’s dominance is not explained by low costs alone. It is the result of a closely
connected industrial ecosystem built on a large domestic market, economies of scale, specialised manufacturing
clusters, integrated supply chains, continuous product development, athlete-led testing, and long-term public
support for table tennis as a national sport. WITS trade data for HS 950640, articles and equipment for table
tennis, show that China exported approximately US$168.82 million of table tennis equipment in 2024, with the
United States, Germany, France, Australia, and South Korea among its largest destinations [11].
European firms such as Butterfly, Donic, Tibhar, JOOLA, and Stiga retain strong positions in premium
segments through quality, heritage, and technical design [1, 7]. However, they face higher labour costs, stricter
regulatory obligations, smaller domestic markets, and greater dependence on outsourced or specialised component
production. India presents a different challenge: despite its large population and rising interest in table tennis,
domestic manufacturers remain constrained by fragmented supply chains, limited research and development, weak
global brand recognition, and insufficient links with elite players and sporting institutions. The paper concludes that
India can improve its competitiveness by developing sports-equipment clusters, investing in research and
development, strengthening athlete-manufacturer collaboration, and pursuing an export-oriented manufacturing
strategy under broader national manufacturing initiatives.
Keywords :
Table Tennis Equipment, China, India, Europe, Economies of Scale, Industrial Clusters, Comparative Advantage, Sports Manufacturing, International Trade.
