Ski Manufacturing Component Sourcing and Supply Chain Dynamics

Introduction

Ski manufacturing used to be mainly about brand design and performance differentiation. However, over the last several years, the reliability of the supply chain and the discipline in sourcing of components have been equally significant factors that determine the competitive positioning of the companies. The main raw materials like wood cores, steel edges, fiberglass fabrics, carbon reinforcements, and base materials come from complicated multi-tier supplier networks that are becoming more threatened by geopolitical risk, energy price volatility, and sustainability problems.

In February 2024, Amer Sports announced that it is still investing in supply chain resilience of its winter sports brands, such as Salomon and Atomic. The company informed that supplier diversification and stronger procurement controls were part of its post-pandemic operating model. This is in line with a broader industry trend where the reliability of sourcing is given as much importance as product innovation.

Material inputs account for a major portion of the costs in the manufacture of skis, in particular the high performance ones. Wooden cores made from poplar, beech, or paulownia must be very uniform in quality. Due to changes in the price and availability of timber, manufacturers were faced with the challenge to continue in the same way, hence they had to renegotiate contracts and look to other parts of the world for their supply.

Steel edge and base material suppliers have also been subjected to similar kinds of pressures. As the production of steel is a very energy intensive one, price volatility has become a cost factor that has accompanied it, thus ski brands are now more interested in securing long-term pricing agreements rather than making spot purchases. This strategy is more in line with the suppliers who have the ability to guarantee the same level of quality for each batch of production.

Choosing a manufacturing location is not only a matter of gaining competitive advantage anymore. It also involves managing logistics risk and regulatory compliance. Although Asia is still the source of some components, the production of high value skis is mainly focused on Europe, especially in Austria, Slovenia, and France.

For example, Rossignol Group maintains a Europe centered manufacturing footprint for its ski equipment, with most production carried out in regional facilities and partner plants. This approach enables tighter quality control, faster design to production feedback loops, and improved responsiveness to seasonal demand across European markets, while reducing reliance on long distance supply chains for core product categories.

In addition, nearshoring facilitates a more predictable lead time and helps to a better quality assurance, however, it also deprives one of the opportunity to lower costs through arbitrage. That is why the manufacturers nowadays are more inclined towards making use of their existing production capacity to the fullest rather than setting up a new plant altogether.

Access detailed supplier mapping, manufacturing cost structures, and sourcing risk analysis in the Ski Market Report and its Table of Contents.

Market Drivers, Constraints, and Strategic Implications

The primary driver reshaping ski manufacturing supply chains is risk mitigation. Peak season production interruption significantly affects revenue. Supplier reliability, long-term contracts, and geographic diversification are the top concerns of producers.

They are facing some restraints such as the increase in the price of raw materials and having very few alternative suppliers for specialized components. Too much diversification of the supply base can weaken the purchasing power of the company, whereas too much consolidation can increase the risk of dependency. The procurement department is challenged to strike a balance between these forces.

Companies are gradually turning to supply chain discipline to gain a competitive advantage in the market. Those brands that are able to combine their sourcing strategy with the product planning and sustainability goals will be the ones that maintain their margins and delivery reliability over the forecast period.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition and Scope
3. Raw Material Sourcing Landscape
4. Component Supplier Ecosystem
5. Outsourcing and Integration Models
6. Regional Manufacturing Dynamics
7. Sustainability and Traceability
8. Procurement Risk Management
9. Outlook and Strategic Opportunities

Related Resources

Sports Protective Equipment Market

Ski Gear and Equipment Market

Sports and Outdoor Toys Market

Licensed Sports Merchandise Market