From ports to rail yards, global supply lines struggle amid virus outbreaks in the developing world

[Wicked Blue]

Oh-oh

By David J. Lynch
July 26, 2021 at 6:46 p.m. EDT
Washington Post (paywall)

Fresh coronavirus outbreaks are forcing factory shutdowns in countries such as Vietnam and Bangladesh, aggravating supply chain disruptions that could leave some U.S. retailers with empty shelves as consumers begin their back-to-school shopping.

The overseas work stoppages are just the latest twist in almost 18 months of pandemic-related manufacturing and transportation woes. The new infections come as two of the largest U.S. railroads last week restricted shipments from West Coast seaports to Chicago, where a surge of shipping containers has clogged rail yards.

Supply headaches stretching from Asian factory towns to the American Midwest are intensifying as the economic recovery tries to outrun the highly infectious delta variant. Aftershocks from earlier limits on a major Chinese port following a rash of covid-19 cases are expected later this month to worsen backlogs at U.S. West Coast facilities.

Chronic shipping delays also are feeding inflation, just as consumers prepare to stock up for the coming school year. Spot shortages of clothing and footwear could appear within weeks, and popular toys may be scarce during the holiday season. Even as the U.S. economy is slated to enjoy its fastest growth since 1984, supply lines now are expected to remain snarled through the first half of next year or longer, according to corporate executives.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/07/27/supply-chains-freight-rail-ports/



My daughter saw an unusual number of empty shelves at the Giant supermarket yesterday.

I couldn't get a new filter for the kitchen faucet water filter. Customer service said they were all out and had no idea when or if it would be available again.

Been trying to buy a new refrigerator for months, but the brand and model remain unavailable.

I'm getting a worried feeling.

[roamer65]

1. Just wait until October.

[Ocelot II]

2. I just got an email from Petco that said Fancy Feast, of all things,

might be in short supply because of "national supply issues." Strange.

[marybourg]

6. Yes. I'm noticing huge price increases or downright absence

of cat food, wet and dry, (and incontinence pads).

[Lars39]

3. Kroger employee told me last week

that the daily trucks don’t always make it every day

[Ron Green]

4. Big Capital is still trying to rebuild these fragile supply lines

when we SHOULD be trying to rebuild resilient local economies. Another example of a COVID lesson lost.

[NightWatcher]

5. Saw signs up at Publix in Jax Fl about shortages and apologizing for it.

Items for my work boat have been hard to get. I'm waiting on some parts right now.

We thought we were almost out of the woods but we weren't close I'm afraid.

[ananda]

7. My new car is stuck in truckdriver limbo.

There's no telling whenit will get here.