Supply chain disruptions, along with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, are driving shortages in stores

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PHOENIX – People may have noticed empty shelves or missing items in their local grocery stores, and the reason is the supply chain disruptions happening around the world.

The disruptions are a combination of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. Due to the pandemic, some overseas ports are closed due to exposures and epidemics.

Experts say it could go on for several more months.

“We are living in a really strange time,” said Dale Rogers, professor of logic and supply chain management at Arizona State University.

Professor Rogers has followed the shortage in the supply chain.

“We are seeing an incredible amount of bad things happening at the same time,” said Professor Rogers. “It’s really unusual.”

In addition to items missing from grocery store shelves, mugs and take-out boxes are no longer available in some cafes and restaurants.

Even clothes and shoes are impacted.

“Coming from China, and it’s sitting on the water,” Professor Rogers said.

Rising cost of shipping containers also causing shortages

Shipping is another factor in the shortage as it is now more expensive to transport items from China as the cost of shipping containers has skyrocketed.

“The market rate is around $ 20,000 per container,” said Professor Rogers. “You go back a year, and it was $ 2,500 a container.”

Stores are impacted by shortages

Local grocery stores like Basha are seeing the effects. Grocery chain officials released a statement, which says supply chain challenges persist across the country and are still struggling with those effects in Arizona. Officials added that many food producers still operate with limited capacity, so consumers see this directly available in assortments.

Experts say it’s temporary and industries are working hard to catch up. They predict that some foods could be back by mid-fall.

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