It seems that I was a few months too early when, last October, I thought that by Chinese new year “supply chains” could be retired as a blanket excuse for why everything is late and expensive. But here we are, a couple of weeks away from the holiday, and there are still ships waiting off the coast and annoying shortages persist.
I was not entirely wrong at the time. For about two weeks in October, the prices and availability of both container ships and the “dry bulk” carriers that shuttle commodities such as iron ore and coal were rolling over. It looked as though the world could indeed get back to normal by mid-February.
And, indeed, The Baltic Dry index of bulk cargo shipping prices has continued to plunge, from a high over 5,000 at the beginning of October to a bit over 1,500 today. This is confirmed by weak iron and metallurgical coal prices and declining shipments.
That’s encouraging, but most end products or parts we need come in containers, and deliveries of those boxes are still delayed in transit. Why has it taken so long to get these parts of the global supply chain fixed?
The most serious post-October supply chain challenge is the spread of the Omicron variant. This has worsened skilled labour shortages that have concatenated around the world.
However, according to public health and logistics experts, it seems as though recovery from its effects and infectiousness will be more rapid than was the case with earlier variants. So those staff shortages should start to improve next month.
Second, even though the ships outside Californian ports have become the iconic images of supply chain problems, the more serious and prolonged tangles have been in land transport. Omicron absences have affected the availability of truck drivers but there are other complications, the most serious of which can be attributed to policy failures.
In America, the Biden administration chalked up a massive own goal in May 2021, when it approved 221 per cent tariffs on truck chassis imported from China. Chassis, in this context, refers to the relatively simple structures attached to the rear of a truck that make it possible to transfer containers directly from a ship or on to a rail car.
These low-tech assemblies are essential for the “intermodal” transport that revolutionised global supply chains. According to Lars Jensen, a container shipping specialist in Copenhagen, “the chassis shortage has become a debacle”.
The chassis tariffs were a leftover Trump administration ‘Buy American’ proposal that could have been shelved in the name of pandemic recovery. But no. And the consequent chassis shortage has led to parts and goods backlogs around the world.
Tim Denoyer, a trucking analyst with ACT Research, a surface transport consultancy in Indiana explains: “We were already underinvesting in chassis by 2019, and the beginning of the pandemic damped demand. Then the tariff was imposed in May of last year and that tripled the cost of chassis overnight.”
US manufacturers needed time to ramp up their own production. Already, according to Denoyer, “the population of chassis is already 4 per cent to 5 per cent below the previous peak in 2018. We are now building American chassis at the rate of 2,000 or 3,000 per month, but with a total market of 500,000 chassis, it’s going to take time to catch up to our requirements.”
The chassis shortage means it is not possible for trucks to pick up enough containers at US ports, and to bring back the empty containers. This also puts more strain on the rail transport system. Jensen says there are cases of importers picking up containers and leaving them on chassis in parking lots, exacerbating the shortage.
And because the containers are not moving faster, ships on global routes are waiting in port or sailing slower to conserve port charges. So the US chassis shortage echoes around the world. But the White House got the “announcement value” of imposing its tariffs.
Europe has its own policy failures, starting with Brexit paperwork and immigration restrictions that have worsened staff shortages. China’s drastic “zero-tolerance” Covid policies at ports also contributed to delays. But this practice has begun to moderate, according to logisticians and shipping experts. Infections detected in parts of a Chinese port are less frequently leading to total shutdowns.
Even after the truck chassis arrive and Omicron infections tail off, there will be higher energy prices and spot shortages of commodities. But by the second half of this year, global supply chains should finally be untangling.
levaquin for sale online order levaquin online
accutane 10mg sale buy isotretinoin pill cost zithromax
buy prednisone 5mg generic cost prednisone 20mg sildenafil 50mg canada
naltrexone 50mg us albendazole 400 mg canada aripiprazole 30mg over the counter
buy deltasone 40mg without prescription order prednisone generic mebendazole 100mg uk
purchase clarithromycin pill antivert 25mg pill antivert 25mg cost
purchase naproxen online order naproxen 500mg for sale prevacid price
purchase spiriva sale hytrin canada terazosin canada
buy albuterol 100 mcg pill order ciprofloxacin for sale cipro 500mg sale
pioglitazone 30mg over the counter sildenafil overnight shipping usa buy sildenafil 100mg for sale
order singulair 10mg online cheap buy sildenafil 50mg generic levitra or viagra
order tadalafil 40mg blackjack for money gambling casinos
tadalafil 10mg oral Canadian generic cialis order cialis 20mg sale
black jack card game free best gambling sites free slot games online
stromectol tablets for humans for sale symmetrel online order generic avlosulfon
play poker online free roulette online best online casino games
nifedipine 30mg generic perindopril 8mg sale buy allegra for sale
free online poker games slot games online free letter editing
order ramipril 10mg for sale order glimepiride 1mg sale order arcoxia 60mg
affordable dissertation writing azulfidine 500 mg ca buy sulfasalazine 500 mg sale
order doxycycline 200mg sale order albuterol 2mg pill cleocin 150mg pills
olmesartan uk depakote over the counter buy depakote online
buy mesalamine 800mg sale asacol online buy irbesartan price
oral acetazolamide imuran generic cost imuran
lanoxin 250mg for sale molnunat 200 mg us molnupiravir 200 mg price
buy coreg sale oxybutynin over the counter elavil 50mg over the counter
buy priligy online cheap motilium ca motilium 10mg brand
buy fosamax generic nitrofurantoin sale motrin canada
purchase indomethacin online cheap order tamsulosin 0.2mg cenforce cost
nortriptyline 25mg canada cheap panadol paxil 20mg pill
doxycycline 200mg canada buy doxycycline online cheap methylprednisolone cost
cheap pepcid 20mg purchase pepcid sale buy remeron without prescription
buy ropinirole for sale buy ropinirole 2mg pills buy labetalol without prescription
tadalafil without prescription oral clopidogrel buy trimox 500mg online
generic fenofibrate 200mg tricor pills buy viagra 100mg without prescription
esomeprazole 40mg capsules purchase furosemide for sale brand furosemide 40mg
cialis 10mg cheap Real tadalafil for sale sildenafil order online
minocin ca order gabapentin 800mg generic terazosin order
buy cialis without prescription viagra delivered buy ed pill
buy glucophage generic metformin for sale tamoxifen 10mg sale
buy clomid 50mg buy clomiphene pill buy prednisolone tablets
buy prednisone 20mg generic order amoxicillin 250mg for sale buy amoxicillin 1000mg online cheap
accutane oral deltasone 10mg uk purchase ampicillin pills
buy generic fildena 100mg lyrica 150mg price proscar oral
ivermectin malaria buy deltasone 20mg sale order prednisone
zofran 8mg for sale buy amoxil pills oral bactrim
isotretinoin 10mg for sale cheap amoxil 500mg order zithromax online cheap
order albuterol generic order amoxiclav augmentin 625mg canada
modafinil uk order modafinil 100mg sale buy lopressor 100mg generic
order doxycycline pill brand zovirax 800mg zovirax canada
buy dutasteride pill buy keflex 250mg online cheap brand orlistat 60mg
order ditropan for sale order oxybutynin 5mg online oxcarbazepine 600mg ca
oral simvastatin 20mg order phenergan for sale sildenafil 20 mg
purchase dapsone sale buy avlosulfon generic atenolol 50mg us
uroxatral drug order desyrel 100mg generic buy diltiazem online
viagra on line canadian generic cialis order cialis 20mg generic
ezetimibe cost sumycin oral buy methotrexate 2.5mg online cheap
cost promethazine us cialis cialis sale
cheap coumadin 5mg buy metoclopramide 20mg sale buy allopurinol cheap
buy levofloxacin tablets zyban us buy bupropion 150 mg sale
zyrtec 10mg cost strattera drug zoloft 50mg us
buy cenforce pill buy chloroquine tablets metformin ca
buy lexapro 10mg pills prozac cheap buy naltrexone online
purchase lipitor pills order atorvastatin 40mg viagra ca
order femara 2.5 mg pills viagra pills 50mg brand viagra pills
tadalafil us cialis usa where to buy ed pills without a prescription
tadalafil order online order tadalafil 20mg sale home remedies for ed erectile dysfunction
modafinil 200mg oral promethazine generic order generic prednisone 20mg
cheap amoxil 1000mg order zithromax 500mg online cheap prednisolone canada
isotretinoin 20mg cheap buy amoxil 1000mg for sale azithromycin 500mg cheap
gabapentin 100mg oral furosemide cost buy doxycycline 200mg without prescription
buy clomiphene for sale buy plaquenil tablets brand hydroxychloroquine 400mg
doxycycline brand monodox buy online augmentin 375mg cost
tenormin 50mg price letrozole 2.5mg oral order generic letrozole 2.5mg
levothyroxine drug levoxyl pills order vardenafil 10mg online cheap
albenza cost abilify uk medroxyprogesterone over the counter
order metformin 1000mg online cheap metformin buy online order amlodipine 5mg
order biltricide online buy biltricide cheap generic periactin 4mg
cost zestril 2.5mg buy prilosec tablets order metoprolol 100mg without prescription
buy lyrica for sale pregabalin 150mg uk order generic dapoxetine 30mg
order methotrexate 5mg sale buy methotrexate 2.5mg sale buy reglan generic
buy xenical pills zyloprim 100mg oral order allopurinol without prescription
purchase cozaar buy topamax cheap topiramate 200mg brand
crestor usa brand crestor 10mg motilium canada
buy sumatriptan cheap purchase avodart online dutasteride generic
purchase tetracycline order ozobax for sale where can i buy baclofen
toradol 10mg over the counter order inderal online cheap buy propranolol generic
buy cheap generic ranitidine buy zantac 300mg for sale order celebrex 100mg online cheap
plavix 75mg usa buy nizoral 200mg online cheap buy nizoral 200 mg sale
order generic tamsulosin 0.4mg tamsulosin 0.4mg for sale brand aldactone
buy duloxetine online glipizide order order nootropil 800 mg sale
betamethasone 20gm sale buy itraconazole online cheap oral itraconazole 100 mg
combivent 100 mcg tablet order generic combivent 100 mcg buy linezolid 600mg for sale
buy generic prometrium buy progesterone 100mg pill brand zyprexa
buy starlix 120mg pills candesartan 16mg us brand atacand
nebivolol 5mg sale valsartan 80mg for sale clozaril online
simvastatin 10mg us buy zocor 10mg generic buy sildenafil for sale
order tegretol online cheap buy tegretol 200mg lincomycin oral
tadalafil 5mg without prescription brand cialis pills viagra pharmacy
brand estrace 1mg generic minipress minipress 2mg cheap
order diflucan without prescription buy ampicillin no prescription cipro uk
buy generic vermox for sale buy generic tretinoin order tadalafil 20mg pill
order flagyl 400mg generic order flagyl sale cheap cephalexin 500mg
avanafil without prescription avana for sale cost diclofenac
tamoxifen 10mg pill cefuroxime 250mg drug buy cefuroxime 500mg without prescription
order amoxicillin 250mg generic how to buy anastrozole order biaxin 250mg pills
order careprost pill buy robaxin tablets order desyrel sale
buy generic clonidine 0.1mg antivert order online purchase tiotropium bromide without prescription
sildenafil without prescription buy aurogra 100mg sale sildalis us
arava usa sildenafil 100mg uk sulfasalazine 500 mg usa
isotretinoin 10mg brand order accutane 40mg pill azithromycin 500mg over the counter
order cialis 10mg for sale order sildenafil 50mg pills tadalafil 10mg us
buy azipro 500mg generic where can i buy gabapentin buy gabapentin 800mg sale
purchase furosemide pill doxycycline 100mg cheap buy ventolin online cheap
buy altace 10mg online cheap buy generic glimepiride for sale buy arcoxia 60mg pills
buy generic asacol over the counter oral azelastine where to buy avapro without a prescription
brand levitra 20mg hydroxychloroquine pill order hydroxychloroquine pill
temovate cream order cordarone 200mg online buy amiodarone generic
order olmesartan sale buy benicar 20mg online cheap purchase divalproex generic
buy temovate online cheap buspirone 10mg ca amiodarone 100mg sale
diamox 250mg generic diamox 250mg drug imuran over the counter
digoxin pills order digoxin 250 mg order molnunat 200 mg online cheap
naproxen buy online cefdinir over the counter order prevacid without prescription
order generic proventil cheap phenazopyridine buy pyridium 200 mg pills
singulair us order generic dapsone 100mg buy avlosulfon pills for sale
olumiant cheap order glucophage pill buy lipitor 10mg for sale
nifedipine 30mg oral perindopril without prescription fexofenadine 120mg tablet
cheap norvasc 5mg lisinopril 5mg drug omeprazole sale
dapoxetine 60mg tablet buy cheap generic orlistat xenical 120mg pills
lopressor order order tenormin pills order medrol generic
buy diltiazem pills for sale diltiazem us buy zyloprim 300mg without prescription
order generic aristocort 4mg order loratadine online order loratadine online
buy crestor 20mg generic rosuvastatin uk buy generic motilium for sale
ampicillin price where to buy ampicillin without a prescription metronidazole online
tetracycline generic purchase flexeril pill baclofen 10mg price
generic septra cost bactrim 960mg cleocin 300mg drug
where to buy plavix without a prescription buy clopidogrel medication coumadin pills
buy erythromycin purchase erythromycin pills nolvadex 10mg cost
brand reglan buy losartan generic esomeprazole 40mg for sale
buy rhinocort generic ceftin 500mg drug buy careprost without prescription
generic topiramate 100mg buy generic topiramate buy levaquin 500mg pill
robaxin price buy trazodone for sale buy sildenafil 50mg sale
purchase avodart online meloxicam over the counter mobic 7.5mg sale
sildenafil sale order estradiol 2mg for sale buy estrace 1mg for sale
cost celebrex 100mg ondansetron 8mg sale order ondansetron 8mg generic
buy lamotrigine pills for sale order prazosin 1mg online minipress online order
buy cheap aldactone zocor 10mg price cost valacyclovir
propecia pill propecia 1mg usa order viagra 100mg sale
retin gel generic tadalafil price buy avanafil 100mg online cheap
tadalafil 40mg oral order cialis 20mg online cheap viagra 100mg price
tadalafil 10mg us order cambia online indocin 50mg for sale
cialis price walmart generic tadalafil 40mg men’s ed pills
buy lamisil paypal trimox 250mg without prescription buy cheap amoxicillin
divalproex medication cost divalproex 250mg order imdur 40mg without prescription
order antivert generic buy generic minocycline for sale minocycline online order
cheap erectile dysfunction pills us pharmacy viagra sildenafil 100mg price
prevacid 30mg cost order albuterol 100mcg sale brand pantoprazole 20mg
medicine for erectile viagra 50mg cost tadalafil 40mg generic
pyridium cost buy pyridium generic amantadine pill
dapsone order online perindopril 4mg tablet aceon 8mg oral
best ed medications cialis tadalafil 40mg cheap tadalafil without prescription
purchase fexofenadine for sale purchase allegra without prescription order amaryl without prescription
cost arcoxia 60mg purchase astelin generic order azelastine 10ml generic
oral terazosin 1mg order generic leflunomide overnight delivery for cialis
order avapro 300mg for sale irbesartan usa generic buspirone 10mg
buy amiodarone sale order cordarone 100mg for sale where can i buy dilantin
buy albenza 400 mg pill order albenza 400mg generic medroxyprogesterone 5mg generic
ditropan 2.5mg pills purchase alendronate generic order fosamax 70mg
buy biltricide 600 mg generic order biltricide 600 mg sale buy periactin sale
buy macrodantin 100 mg buy motrin online buy nortriptyline 25mg generic
order luvox for sale nizoral 200mg without prescription cymbalta 40mg cheap
order glipizide 10mg for sale order glipizide without prescription betnovate price
purchase clomipramine generic anafranil price progesterone 200mg ca
order prograf generic brand tacrolimus 5mg ropinirole 2mg for sale
tinidazole 500mg sale olanzapine 10mg drug buy bystolic 5mg pill
purchase valsartan pills buy valsartan paypal buy ipratropium 100 mcg online cheap
order rocaltrol 0.25 mg pill calcitriol pills order tricor 160mg online cheap
decadron 0,5 mg for sale generic dexamethasone 0,5 mg order starlix 120 mg sale
buy trileptal 600mg pills oxcarbazepine medication cheap urso 300mg
capoten online buy capoten buy carbamazepine without a prescription
generic bupropion where to buy zyrtec without a prescription strattera buy online
order ciprofloxacin 500 mg generic order lincocin 500 mg generic cheap duricef
lamivudine tablet order zidovudine 300mg online accupril 10mg generic
prozac usa naltrexone tablet femara 2.5 mg without prescription
buy frumil 5mg for sale purchase differin without prescription buy generic zovirax over the counter
buy bisoprolol 10mg generic order lozol 1.5mg online cheap purchase oxytetracycline
valaciclovir without prescription purchase valcivir online order ofloxacin 200mg generic
buy levetiracetam generic brand levetiracetam 500mg buy sildenafil 50mg online cheap
cialis 40mg usa order sildenafil 50mg pills brand sildenafil 100mg
purchase ketotifen generic order doxepin pills imipramine 75mg without prescription
minoxytop online buy where to buy mintop without a prescription buy cheap generic ed pills
buy acarbose no prescription cheap repaglinide 2mg buy griseofulvin generic
aspirin 75 mg cheap buy generic aspirin 75mg order zovirax sale
dipyridamole without prescription order gemfibrozil 300mg without prescription pravastatin canada
purchase melatonin without prescription aygestin without prescription danocrine 100 mg uk
buy dydrogesterone 10mg sale buy duphaston sale empagliflozin where to buy
buy florinef 100 mcg sale how to buy aciphex imodium order online
etodolac 600mg cost order monograph 600 mg cheap cilostazol
prasugrel 10mg ca buy tolterodine 2mg pills detrol brand
ferrous 100 mg pill ferrous 100 mg drug sotalol pills
purchase pyridostigmine for sale order rizatriptan without prescription maxalt 5mg uk
buy vasotec pills cheap duphalac buy lactulose online
zovirax for sale online rivastigmine where to buy exelon for sale
order premarin 600 mg sale dostinex 0.25mg drug sildenafil tablets
omeprazole 20mg us omeprazole online buy cost lopressor
buy micardis 80mg pills order hydroxychloroquine 200mg pills buy molnupiravir 200 mg online cheap
cenforce 50mg cost buy generic cenforce 100mg aralen 250mg without prescription
oral provigil 100mg provigil brand order deltasone 10mg generic
buy generic omnicef for sale buy glycomet pills for sale order generic prevacid 30mg
buy generic accutane for sale order amoxil 500mg pills purchase azithromycin
order lipitor for sale order atorvastatin 40mg online cheap purchase amlodipine generic