Everyone knows sentences like: «This article is currently not available.» Or: “Our supplier is currently unable to provide a date when the product will be back in stock.” In stores or online stores that were booming during the corona epidemic, such ads may now appear more often again on the shelves.
Reason: On December 7, China finally abandoned its zero Covid policy. This startling move has consequences: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), both hospitals and funeral homes in China are overloaded, and the first companies are closing due to too many cases of illness among the workforce, especially in China’s major port cities. People’s Republic.
As in the years of the pandemic, supply chains now threaten to explode again, with a shortage of personnel due to illness and even death, containers may be backed up at Chinese ports.
Several monthly delivery bottlenecks are possible
Supply chain expert Jacqueline Klaiss Brons, 55, of consulting firm Eraneos Switzerland, says the chaos in China will likely affect Switzerland as well. “I think that China’s departure from the zero-COVID strategy is highly likely to cause supply bottlenecks.”
In particular, bottlenecks are waiting for the following goods: electronics, telecommunications, imported consumer goods such as household appliances, raw materials such as clothing, toys and steel.
According to the expert, the bottlenecks in the supply of these goods negatively affect our economy. On the one hand, goods such as the iPhone or television made in China are missing. This in turn puts pressure on store sales and therefore the tax base of the entire economy. On the other hand, some raw materials or components for industry are missing due to bottlenecks. These can then not produce or produce to a limited extent, which weakens overseas exports.
Delivery bottlenecks lasting several months?
Klaiss Brons acknowledges that from today’s perspective, it is still difficult to predict the extent to which such bottlenecks will exist and depends on how quickly China gets its chaos under control. “Still, I suspect supply bottlenecks could persist for several weeks or months.” If more drastic measures are taken against expectations in China, the bottlenecks may get longer.
Chamber of Commerce President tries to appease
Felix Sutter, 62, Chairman of the Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, softens this somewhat: “The consumer will feel that his package from China may arrive a little later.” He does not currently assume there will be major and prolonged supply bottlenecks. “Companies have positioned themselves differently and built larger storage capacities,” he tells Blick. China has also invested a lot in improving the logistics situation between manufacturers and key ports.