BUSINESS SUPPORT
Shortage of materials set to continue into 2022
A
djustment to working practices enabled the landscape and construction industries to avoid the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which witnessed many other industries temporarily close. However, one of the indirect consequences of the pandemic has been a shortage of construction materials leading to disrupted landscape and construction projects - a wider trend predicted to continue for the foreseeable future. The Association’s Technical Officer Owen Baker takes a closer look at the challenges and what we may expect to see in 2022 and beyond.
Shortage of materials in the landscape industry is not a new concept. During the spring of 2021 the Association reported on a shortage of trees and shrubs in the industry, following numerous reports from members. There was no single reason for this shortage. When questioned, suppliers cited several reasons ranging from the pandemic to historic factors including the recession in 2008 and the perennial issue of staff shortages. As with plants and plant materials, the reasons for shortages and delays were various:
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LANDSCAPE NEWS WINTER 2021
Shortage of supply
Construction materials sourced from Europe and the rest of the world have been in short supply due to closures of factories - forced to shut down during the height of the pandemic. More recent COVID-19 outbreaks in Asian countries have reduced the speed of recovery across several industries, including construction materials and components.
Unprecedented demand for products
Domestic demand for construction materials has been unprecedented from within all categories of the construction industry, but particularly domestic repair, maintenance, and improvement since the beginning of the pandemic until summer 2021. Whilst demand from domestic projects has declined slightly more recently, commercial construction and housebuilding remains high, with strong projections based on the anticipated pipeline of work for the rest of 2021 and into 2022.
Global demand for construction products is also at an all-time-high which means there is significant competition amongst countries for the same item, particularly where single
countries are relied on globally for specific products.
Global logistics
Logistical issues continue to be the most common and pressing concern across the global supply chain. Whilst 2021 has seen record numbers of shipping containers ordered to satisfy demand, there remains a significant shortage. Fewer cargo ships operated during the pandemic, resulting in fewer empty containers being returned. In addition, there was an increase to the number of empty containers being stranded in countries subject to restrictions, however this issue looks set to improve in early 2022. Unfortunately, the cost of available containers has increased significantly; the cost of importing shipping containers from China to the UK has risen by up to 800%.
UK container ports such as Felixstowe have struggled to process the backlog of goods being brought into the UK, with congestion reported for several months. Importers have either deposited cargo at European ports and transported stock to the UK by road, which has added to delivery times, or been subject to charges caused by congestion at the ports.
