The global supply chain works like a giant conveyor belt that shuttles containers packed with goods to manufacturers and retailers around the globe, then back to be refilled.
But the belt has been clogging up at several points along the way. latimes.com/business/story…
But the belt has been clogging up at several points along the way. latimes.com/business/story…
To show what’s gone wrong, we illustrated the journey of one container filled with a popular holiday gift — board games — from its manufacturer in China to its destination in the Midwest.
@jcahealey and @smasunaga report: latimes.com/business/story…
@jcahealey and @smasunaga report: latimes.com/business/story…
The majority of board games are made in Chinese factories.
Lately, the problem has been electricity shortages. The reduced hours mean that it takes about 4 months to print a game instead of 3.
Potential delay: 1 month
📸: Panda Game Manufacturing latimes.com/business/story…
Lately, the problem has been electricity shortages. The reduced hours mean that it takes about 4 months to print a game instead of 3.
Potential delay: 1 month
📸: Panda Game Manufacturing latimes.com/business/story…
After the games are put on pallets, they’re loaded into a container.
But containers have been in short supply.
Not only are there too few to handle the demand for goods, but also the flow of containers to and from Asia has gotten badly snagged. latimes.com/business/story…
But containers have been in short supply.
Not only are there too few to handle the demand for goods, but also the flow of containers to and from Asia has gotten badly snagged. latimes.com/business/story…
Containers then need to be loaded onto a ship. Getting space on a vessel is the biggest challenge in the global supply chain, said Sandeep Bhogaraju of Fractal Analytics.
Potential delay: Weeks to months latimes.com/business/story…
Potential delay: Weeks to months latimes.com/business/story…
Finally aboard a ship, the shipment churns toward the Port of Long Beach. There are two main sources of trouble here.
The vessel may be stopping at other ports with long backups before heading to Southern California.
And then there’s the weather. latimes.com/business/story…
The vessel may be stopping at other ports with long backups before heading to Southern California.
And then there’s the weather. latimes.com/business/story…
Arriving in San Pedro, the container ship finds 40 to 70 other ships waiting to dock.
The number of containers coming into Long Beach and LA is up about 25% through Sept compared with last year.
Potential delay: Two to four weeks
📸: Planet Labs Inc. latimes.com/business/story…
The number of containers coming into Long Beach and LA is up about 25% through Sept compared with last year.
Potential delay: Two to four weeks
📸: Planet Labs Inc. latimes.com/business/story…
Finally at a port terminal, each container has to be placed on a chassis so a trucker can haul it away.
Given the logjam of containers and the shortage of trucks and drivers, that means a one- to two-week delay getting a ride out of port. latimes.com/business/story…
Given the logjam of containers and the shortage of trucks and drivers, that means a one- to two-week delay getting a ride out of port. latimes.com/business/story…
The complication doesn’t stop here — follow along with @jcahealey and @smasunaga as they track the board games’ journey from manufacturer to consumer. latimes.com/business/story…
L.A. Times subscribers get early access to this article by @jcahealey and @smasunaga.
Support our journalism. Subscribe: latimes.com/subscribe
Support our journalism. Subscribe: latimes.com/subscribe
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
