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COVID-19 Survey: Nearly half of processors have supply chain disruptions

While pain prevails for some processors, most are optimistic about meeting production demands in the coming months.

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According to ProFood World’s most recent reader poll, nearly half or 48% of respondents are currently experiencing supply chain disruption for goods such as equipment, packaging materials, ingredients, and other plant supplies. Several cited the disruption of goods from Asia and inability to obtain masks and hand sanitizer for plant workers. Here is a sample of responses received this week concerning the supply chain disruption.

  • Ingredients are harder to get; [there are] less days available to get trucks to deliver.
  • Some spare parts suppliers have been listed as non-essential and have shut down.
  • Lead times for packaging supplies have been extended. High demand for packaging needs.
  • Getting four-week delay for packaging.
  • Slow down on servo motors, drives, and ribbon cables from China.
  • Our suppliers are overwhelmed by increased demand and [are] limiting our ability to purchase more.
  • A large number of our materials and packaging are purchased from India and China. Luckily, we had multiple months of supply stateside prior to the major disruption. Additionally, we are now seeing disruption stateside with shipments of some materials.

Optimism prevails

While some of the processors polled are experiencing business loss and intense worry, most of PFW’s survey respondents are optimistic about meeting production demands in the coming months even if the virus continue into the summer. Approximately 41% said they are optimistic, 31% indicated a negative response, and 27% said they just don’t know what will happen if effects from the virus last for two to three more months.

Following are some verbatim responses PFW received to the question: If the COVID-19 outbreak and government restrictions continue for another two to three months, how will your company cope in terms of keeping up with production demands?

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