How COVID Has Affected The Towel Industry
Posted by Megan MacBride on May 10th 2021
In the spring issue of Northeast Carwasher, our very own Valerie Sweeney wrote an article about how COVID has affected the towel industry. Read on to find out why lead times are lagging.
One major area that has been severely impacted by the pandemic is the import market. Terry and microfiber towels for the carwash industry are imported from overseas because they are manufactured in places such as Bangladesh, China, India, and Pakistan.
It usually takes around 90 days from the time an order is sent overseas to it arriving in port. Now lead times are as much as six months long, which has made inventory planning for buyers very tricky.
One of the reasons for the longer lead times are staffing shortages. This can be a result of COVID outbreaks at the factories or parents needing to stay home because their children are remote learning, and they don’t have access to childcare.
The global shortage of shipping containers is another major factor affecting lead times. Because China exports more to the U.S. than the U.S. exports back to China, China doesn’t have enough containers to meet demand. Also, these shipping containers are taking much longer to clear U.S. customs once they arrive in port. It is now taking several weeks to clear customs instead of just a few days.
The good news is many towel vendors, including ERC, have adjusted to the change and are stocked up to meet the needs of the industry. However, if you find your usual color out of stock, it might be best to be a little flexible as some things are out of our control.
Want to learn more about how COVID has affected the towel industry? Simply download the full “COVID’S Effects on the Towel Industry" article below.
Click to Read the Full Article
Have questions about our towels? Give us a call at 800-225-9473, we're here for you Monday - Friday, from 8AM - 5PM EST.
One major area that has been severely impacted by the pandemic is the import market. Terry and microfiber towels for the carwash industry are imported from overseas because they are manufactured in places such as Bangladesh, China, India, and Pakistan.
It usually takes around 90 days from the time an order is sent overseas to it arriving in port. Now lead times are as much as six months long, which has made inventory planning for buyers very tricky.
One of the reasons for the longer lead times are staffing shortages. This can be a result of COVID outbreaks at the factories or parents needing to stay home because their children are remote learning, and they don’t have access to childcare.
The global shortage of shipping containers is another major factor affecting lead times. Because China exports more to the U.S. than the U.S. exports back to China, China doesn’t have enough containers to meet demand. Also, these shipping containers are taking much longer to clear U.S. customs once they arrive in port. It is now taking several weeks to clear customs instead of just a few days.
The good news is many towel vendors, including ERC, have adjusted to the change and are stocked up to meet the needs of the industry. However, if you find your usual color out of stock, it might be best to be a little flexible as some things are out of our control.
Want to learn more about how COVID has affected the towel industry? Simply download the full “COVID’S Effects on the Towel Industry" article below.
Click to Read the Full Article
Have questions about our towels? Give us a call at 800-225-9473, we're here for you Monday - Friday, from 8AM - 5PM EST.
