As I stated I am responsible for material purchase for a millwork company. We buy material from all over the world. Commodity prices have been shooting up like a rocket the last 5 to 6 months. For a couple of benchmark items our raw material prices have increased 88% in 6 months for one item, 61% in 3 months, 33% in 6 months, 68% in 6 months.
The biggest problem is international shipping problems. The Chinese have put incredible pressure on containers, and container ships, and bulk vessels, to the point that incredible disruptions are occuring. In Brazil for example the shipping problems have reached almost buckling proportions. There is a massive overload of material at the Port of Itajai in southern Brazil. Presently their is a line of trucks waiting to drop material at the port 92 miles long, because their is no room left at the port. One truck has been in line for 30 days, and emergency agencies, and the Red Cross are bringing necessities to the drivers stuck in line.
My situation has been hell, as I am responsible for supplying the facilities with materials, and we are getting hammered with massive cost increase, and also material not being delivered or delivered months late.
