Fireworks are an excellent way to celebrate the summertime and measure the congestion across the supply chain. Considering the disruption we’ve consistently experienced in logistics, especially between the United States and China, where lockdowns in Shanghai have delayed shipments coming into the United States, exacerbating the shortages impacting retailers. Fireworks and seasonal items are often the market bellwethers as their prices shift rapidly based on the ebb and flow of the cargo.
This year, ocean freight rates are higher than normal, driving up costs as the overall expense of duties, brokerage fees, detention, per-diem, and expensive door delivery add up quickly. Another issue plaguing the industry comes with the scarcity of hazmat truckers available for hire. Truckers, in general, are suffering from a lack of drivers. In the summer, those numbers dwindle further as many families take vacations and need time off during the busiest firework season of the year in the United States. Many truckers are unwilling to work out of specific ports like New York unless they are paid a very premium price to do so. Because it’s a trucker’s market right now, and they name the price they are willing to handle a load for, there is a bit of a “take-it or leave-it” attitude with very little room for negotiation. This is mainly because they are fully booked out between two to four weeks with limited availability. This will probably change as demand decreases, and they find themselves looking for loads to haul later in the year.
It is all a complicated mix of factors that have led to such a considerable rise in the price to get a container of fireworks from China. Unfortunately, not only are fireworks timely, they can’t readily be used for a long period – they’re purchased to be used in a narrow window in July for most consumers. Even events on other weekends have a critical window of arrival and explosion, something very different from other inventory-safe consumables that grow in popularity over the summer.
Coppersmith is your single point of contact for all of your fireworks needs every year. Any problems with time-sensitive and hazardous cargo can add considerable delays to shipments. When you choose Coppersmith, you have an expert logistics professional who is fluent in fireworks to save you time and money when the temperatures rise. There’s no substitution for expertise and your Coppersmtih representative has solutions to suit your situation.
