From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an immense strain on the chemical distribution supply chain. Ports across the U.S. continue to suffer from severe congestion, causing cargo ships to experience significant delays in unloading cargo and, ultimately, delivering product in a reasonable time.
More recently, NACD members have encountered severe delays, skyrocketing costs and outright order rejections. Chemical distributors are an integral part of the chemical sector and the entire U.S. manufacturing supply chain because of the essential services and products they provide. The crisis and its impacts on chemical distributors in particular are having an effect on a diverse range of industries, including paints and coatings, putting Americans at jeopardy of having insufficient access to clean water, inadequate medical and medicinal supplies, limited food production and preservation capabilities, and more.