Panic buying returns: Toilet paper vanishes amidst dock strikes
The dockworkers' strike that has been ongoing since the beginning of October in ports along the East Coast of the United States has triggered a wave of panic buying. Americans have begun purchasing toilet paper and paper towels in anticipation of potential supply restrictions. This behaviour has only worsened the situation, leading to actual shortages on store shelves.
CNN reports that toilet paper shortages in American stores are bringing back memories of the pandemic. While Tuesday's port strike didn't directly cause the depleted shelves, customer behaviour, which media outlets label panic buying, has resulted in these shortages.
Hundreds of photos from American stores, shared on social media on Tuesday, show empty shelves where toilet paper and paper towels are usually stocked.
One user on X, sharing a photo of empty shelves in a Walmart located in Virginia, commented that toilet paper has vanished once more. Another user on X posted that Costco and Target stores in Monmouth County, New Jersey, are experiencing a shortage of paper towels, causing customer panic reminiscent of 2020. This has triggered a snowball effect.
Dockworkers' strike in ports
Authorities assert that the dockworkers' strike in ports stretching from Maine to Texas does not impact the presence of these products in stores. More than 90% of toilet paper in the United States is produced domestically, with the remainder largely imported overland from Canada and Mexico, not by sea.
The American Forest and Paper Association, which represents paper manufacturers, has expressed concerns about the potential impact of the strike on exports but not on imports. According to CNN, the strike might lead to a surplus rather than a shortage of toilet paper.
Nonetheless, people, wary of potential shortages, have started to stockpile supplies, recalling the difficulties of 2020 when stores imposed purchasing limits.
The media outlet notes that although the strike at the ports is more likely to cause shortages, it will primarily affect imported goods like bananas.
