American sportswear company Nike and wholesale corporation Costco both say that they are currently tackling product shortages and delays following a major strain on the world’s supply chains. As it struggles with shipping delays and worker shortages in Asia, Nike’s production and delivery of footwear will be affected until next spring. Meanwhile, customers of Costco are stockpiling goods again, which prompted the firm to re-impose limits on its products. “Costco is not insusceptible to the effects of the global supply chain issues that are threatening the manufacturing and movement of products worldwide,” chief financial officer Matthew Friend said. On September 23, 2021, Nike reported that it had to slash its sales outlook for the year following the ongoing disruption.

Due to a resurgence in panic buying, Costco is struggling to find trucks, drivers, and shipping containers to deliver products to its stores. Meanwhile, local lockdowns have affected Nike’s factories in Vietnam and Indonesia, which produce three quarters of its footwear. Currently, it takes around 40 to 80 days for products to arrive from Asia to North America. Since the re-opening of economies, retailers around the world have seen widespread disruption amid a surge in demand for imports. The shortage crisis has also been affecting the production of toys, timber, and pet food. Other brands like toymaker Hasbro and sportswear brand Adidas have warned of potential supply congestion looming over the holiday season.