Supply Chain vs Buying Local
The vast network of ports, container vessels and trucking companies that moves goods around the world is badly tangled, and the cost of shipping is skyrocketing. More than 18 months into the pandemic, the disruption to global supply chains is getting worse, leading to shortages of consumer products, and making it more expensive for companies to ship goods where they’re needed.
Unresolved snags including the closure of the world’s third largest shipping terminal in China due to workers being infected with COVID-19, ongoing container shortages, COVID-19 related factory shutdowns, and the lingering effects of the Suez Canal blockage in March have all played an impact.
Shipping companies expect the global crunch to continue, massively increasing the cost of moving cargo and could add to the upward pressure on consumer prices. The cost of shipping goods from Asia to North America and Europe has continued to climb over the past few months, following a spike earlier in the year that saw the costs of shipping a container increase anywhere from 300-600%.
There is also a massive backlog of ships waiting to enter ports around the world. This backlog at ports will have a ripple effect on jammed warehouses and stretched road and rail capacity. Logistics networks have been running at maximum capacity for months, and it’s not just ports that are under pressure. Air terminals are receiving increasingly large amounts of freight as companies turn to alternative methods to transport their goods.
Due to the stress already on the global logistics system and the increase in the cost of transporting goods worldwide, it is more important now than ever to BUY LOCAL!
For over 45 years, Wilson Concrete has been Fort St. John and the surrounding area’s complete ready-mix and precast concrete supplier. We’re proud to be locally owned and operated, and to ensure quality work on every job we undertake in Fort St. John, the Peace River Region, Northern BC, Western Alberta, and Yukon.
Over the years, we’ve delivered exceptional results to municipalities, urban construction crews, as well as the oilfield construction industry. We’ve also helped provincial ministries and rural clients with all their concrete needs. When you choose Wilson Concrete for residential or commercial work, you’ll benefit from a highly experienced local team committed to excellence.
Concrete is a Local Product
Concrete is a composite material, comprising a mix of aggregate (typically gravel and sand) and a binder (typically cement), which holds the mix together. All the aggregate at Wilson Concrete is locally sourced, and our cement is produced in Western Canada.
Cement, although not a naturally occurring organic material, is manufactured through the chemical combination of 8 main ingredients during the cement production process. These ingredients are generally extracted from limestone, clay, marl, shale, chalk, sand, bauxite, and iron ore. All of which can be locally sourced within Western Canada. In addition to this, all the small stones that are added to our concrete for a decorative “exposed aggregate” finish are also locally sourced.
This ensures that all of our ready-mix concrete and precast concrete products are locally produced from locally sourced materials by our team in Fort St. John. We offer a wide variety of precast concrete products including, but not limited to: septic tanks, service boxes, manholes, catch basins, pump chambers, oil interceptors, and barriers.
Resin Shortage = Expensive Plastic Septic Tanks
The past year has created turmoil across the plastics industry. The COVID-19 pandemic created uncertainty, with delays in the supply chain that continue today. For the plastic resin supply chain however, this was compounded further by a series of unfortunate events.
Freezing temperatures in February 2021 led to the closure of chemical plants in the US, including some of the country’s largest petrochemical complexes in Texas. The resin supply network has been significantly impacted by such disruptions. Because of this material shortage, prices have increased, or commonly used resin has been difficult to obtain.
Resins are small materials that form polymers, which are then made into plastic. Resins are the beginning stage in making any plastic material and come in many different forms; the shortage of this material means that plastic products have become more difficult to obtain as of late.
Due to these events, plastic septic tanks have seen a huge jump in price. At Wilson Concrete, we have been able to keep the costs of our concrete septic tanks stable as all the elements of our concrete are sourced and produced locally.
Keeping Construction Costs Down
With the ongoing supply chain issues facing the construction industry, the costs of construction have increased significantly over the last 18 months. Factor in the extended delays and costs that you could face if a product is damaged or faulty and needs to be shipped back and replaced, and you can count on your project missing deadlines and going over budget.
By working with a local company like Wilson Concrete that produces a local product, your upcoming construction project will no doubt go much smoother – making completion deadlines and staying within budget. Don’t risk the success of your project by sourcing materials that rely on the struggling global supply chain – support local companies and source local products!