Some U.S. shoppers are stocking up on toilet paper because they fear the port strike could cause disruption and demand is rising in areas affected by Hurricane Helene.
Many Charmin toilet paper is no longer in stock and cannot be delivered Costco According to the retailer’s website, it’s available in stores nationwide. Other brands and paper towels were also sold out at some locations.
Gary Millerchip, chief financial officer of Costco Wholesale Corp., said the company has seen higher demand for everyday items, particularly paper products, in recent days. Costco does not expect supply shortages of staple items due to the strike and is working to restock products that sell quickly, he added.
Toilet paper, most of which is made in the U.S., was among the first items to face supply chain constraints during the pandemic as people hoarded it out of fear they would run out.
During visits to Costco stores in northern New Jersey, Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh said his team “observed similar behaviors to those seen early in the pandemic.”
“This appears to be due to supply issues due to recent port strikes,” he wrote in a research note, adding that there were “sporadic” outages in detergent, bread and other items – “but nothing like 2020.”
The International Longshoremen’s Association, the 47,000-member union representing workers at all major ports in the eastern United States and the Gulf Coast, went on strike on October 1st demand higher wages and protection against automation.
A Kroger A Co. spokeswoman said Thursday the company had temporarily placed purchase limits on certain products, including paper towels, toilet paper and water.
See also: Insurance losses from Hurricane Helene are expected to reach $6.4 billion
A Walmart An Inc. spokesman said the company is experiencing increased demand for toilet paper and paper towels, particularly in areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Walmart will continue to monitor product availability and work with suppliers.
Some Goal There is also a shortage of toilet paper in corporate stores. The company declined to comment.
Kimberly Clark Corp., which makes Scott brand toilet paper and tissues, said the port strike “has no impact at this time on our ability to deliver our paper products or other products.”
“We have taken measures to prepare our supply chain in advance of the strike and will continue to actively monitor and respond to the situation,” the company said in a statement.
Procter & Gamble Co., maker of the Charmin brand, declined to comment.