Coronavirus - any news from your Chinese suppliers?
Discussion
HoHoHo said:
jamoor said:
cervezaman said:
Trade fairs everywhere are closing. Was supposed to be in HK for the Jewellery fair next week but it’s been cancelled.
Such a shame! What better excuse to travel halfway around the world (paid by the company) on a jolly pretending to look at new jewellery ranges ????
Same for us but in Italy!Such a shame! What better excuse to travel halfway around the world (paid by the company) on a jolly pretending to look at new jewellery ranges ????
We were meant to be in Milan next week for exmaple and have lost a rather large chunk of money on that cancelled order. I hear today that a large UK construction show is likely to cancel and that will also effect us and so it goes on.
Thankfully I have always been very good at saving money and we have sufficient in the bank with no debts to ride out any storm I can see happening however some competitors I know live hand to mouth and this will mean inevitably some will go to the wall with staff then out of work.
We are not the only business being effected by a long way and this little chinese derived fella is going to mean prices rise in the short term and all sorts of other issues that's for sure
As it was half term he spent his time off with his family last week and I've been able to give him some work this week, he's got non exhibition work for the next couple of weeks and then I'm taking the whole family skiing for a week in Italy, (Coronavirus permitting of course so that's pretty unlikely), after that he's got a few things but the future is less certain.
He's also careful with money though and has reserves, luckily he has other work strings as well so should be fine but the exhibition stuff pays well and he will miss that, the other problem is that as you said some companies in the exhibition stand business are pretty close to the edge financially and he's hoping they don't go broke before they pay him, he's already had that a couple of times in the past.
I hope you don't mind me making a blatant tout for work for him, he's a hard worker and good at what he does so if you need any subcontract stand fitters let me know.
TeeRev said:
A fair slice of my son in law's work is fitting exhibition stands, he should have been in Barcelona last week and this for a big mobile phone exhibition but that was cancelled at pretty late notice.
As it was half term he spent his time off with his family last week and I've been able to give him some work this week, he's got non exhibition work for the next couple of weeks and then I'm taking the whole family skiing for a week in Italy, (Coronavirus permitting of course so that's pretty unlikely), after that he's got a few things but the future is less certain.
He's also careful with money though and has reserves, luckily he has other work strings as well so should be fine but the exhibition stuff pays well and he will miss that, the other problem is that as you said some companies in the exhibition stand business are pretty close to the edge financially and he's hoping they don't go broke before they pay him, he's already had that a couple of times in the past.
I hope you don't mind me making a blatant tout for work for him, he's a hard worker and good at what he does so if you need any subcontract stand fitters let me know.
I'm hearing this frequantly at the moment As it was half term he spent his time off with his family last week and I've been able to give him some work this week, he's got non exhibition work for the next couple of weeks and then I'm taking the whole family skiing for a week in Italy, (Coronavirus permitting of course so that's pretty unlikely), after that he's got a few things but the future is less certain.
He's also careful with money though and has reserves, luckily he has other work strings as well so should be fine but the exhibition stuff pays well and he will miss that, the other problem is that as you said some companies in the exhibition stand business are pretty close to the edge financially and he's hoping they don't go broke before they pay him, he's already had that a couple of times in the past.
I hope you don't mind me making a blatant tout for work for him, he's a hard worker and good at what he does so if you need any subcontract stand fitters let me know.
We didn't have any work at WMC you are referring to, sounds like he builds custom stands?
You are welcome to whixx me a PM and i'll provide my details, good hard working contrcators are around however there are times we need more.
I reaslly don't know what's going to happen in ouor industry short term. Long term the world will sort itself out and life will get back to normal but short term is going to be a bit of a rough ride - of course this doesn't just effect me, there are clients who aren't exhibting and they will suffer because they won't sell as much as they had hoped.
It's a funny old world that something as small as a pinhead has literally brought humanity to a stop in some countries.
I used to work in AV and met up with some old colleagues last week, the lead time of some of the more bespoke devices they install have now gone from 2 weeks to 8 weeks and this is for products manufactured in Taiwan, I'm guessing the components in their supply chain must come from China and this is causing knock on delays.
Attendance at ISE in Amsterdam this month was 50k compared with 80k last year which is quite a drop.
Attendance at ISE in Amsterdam this month was 50k compared with 80k last year which is quite a drop.
untakenname said:
I used to work in AV and met up with some old colleagues last week, the lead time of some of the more bespoke devices they install have now gone from 2 weeks to 8 weeks and this is for products manufactured in Taiwan, I'm guessing the components in their supply chain must come from China and this is causing knock on delays.
Attendance at ISE in Amsterdam this month was 50k compared with 80k last year which is quite a drop.
Embedded World is still on this week in Nuremberg - a lot of major exhibitors pulled out and after Mobile World Congress (which also should have been this week) everyone thought EW would be cancelled too. Reports from the show have been up-beat, which I suppose is to be expected, but a colleague is there today and says attendance is terrible. One of our German guys refused to go.Attendance at ISE in Amsterdam this month was 50k compared with 80k last year which is quite a drop.
We've had two Chinese suppliers ship goods out this week. According to the tracking they have both got as far as Hong Kong.
Another supplier has been in work since Monday, but they are short of 30% of their staff as they are still stuck where they went home for the holidays.
So it looks like things are stirring slowly.
Another supplier has been in work since Monday, but they are short of 30% of their staff as they are still stuck where they went home for the holidays.
So it looks like things are stirring slowly.
A lot of you guys sound lucky! We have a very mixed picture - the southern factories are all at 60-80% but the biggest issue is their suppliers are still pending or low on workers. My northern factories are a whole different ball game - complete shut down of several factories - 1 told me they have 3 workers... In terms of delay its looking like theres a 500k unit backlog over Feb in my main factory, so shipments are facing at least a two week delay. Some are reporting a 4 week delay, but we are unable to resource our product as China is the only place in the world that makes the product apart from bespoke factories.
We have a 4 week delay for our next shipment that is due in April. The factory owners have said it's either no staff or no product / raw material to work with and the issues are all multiplied down the supply chain.
It's going to affect things for us in 3-6 months time as stocks run low in the UK and the re-orders are delayed.
It's going to affect things for us in 3-6 months time as stocks run low in the UK and the re-orders are delayed.
Well, another show cancelled in Germany, I’ve literally just had an email from the client and organiser. The vans are packed and the boys were leaving at 5am tomorrow morning.......
I suspect but hope I’m wrong this is the thin end of the wedge and we have two more decent shows in the next month, one in Paris and another in Germany so I fear we will not be building at those either.
Would it be wrong to say the sooner the panic dies down the better?
Let this be a lesson to all business owners, one day the world and work looks great but literally within a week......whoooossshhh.
Fortunately I’ve not only been bloody good at spending money over the years but I’ve saved, saved and saved some more for a rainy day and I suspect this is our rainy day.
I suspect but hope I’m wrong this is the thin end of the wedge and we have two more decent shows in the next month, one in Paris and another in Germany so I fear we will not be building at those either.
Would it be wrong to say the sooner the panic dies down the better?
Let this be a lesson to all business owners, one day the world and work looks great but literally within a week......whoooossshhh.
Fortunately I’ve not only been bloody good at spending money over the years but I’ve saved, saved and saved some more for a rainy day and I suspect this is our rainy day.
HoHoHo said:
Well, another show cancelled in Germany, I’ve literally just had an email from the client and organiser. The vans are packed and the boys were leaving at 5am tomorrow morning.......
I suspect but hope I’m wrong this is the thin end of the wedge and we have two more decent shows in the next month, one in Paris and another in Germany so I fear we will not be building at those either.
Would it be wrong to say the sooner the panic dies down the better?
Let this be a lesson to all business owners, one day the world and work looks great but literally within a week......whoooossshhh.
Fortunately I’ve not only been bloody good at spending money over the years but I’ve saved, saved and saved some more for a rainy day and I suspect this is our rainy day.
It sounds like you’re going to be in a fantastic position to take over your competitors in the not too distant future. Get ready to make hay!!I suspect but hope I’m wrong this is the thin end of the wedge and we have two more decent shows in the next month, one in Paris and another in Germany so I fear we will not be building at those either.
Would it be wrong to say the sooner the panic dies down the better?
Let this be a lesson to all business owners, one day the world and work looks great but literally within a week......whoooossshhh.
Fortunately I’ve not only been bloody good at spending money over the years but I’ve saved, saved and saved some more for a rainy day and I suspect this is our rainy day.
OP here - I received one order this week and more to follow next week. Production in Shenzhen seems to be ramping up again which is good although some suppliers have big backlogs of certain product lines.
Ironically I think China may end up being the least affected country in terms of infection rate per capita due to their strict (draconian?) control in highly affected areas whilst the rest of the world gets hammered with this virus due to differences in population control and freedom of movement which can never be enforced as tightly as the Chinese have been able to do.
Ironically I think China may end up being the least affected country in terms of infection rate per capita due to their strict (draconian?) control in highly affected areas whilst the rest of the world gets hammered with this virus due to differences in population control and freedom of movement which can never be enforced as tightly as the Chinese have been able to do.
Guys, I work in global logistics (air & ocean) and as you all know there is a massive freight shortage due to factory shut downs. From my CN agents, most are still off line or running at very low capacity. Most of the issues is that there is no trucking allowed between provinces and no cross border from CN to HK. So for example, so cannot collect in SZX and fly out of PEK.
From an air freight perspective, the only flight that are moving are the CN carriers and freighter options really. Most EU carriers, BA, Virgin, AF/KLM, Finnair, Swiss, Lufthansa etc have all cancelled flight until 31st March. Same for the US carriers and most of the intra Asia such as Air India and the ME carriers too. Still have some weird and wonderful routes and space available with the like on Kenya Airways via Nairobi.....
Rate wise at the moment we are seeing sub $2.00 p/kg and space is ok ish, but the demand is just not there at the moment. In a few weeks time when the factories pick up and demand is higher, I can see rates going through the $4 to $5 p/kg mark easily and space will be a mega issue. Supply & demand. It might soften once the main carriers reenter the market in April, but again demand will probably still be high.
I am still getting space at the moment and can move things.
Ocean freight wise, it's just a bad, blank sailings and ships not calling at ports, lack of 20ft containers. Shipping lines complaining that they are sailing 22k TEU vessels with only 6k TEU on them. Again rates are low, very low and again will rocket up. FAK on a 40ft is around the $1200 + $250 BAF and IMO around $135 per TEU right now but I can see that going through the $2500 + mark easily, if not over $3000. The LCL co-loaders have already said a surcharge will be coming in, probably around $5-$8 per cbm. One major global co-loader has estimated that they have lost $6.2m globally already and that will most likely be closer to $8.5m loss once everything is back up and running.
I am free for a chat if anyone wants, or if anyone needs any help or assistance, feel free to drop me a message.
From an air freight perspective, the only flight that are moving are the CN carriers and freighter options really. Most EU carriers, BA, Virgin, AF/KLM, Finnair, Swiss, Lufthansa etc have all cancelled flight until 31st March. Same for the US carriers and most of the intra Asia such as Air India and the ME carriers too. Still have some weird and wonderful routes and space available with the like on Kenya Airways via Nairobi.....
Rate wise at the moment we are seeing sub $2.00 p/kg and space is ok ish, but the demand is just not there at the moment. In a few weeks time when the factories pick up and demand is higher, I can see rates going through the $4 to $5 p/kg mark easily and space will be a mega issue. Supply & demand. It might soften once the main carriers reenter the market in April, but again demand will probably still be high.
I am still getting space at the moment and can move things.
Ocean freight wise, it's just a bad, blank sailings and ships not calling at ports, lack of 20ft containers. Shipping lines complaining that they are sailing 22k TEU vessels with only 6k TEU on them. Again rates are low, very low and again will rocket up. FAK on a 40ft is around the $1200 + $250 BAF and IMO around $135 per TEU right now but I can see that going through the $2500 + mark easily, if not over $3000. The LCL co-loaders have already said a surcharge will be coming in, probably around $5-$8 per cbm. One major global co-loader has estimated that they have lost $6.2m globally already and that will most likely be closer to $8.5m loss once everything is back up and running.
I am free for a chat if anyone wants, or if anyone needs any help or assistance, feel free to drop me a message.
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