“For fear of supply problems from China, many companies have started placing large orders. But when almost the entire world went into lockdown a few weeks later, the demand for products came to a standstill and those companies naturally remained with their stocks. Throughout 2020, the companies tried to get rid of their excess stocks, bringing the entire supply chain to a standstill.”
“A little less than a year later, when the vaccine came on the market, the entire economy bounced back. All companies wanted to replenish their stocks at exactly the same time. This caused enormous pressure on suppliers, resulting in major shortages of raw materials “says Professor Boute.