Chemical and Metal Shortage Alert – July 2017

The purpose of this blog is to identify chemical and metal shortages reported on the Internet.  The sources of the information reported here are primarily news releases issued on the Internet.  The issue period of the news releases is July 2017.

Section I below lists those chemicals and metals that were on the previous month’s Chemical and Metal Shortage Alert list and continue to have news releases indicating they are in short supply.  Click here to read the June 2017 Chemical and Metal Shortage Alert list.

Section II lists the new chemicals and metals (not on the June alert).  Also provided is some explanation for the shortage and geographical information.  This blog attempts to list only actual shortage situations – those shortages that are being experienced during the period covered by the news releases.  Chemicals and metals identified in news releases as only being in danger of being in short supply status are not listed.

Section I. 

Cobalt:  global; mining not keeping up with demand

Rebar steel: China; production not keeping up with demand

Sand/gravel/cement:  India; supply not keeping up with demand

      

Section II.   Shortages Reported in July not found on the Previous Month’s List

Bauxite:  China; mining not keeping up with demand

Ferrovanadium:  global; supply not keeping up with demand

Framing lumber:  United States; supply not keeping up with demand

Graphite electrodes:  global; supply not keeping up with demand

Polyethylene:  Russia; production not keeping up with demand

Zinc:  global; supply not keeping up with demand

Reasons for Section II shortages can be broadly categorized as: 

1.  Mining not keeping up with demand: bauxite

2.  Production not keeping up with demand:  polyethylene

3.  Government regulations: none

4.  Sources no longer available: none

5.  Insufficient imports: none

6.  Supply not keeping up with demand:  ferrovanadium; framing lumber; graphite electrodes; zinc