Inflation and supply chain shortages stand between industries and efficient, worry-free production. High material costs have several unpleasant side effects, such as decreased productivity and higher customer prices. Businesses may need help with procurement and maintaining warehouse stock while balancing demand.
However, some sectors have been hit harder by high material costs in the last several years, and the pandemic and political turmoil have flipped operational expectations. How severe are these impacts, and can companies rediscover resilience in a tumultuous economy? Here are four industries that have been especially affected by increased expenses and what they can do to mitigate them.
1. Construction
Reduced material access stresses employees, who must work long hours with minimal raw material reserves. Workforce shortages exacerbate problems as companies struggle to meet deliverables and deadlines. In some regions, construction projects have declined due to high material costs and the subsequent side effects. Delays become the norm and project time estimates are longer.
Building materials, notably timber, are in high demand and short supply worldwide. Banks must consider how these high costs affect construction, too. High interest rates and overall fees are deterring customers from purchasing new home builds, reducing the number of houses construction companies work on. The housing market remains volatile and prospective buyers are practicing patience, waiting for prices to dip before making commitments.
Construction materials also impact contractors who make a living from independent renovations, a job market that dropped due to self-motivated DIY trends from lockdown.
2. Food and Beverage
Farmers are experiencing more negative influences on their materials besides global conflict and inflation. Agriculture continues to face severe weather due to the climate crisis, and the United States suffered a bird flu epidemic that skyrocketed the price of eggs.
Whereas other industries may only suffer raw material shortages outside of production, agriculture has to look internally, noticing how crops and livestock continue to bear environmental stressors that are coming to a head. Farmers may need alternative crop options or farming methods to keep operations alive with minimized material access, such as experimenting with no-fertilizer options or looking into all-natural pesticides.
Farmers may find their yields have sunk in previous years because of unhealthy soil or animals, but they need other materials to keep operations consistent. Access to fertilizers and food packaging is scarce, most coming from external suppliers. Additionally, they require expensive materials to manufacture, such as diesel or wood. These raw materials affect multiple industries, yet they manifest in varying degrees.
An increase in tourism puts another pressure on the food and beverage industry as more people want to visit areas with solid regulatory control over COVID-19. Travel expenses worldwide hit new highs, and restaurants and food suppliers globally felt that hit.
3. Fashion and Textiles
Harvesting textiles is an issue on its own, as struggles in agriculture also place high costs on fashion enterprises. Cotton or leather from more expensive livestock means collecting materials to make clothes is more costly and complex. Sustainable textile awareness reduced customer interest in synthetic fabrics like rayon, making clothing producers prioritize natural materials.
Material costs also increase because of energy expenditure. Crafting bulk garments requires intensive energy output, including electricity and water, which are rising in price alongside the raw materials. Though fashion is a thriving industry, customer priorities change yearly. Health awareness leads people to buy fewer clothes and invest in their well-being. Economic turmoil makes them stash money into savings over purchasing a new winter coat. The high prices are merely an additional excuse.
However, clothing contains a long supply chain desperate for open communications to adjust designs to fit what’s available. Failure to do so puts some companies at risk of failing to create economically sustainable seasonal releases. Textiles are one facet, but what about mining metals for embellishments or zippers? The fashion industry is spread out. Companies may need to research alternative workflow options to keep products closer to home to avoid stops along the supply chain or consolidate with vertical integration.
4. Pharmaceuticals
Materials for medicines were already in short supply, depending on the ailment, before inflation and supply chain disruptions. Providers administer pharmaceutical prices in the United States, so they vary drastically between companies, making the situation seem even more chaotic.
Ocean freight prices also remain high, making boat reservations a hot commodity and increasing the market’s competitive nature. These expenses are significant for pharmaceuticals that depend on imports for more niche ingredients. High material costs are one issue compounded by low profits in 2022, making the biggest names in pharmaceuticals increase prices on top of that.
Pharmaceuticals share a similar plight with the agricultural sector because they also struggle to find affordable packaging. Plastic is usually the packaging of choice for most medicines, and oil costs have been rising for years. Environmental degradation and warfare destroying material acquisitions contribute to tense trade relationships and exorbitant prices.
Medical companies also have to juggle priorities alongside global needs and demand. Access to vaccines was imperative during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting pressure on these companies despite potential inaccessibility. Shifting priorities also reduces efforts for other medicines, causing more unintended material shortages and price hikes.
Pharmaceutical companies must manage profit margins and keep medicine prices low, despite disease or illness spikes. These factors are primarily outside their control, yet they must find a way to distribute necessary medications worldwide if there are particular health concerns with global populations.
How High Material Costs Affect Accessibility
It doesn’t matter if companies hedge raw materials or diversify their supply chains. Raw material prices are still high and will continue to increase for the foreseeable future. Companies can somewhat mitigate these costs by employing strategic logistical changes, but businesses must face the reality of how much high material prices can influence. It requires a concerted effort to track expenses and plan for potential adjustments to production.
Despite the impact, companies can maintain resilience and push through these economic barriers to create quality products. It just might require additional creativity and innovation that could propel these industries into a new era of production.
