PoliticsBrexit stockpiling and delays at ports is causing a shortage of popular Christmas gifts for children like Lego, the UK toy industry has warned.- Blockages at British ports like Felixstowe are leading to imports being delayed in the run-up to Christmas, with some companies diverting shipments to Rotterdam in Holland.
- Toymaster's managing director told Business Insider that the disruption was "unprecedented."
- "If you're chasing the must-have Lego line right now, you won't get it," he said.
A "perfect storm" of Brexit chaos and disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic will cause a shortage of popular toys like Lego and Barbie dolls this Christmas, with many children missing out, industry leaders have warned.
Britain's ports are bracing themselves for chaos in less than three weeks when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union's trading rules, due to an array of new checks on goods going between Britain and the continent.
However major ports like Felixstowe on the southeast coast are already suffering disruption due to a sharp increase in the number of goods being moved into Britain as companies attempt to stockpile for the end of the Brexit transition period.
Paul Reader, Marketing Director of Toymaster, which helps supply independent toy shops in the UK, told Business Insider this week that "unprecedented issues with shipments and containers" was resulting in stores already running out of the most popular toys and games.
With Christmas Day just two weeks away, Lego, Barbie dolls, action figures, and board games are all being affected.
"If you're chasing the must-have Lego line right now, you won't get it," he said.
"The message from the Toy & Hobby and Toy Retail associations has been very clear: parents, you need to shop early.
"A lot of suppliers have cut down on TV advertising for all the right reasons - if there's no stock available, why advertise something you can't get? If you're looking for a Baby Yoda right now, you're going to struggle to get it.
"If you had 20 toys that are popular at Christmas in a traditional year, you'd be able to get 10 of them at the last minute. But this year, most if not all of them will be sold out."
He warned that shortages would continue into early next year as companies and their suppliers adapt to new checks and red tape for trade with the EU. "Some European suppliers who were planning on shipping in goods are holding back a little bit. We know suppliers who are saying 'let's wait until after the New Year' to see what the situation is like."
The disruption at Felixstowe has been compounded by a log jam of PPE equipment, with thousands of containers containing masks, gloves, and aprons sitting at the Suffolk port for months on end and taking up in-demand space.
The British Toy and Hobby Association this week warned that port blockages meant some children will not receive Christmas presents on time, with a spokesperson telling the i newspaper that the industry was "under pressure to ensure children around the country get to open their exciting new toys on Christmas Day and into the New Year. We would urge the Government to help at this crucial time to save the festive season and alleviate blockages now, ahead of the UK's departure from the EU."
The i reported that in recent weeks shipments intended for British ports like Felixstowe and Southampton had been re-diverted to Rotterdam, Holland as companies try to avoid having nowhere to unload their goods once they arrive in the UK. Household names like Asda, John Lewis, Tesco, and Rolls-Royce are at risk of being affected by the disruption.
The British Retail Consortium's Andrew Opie said that at ports like Felixstowe, "we have seen a huge surge in demand for space which has created delays and hundreds of thousands of pounds in congestion charges for unloading goods."
He told Business Insider: "Retailers now face higher costs than ever before, with some seeing 25% week-on-week rises for shipping.
"While these rates continue to rise, and the disruption at ports and in shipping continues, retailers face significant challenges with the import of some items ahead of Christmas.
"Retailers are working overtime to rearrange and redirect incoming freight in order to ensure customers can get the items they need, but some delays appear inevitable."