Eli5: how have supply chains not recovered over the last two years?

Question

I understand how they got delayed initially, but what factors have prevented things from rebounding? For instance, I work in the medical field an am being told some product is “backordered” multiple times a week. Besides inventing a time machine, what concrete things are preventing a return to 2019 supplys?

In: 93

Answer 1

I work in metal distribution both to individuals and businesses. After COVID hit everything was really slow, everything was cheap and we didn’t need any of it.

Then in 2022 suddenly everything tripled in price over the course of 3 weeks. A lot of customers had commitments to do jobs and had to eat the losses. A lot of customers went out of business, some just slowed way down, mostly the solo handyman guy who builds fences and tables and works on cars stayed busy. But they’re small buyers, can’t sustain a business on that. I’ll always miss the traffic.

Then things stopped being available. You need some regular 2″ round tube tube? No sorry cant help no round tube of any kind to offer. People would offer to pay ridiculous rush fees thinking I was jerking them around but there literally stopped being material.

Then for a while material was available but you’d be paying $5/# for what you paid $1.80. The prices eventually killed the rest of our customers and even homeowners couldn’t afford their projects anymore.

Over the past 6 months it was extremely slow, like don’t hire replacements for people who leave kind of slow. Prices fell by about half.

Now prices are reasonable-ish, old customers are starting to pop back up. It’s starting to get busy again and we’re short handed. Still can’t get some things like copper and brass sheet/plate. My job shop is in a permanent 3 week lead cuz their staff got decimated and nobody wants to operate a laser or run a press break or be a welder.

That being said, business is picking back up. New projects are being started so things are looking up.

Edit: I know it’s rambly and off topic for the sub but figured I’d share my experience as I saw it from our little corner of the supply chain.