Every industry, including the glass business, continues to feel the effects of supply shortages. Glass manufacturers across the world, especially in European countries, are having problems satisfying the growing demand for glass products such as glass bottles, glass jars, car windows, and windshields.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, the current global supply chain problem is glass. According to the report, the glass shortage is going to impact the automotive sector on a large scale.
Glassmaking involves large amounts of natural gas and it has become far more expensive since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is alleged that Germany outsources 40% of its natural gas from Russia. The difficulty is that Russian gas is vital to Germany’s industrial sector. Several auto parts are produced in Germany or in other Eastern European nations that are either directly or indirectly impacted by the war due to their shared reliance on a single energy source or their proximity to the conflict.
Reportedly, Volkswagen has been hoarding windshields and windows. The beverage industry would be stocking up on bottles to stave off a crisis. The shortage is because of natural gas supplies that Germany purchases from Russia. In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, buying natural gas from the aggressor is like supporting the country; doing so is out of the question.
Shortage of glass will directly impact the automobile sector and sectors that use glass in tremendous quantity, such as alcohol manufacturers. Manufacturers won’t be able to meet the growing demand because selling vehicles without glasses and windshields won’t be possible.
According to the WSJ, the decision to forego glass provision is in line with the plan to source necessities from nations that are not experiencing an energy crisis. The cost of these glasses may be far more than the cost of locally produced parts, thus driving up the price of automobiles.
An energy crisis would have a direct impact on glass production, making car production challenging for manufacturers.
Also, the windshield replacement service will be impacted. Windshield Store used to import OEM windshield glass for replacement purposes but due to the glass shortage and increase in the cost of manufacturing car glass, now it is difficult to procure car glass.
It is critical to assist the auto industry in prospering without raising prices by finding alternate natural gas sources.
However, with a vast supply chain developed over the years, Windshield Store is able to get OEM car glass for windshield replacement. There may be certain delays but we have always catered to our customers in the best way possible.