Saw this article about the kettlebell shortage and thought I’d share:
The Truth Behind the Great Kettlebell Shortage of 2020
Interesting Article
The article states, "The kettlebell is the most obvious flashpoint of our great weight shortage."
However, it is not the only flash point. Free Weight (Olympic Plates, Olympic Bars, Dumbbells) along Benches and Racks needed to train with also fall into that category.
As I posted above, the Retail/Commercial Fitness Company that I work for received a truck load of Free Weights on a mid day Monday. We had to open the crates to find out where certain items were. That took us until Tuesday.
We were opened for "Take Out/Pick Up" on Wednesday morning at 9:30 am. By 11:30 am we were sold out of most of the Free Weight shipment. That is a common story, nation wide.
American Manufacturers
While there may be an influx of business for American Fitness Manufacturers, that business will evaporate once things get back on track.
That because the cost of fitness equipment manufactured in American is more expensive than other countries.
China Factory Workers Pay
"Salary range is from US $ 250 to about US $450 per month for a
factory worker in a large city, and less than $200 inland."
What is the average salary of a factory worker in China in 2019? - Quora
That works out to be about $1.16 to $2.60 per hour, based on a 40 hour work week.
As the article stated, "“A lot of large American buyers say they care about everything, but at the end of the day, all they want to know is piece price.”
Manufacturers Moving From China
Fitness manufacturers and other manufactures are gradually relocation from China to other countries. That because the labor cost are cheaper.
Some of the America's manufacturers have moved to or are going to be moving to countries like: India, Pakistan, Vietnam, etc.
Vietnam Factory Workers Pay
"
Vietnam’s monthly minimum wages in 2019 vary by region from $125 to $180, with the highest rates in urban areas like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
These wages are sometimes half of China’s which vary by province
from about $140 to $346." Manufacturing In Vietnam: 5 Key Factors For Moving From China
Based on a 40 hour work week, that would mean the Vietnam hourly wage is around 72 cents to $1.05 per hour.
Secondly, the tariff's place on China are driving their price up. even more. There are no tariffs on Vietnam.
What's Cheaper Than India, Pakistan, Vietnam, etc?
The labor cost of Africa are even lower.
However, due to the chaos and volatility of the African countries, it is questionable if any manufacturers would every relocate any of their factories there.
