Retailers have been warned that upholstery and mattress availability could be hit due to foam shortages.
A reduction in the European production of Toluene diisocyanate (TDI), a vital raw material in the production of foam, could mean increased costs and supply shortages.
Mattress and bedding producer Putnams says it expects the disruption to continue until the end of November, while the BFM has warned of unexpected delays.
‘The material is being imported from the US and Asia, but overseas transportation costs and the fact that not enough of it is being produced to meet demand, means manufacturers are facing unexpected sporadic supply shortages or sudden jumps in costs, which may cause disappointment and inconvenience for customers,’ says Sean Holt, BFM md.
‘Manufacturers are battling extremely challenging circumstances, with national and international economic factors that are beyond their control.’
