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No, the port strike did not cause a toilet paper shortage

By Daniel Miller
Published  October 4, 2024 10:59am EDT
Consumer
Fox TV Stations
article

FILE-A shopper picks up a roll of toilet paper at a store in Burbank, California. (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

The Brief

    • Toilet paper makers said the port strike did not cause a toilet paper shortage.
    • The American Forest and Paper Association, which represents makers of toilet paper and others, spoke out after seeing reports on social media of consumers buying a lot of the items in stores.
    • The union representing the striking dockworkers reached a deal Thursday to suspend the strike until Jan. 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract.

The three-day strike this week at U.S. ports did not cause a shortage of toilet paper. 

The American Forest and Paper Association, which represents manufacturers of toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towels and other wood products, tells the Associated Press it was not aware that the strike had any impact on tissue product delivery in the nation. 

According to the AP, the organization said 85% of toilet paper, paper towels, napkins and tissues used in the nation are made by U.S.-based producers and not impacted by the strike.

RELATED: Port strike suspended until Jan. 15 – here's what's ahead

American Forest and Paper Association officials addressed the matter after reports circulated on social media of consumers purchasing large amounts of toilet paper. 

Videos posted online claim that toilet paper sold out at Costco stores in several states – including New Jersey – with one employee saying their stock was cleared one hour after opening, FOX 29 Philadelphia and FOX 5 New York reported Thursday. 

The union representing the striking U.S. dockworkers reached a deal Thursday to suspend the strike until Jan. 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract. Workers walked off the job on Tuesday affecting 36 ports on the East and Gulf coasts.

RELATED: Port strike panic buying? Costco toilet paper frenzy making the rounds on social media

Most retailers stocked up or shipped items early in anticipation of the strike, but news of the strike also led to reports of some customers panic-buying at Costco and other retailers. 

Amid news of an anticipated port strike, industry analysts said that for everyday dockworkers walk off the job, it takes four to six days to recover. 

RELATED: Port strike 2024 triggers toilet paper 'panic buying' at Costco locations

But they said a short strike of a few days wouldn’t affect the supply chain too much, the AP noted.

The Source 

  • Information for this story was provided by the Associated Press, FOX 29 Philadelphia and FOX 5 New York. The AP received comments from the American Forest and Paper Association addressing the reported toilet paper shortage.  This story was reported from Washington, D.C.