Will The Coronavirus Affect Your Supply Chain in China?

By now, you’ve probably heard about the Coronavirus. If you have a supply chain in China, then you might be concerned that this outbreak is going to hurt your business. It’s important to be aware of this virus and its effect on China, but we want to reassure you that any impacts on manufacturing will be temporary.

 

As of January 31, there were just over 8,000 confirmed cases of the virus and 170 deaths inside China. We understand the fear that international epidemics like this can evoke, but it’s critical to put outbreaks like this into perspective before getting too concerned. This year in the United States there have already been 140,000 hospitalizations and 8,200 deaths from the flu, an illness that we expect and prepare for every year. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said the “Coronavirus will be a blip on the horizon in comparison” to influenza. Early indications also suggest that the mortality rate for the Coronavirus is considerably less than past variations like SARS.

 

The Chinese government is taking unprecedented measures to contain the virus. Officials from The World Health Organization have praised China’s aggressive approach for containment. The majority of confirmed cases are still within the province of Hubei. There have been limited confirmed cases outside of China and no deaths reported in other countries.

 

If you’re manufacturing in China, you may experience some additional delay in the reopening of factories following the Lunar holiday. These delays will be temporary and the long-term effects of the virus on manufacturing in China should be limited. You’re probably aware by now that Chinese New Year already causes delays in production and shipping—so you simply need to adjust your plans accordingly.  In situations like this, rest assured that Blacksmith remains committed to helping our clients during every step of the manufacturing process.