In Latvia — there is a strong shortage of heating pellets and briquettes. This much-needed product has suddenly disappeared from the shelves of construction stores, despite the fact that our country produces it itself, writes Grani.
The onset of frost has rapidly increased the demand for heating pellets and briquettes. Latvians are hunting for this product in all regions of the country — and everywhere they encounter empty shelves. But how is this possible, as it is not some exotic product produced somewhere overseas? Pellets and briquettes are a byproduct of sawmill production, which our country produces in large quantities itself.
The news service of the Latvian TV channel 360TV contacted manufacturers, and they confirmed: the demand has risen so rapidly that stocks in warehouses have been depleted. To put new volumes on the shelves, they first need to be produced, and that takes time. Factories are not designed for sudden spikes in demand; they have a clear plan and a pre-scheduled export workload.
As a result, Latvian consumers have recalled a long-forgotten word — "shortage." The issue of the availability of wood fuel has become one of the most discussed topics on social media. Residents from different regions of the country are sharing messages about where they searched and what the results were. These messages are quite similar: went to such-and-such construction store, but everything is sold out.
Therefore, following the word "shortage," people had to remember the phrase "waiting list." In Soviet times, this was how furniture was purchased, and now — briquettes and pellets for heating. For example, in Inčukalns, the list for receiving products is already being taken for the end of February.
And, bringing the nostalgia for shortages to a logical conclusion, Latvians today had to recall yet another expression from a distant past: "no more than two per person!" Yes, believe it or not, manufacturers, in order to reduce the activity of resellers (in Soviet times, they would have been called speculators), had to introduce sales limits: no more than 20-30 bags of pellets can be sold to one buyer.
Residents of Latvia, who heat their homes with stoves and fireplaces, are urged to remain calm and not to be tempted by suspicious offers on the internet promising quick delivery: most likely, these are fraudsters.
According to experts, the situation in the market can only normalize with the arrival of warmer spring weather.
Leave a comment