Americans Panic-Buying Toilet Paper

Several news outlets have reported local panic-buying of toilet paper for fear that the strike of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) workers across the U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports will cause shortages.

CNN reported news of shortages filled social media Tuesday, showing empty shelves that previously held toilet paper and paper towels. However, the ILA port strike will have no effect on the supply of toilet paper and paper towels. The overwhelming majority of U.S. toilet paper consumption derives from domestic factories, which means it mostly arrives by truck or rain, not ship.

However, the strike will affect imports of perishable goods and exports for the toilet paper industry. The American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Heidi Brock issued the following statement regarding the recent ILA workers’ strike: “This strike will have serious consequences for the U.S. economy and the manufacturing sector, including industries like ours that rely heavily on port activity for exporting goods. Without access to ports, our member companies face tough choices, including whether to pause or shut down mills and facilities, putting high-paying jobs in rural areas at risk.