You're reading: BBC: The shortages hitting countries around the world

BBC: The shortages hitting countries around the world

By BBC.

Published Oct. 19, 2021. Updated Oct. 19 at 2:20 am

An Egyptian woman takes photos of the Panama-flagged MV 'Ever Given' container ship (background) after being fully dislodged from the banks of the Suez Canal, near Suez city, on March 29, 2021. The vessel, a megaship the length of four football fields, was refloated and the Suez Canal reopened to traffic in the afternoon, sparking relief almost a week after the huge container ship got stuck and blocked a major artery for global trade.

Photo by AFP

Around the the world, people and businesses are facing shortages of everything from coffee to coal. Disruption caused by the Covid pandemic is mostly to blame – but there are many factors, and effects are being felt in different ways.