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In Australia I keep seeing "Chip Shortage" signs on windows of restaurants, but its a shortage of potatoes leading to higher prices or more defects on your hot

In Australia I keep seeing "Chip Shortage" signs on windows of restaurants, but its a shortage of potatoes leading to higher prices or more defects on your hot chips. Relief is expected in a month or so https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-03-20/hot-chips-shortage-ends-as-potato-harvest-starts/102096716 https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-03-20/hot-chips-short... but may repeat for another year. Like the other chips you never thought it would happen to such a fundamental product and then it did.

ramchip 4y ago
It was a big thing in Japan too, so much that McDonald's stopped selling medium & large portions of French fries: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Food-Beverage/Japan-fast-food-chains-face-potato-shortage-due-to-supply-crunch https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Food-Beverage/Japan-fast-fo... A few years ago we had problems with potato chips (the flat kind): https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39574512 https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39574512
quickthrower2 4y ago
Lets call them spuds (and the silicon things: ICs) to disambiguate. The fried potato disks can be called crisps.
simonebrunozzi 4y ago
For a moment I thought you were simply joking!
AraceliHarker 4y ago
Japan is currently suffering from an egg shortage, thanks to the avian flu epidemic.
- fnordpiglet 4y ago
  In America we are suffering from an egg shortage due to the greed of egg suppliers https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/23/high-egg-prices-due-to-a-collusive-scheme-by-suppliers-group-claims.html https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/23/high-egg-prices-due-to-a-col...
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - tmoertel 4y ago
    The article you linked to suggests otherwise: > However, food economists are skeptical an inquiry would uncover wrongdoing. > “I don’t think we’ve seen anything that makes us think that there’s something there other than normal economics happening right now,” said Amy Smith, vice president at Advanced Economic Solutions.
    - GeekyBear 4y ago
      > “I don’t think we’ve seen anything that makes us think that there’s something there other than normal economics happening right now,” When profits are suddenly up 700% this claim no longer holds water. > High egg prices send profits at largest US producer soaring more than 700% https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/29/business/egg-profits-cal-maine/ https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/29/business/egg-profits-cal-main...
      - lotsofpulp 4y ago
        You need sustained higher profit margins to make that claim. In the short term, I expect profit margins to increase for goods experiencing supply / demand shocks due to market participants trying to figure out which way supply and demand curves are moving, and in shortage scenarios, buyers willing to pay more than necessary to secure the goods.
        GeekyBear 4y ago
        Sorry, but a company that reports it has had zero avian flu outbreaks in it's facilities and still jacks up it's prices so high that profits increase by 700%... that's textbook price gouging.
        lotsofpulp 4y ago
        So buyers willing and able to pay more for something should not have the ability to bid more to guarantee they can obtain it? Note that the buyers have options to consume other foods for their nutritional needs.
- re-thc 4y ago
  Taiwan and other asian countries / cities too.

ramchip 4y ago

It was a big thing in Japan too, so much that McDonald's stopped selling medium & large portions of French fries: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Food-Beverage/Japan-fast-food-chains-face-potato-shortage-due-to-supply-crunch https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Food-Beverage/Japan-fast-fo... A few years ago we had problems with potato chips (the flat kind): https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39574512 https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39574512

quickthrower2 4y ago

Lets call them spuds (and the silicon things: ICs) to disambiguate. The fried potato disks can be called crisps.

simonebrunozzi 4y ago

For a moment I thought you were simply joking!

AraceliHarker 4y ago

Japan is currently suffering from an egg shortage, thanks to the avian flu epidemic.

fnordpiglet 4y ago
In America we are suffering from an egg shortage due to the greed of egg suppliers https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/23/high-egg-prices-due-to-a-collusive-scheme-by-suppliers-group-claims.html https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/23/high-egg-prices-due-to-a-col...
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- tmoertel 4y ago
  The article you linked to suggests otherwise: > However, food economists are skeptical an inquiry would uncover wrongdoing. > “I don’t think we’ve seen anything that makes us think that there’s something there other than normal economics happening right now,” said Amy Smith, vice president at Advanced Economic Solutions.
  - GeekyBear 4y ago
    > “I don’t think we’ve seen anything that makes us think that there’s something there other than normal economics happening right now,” When profits are suddenly up 700% this claim no longer holds water. > High egg prices send profits at largest US producer soaring more than 700% https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/29/business/egg-profits-cal-maine/ https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/29/business/egg-profits-cal-main...
    - lotsofpulp 4y ago
      You need sustained higher profit margins to make that claim. In the short term, I expect profit margins to increase for goods experiencing supply / demand shocks due to market participants trying to figure out which way supply and demand curves are moving, and in shortage scenarios, buyers willing to pay more than necessary to secure the goods.
      - GeekyBear 4y ago
        Sorry, but a company that reports it has had zero avian flu outbreaks in it's facilities and still jacks up it's prices so high that profits increase by 700%... that's textbook price gouging.
        lotsofpulp 4y ago
        So buyers willing and able to pay more for something should not have the ability to bid more to guarantee they can obtain it? Note that the buyers have options to consume other foods for their nutritional needs.
re-thc 4y ago
Taiwan and other asian countries / cities too.