LyondellBasell told customers today that there would be significant delays in truck deliveries of polymers from the US to Canada due to ongoing Canadian trucking protests, which are blocking key roadways and bridges into and out of Canada.
The anti-vaccine-mandate trucker blockade shut down a major border crossing between the country and the US, disrupting the flow of US-made goods into the country. The nearly two week-long protest by cross-border truckers began 28 January in Ottawa before spreading to US-Canada border crossings in Windsor, Ontario and Coutts, Alberta.
"LyondellBasell is making every effort to facilitate delivery of your Canadian orders, but the challenges of providing timely delivery have become increasingly difficult, to the point that we felt it necessary to formally advise you of these constraints beyond our reasonable control," the company said in an 11 February letter to customers.
The company said it has looked into alternative delivery routes and alternative trucking service providers, but so far has been unable to find a good solution. Alternative trucking service providers, in particular, are concerned because their drivers and equipment could become stalled on the Canadian side, which would limit the effectiveness of their overall fleet.
Customers should expect "significant order delivery delays" until the situation is resolved, the company said. Additionally, the company said it will not accept any additional orders without the ability to confirm delivery dates.
The blockades have slowed freight flows for a number of industries, including North American auto manufacturers who rely heavily on the Windsor crossing.
