Shoppers face wine shortage on supermarket shelves in weeks – and two types are worst affected
CONSUMERS could face a wine shortage on supermarket shelves within weeks, an expert has warned.
Shoppers may find themselves inadvertently thrust into a dry January because of delays in the Panama Canal.
Thousands of ships travel via the canal every year, transporting goods around the world.
But a drought has seen the number of vessels passing through the 50-mile waterway reduced from 35 to 22 a day, leading to delays.
Now an expert has revealed the delays could lead to a shortage of two types of wines on shelves next month.
Marco Forgione, director general of the Institute of Export and International Trade, said: "The UK could be in for a dry January next month, whether we choose to partake in the annual challenge or not.
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“Because of global shipping delays, supplies of our favourite Californian Chardonnays and Chilean Merlots, which make their way to us via the Panama Canal, could be badly affected.”
He added: "If we want to avoid gaps on supermarket shelves, it is imperative that the policymakers create an import strategy which builds diverse supply chains to withstand impacts of these sorts of disruptions."
Experts have also warned the issues with the canal could lead to rising prices too, as stock dries up in the UK.
Dr Amna Khan, retail expert at Manchester Metropolitan University, previously told The Sun: "If it impacts Christmas presents, toys, then this will be a huge issue as the price of goods will certainly go up.
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"Given that Christmas is a time when everyone wants to buy the right gift, there will be a huge focus on purchasing asap."
A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said only 0.5% all UK imports make their way through the Panama Canal.
They added: "However, we continually work with business and international partners to build strong supply chains that ensure the reliable flow of critical imports into the UK, and we will publish a new Critical Imports and Supply Chains Strategy shortly."
How to save money on wine
Wine lovers looking to save money on their next supermarket trip should take note of a few of our tips.
The Sun previously spoke to expert Jamie Goode, who revealed his top tricks for finding a bargain tipple.
First, he said, it's worth going for lesser known brands and regions, so places such as Chile, and the south of France.
Second, choose discounters such as Aldi that have lower margins on their tipples.
But he also said Tesco and Co-op were worth a visit out of the bigger chains.
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Third, it's about picking up the best deals, such as Waitrose and Tesco's 25% off offers.
Morrisons also runs a "buy two, get one free" deal and 25% off six or more bottles offers as well, he added.
You can also join our new Sun Money to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.