PERRYSBURG, Ohio – As winter weather sets in and more snow is expected this weekend, local businesses are facing significant challenges due to a shortage of bulk salt. The supply crunch, which has been affecting Ohio contractors and suppliers, is forcing some to rethink their operations and raise prices to compensate for the dwindling supply.
Patrick Yoder, co-owner of Yoder Brothers Lawn & Snow, highlighted the difficulties the business is experiencing in securing enough salt to meet demand. “We currently have about 50 tons left in our salt bin, which will get us through this weekend,” Yoder said. “But after this weekend, we don’t know where our next shipment is coming from.”
The shortage is being driven by a combination of factors, including a higher demand for salt in southern U.S. states, which has led to a tighter supply in northern regions like Ohio. As a result, local businesses like Yoder Brothers are finding it difficult to purchase salt in bulk, forcing them to search for alternative suppliers at higher prices.
“We’ve seen about a 30-40% increase in price compared to what we were paying before,” Yoder added.
Andrew Kramp, owner of Renewed Outdoors, is also feeling the impact. Kramp explained that he is selling salt faster than he can stock it, which has led to an increase in prices for both bulk and bagged salt products. “Some of our bagged products have increased by $1.50 to $3 per bag, and we’re doing the same on our sales side,” Kramp said.
Both business owners noted that the shortage is not affecting government agencies and municipalities, as they are still allowed to purchase salt in bulk. However, the limited availability of salt for private businesses is causing logistical issues, with some suppliers having their allocations reduced or delayed. As a result, many companies are paying premiums for freight and are scrambling to find salt from alternative sources.
Despite these challenges, Yoder and Kramp both expect the situation to persist throughout the remainder of the winter season. “There’s a lot of uncertainty in the next few weeks,” said Yoder. “We’ll have to see how things unfold next year.”
As the winter season progresses, local businesses will likely continue to face difficulties in securing enough salt, potentially affecting the cost and availability of snow removal services for residents in the area.