Buttenburg & MP hoping for shipping ease in 2022

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Peter Christopher

Global parts and materials distributor Buttenberg & MP is hoping the supply chain chaos caused by the COVID-19 will begin to dissipate in 2022.

Buttenberg & MP’s Miami Operations Manager Richard Martin told Guardian Media the situation, along the supply chain, has forced the company to turn to send materials via air freight in the vast majority of situations.

The company supplies parts for various companies in the energy sector, including cooling tower parts for Methanex, insulation equipment to Atlantic LNG and stock items for Nutrien’s Ammonia Facility.

“What used to cost US$2,500, which now costing US$12,000 has been quite challenging in that sense of getting material out. But nevertheless we found niches and with the support system that way we are globally positioned in Europe and in the US and Asia as well. We’re able to ship via air from anywhere in the world. So when the shipyards are backed up, we find the solution to ship via air and find the best possible route,” Martin told the Guardian Media in a Zoom interview.

He said, however, he was hopeful that the situation at shipyards would begin the normalise in April.

“I believe we hit a peak mark right now of how high things can go as far as shipping and things of that nature. I think they’re only going to come down for now, because it’s quite impossible to go back any higher. But I believe in 2022 April should be a great great time for things are coming back to normal,” he said.

T&T Territory Manager, Andrew Rattan, is also hopeful that vaccination rates will increase to allow a quicker return to normal operations in the country.

“I would like to see here, I mean for all over, but Trinidad moreso is that a lot of people coming forward and taking the vaccine and the booster shot. We have a lot of vaccines here. And I think the more people come forward, it will be much better and things were these much better,” he said.

The company has had to diversify its operations significantly during the course of the pandemic.

Apart from equipment for various energy sector plants, Buttenberg & MP also begin shipping PPE and COVID-19 tests for their clients as well.