Again there is a shortage in Germany. The reason is hamster purchases. Because consumers are afraid of going empty-handed.
There is currently a carbon dioxide shortage in Germany. Manufacturers can no longer produce certain beverages in sufficient quantities and there are bottlenecks in the beverage markets. Many consumers therefore start to hamster. This has far-reaching consequences.
Hamster purchases create additional scarcity
When consumers hoard drinks, empties are also becoming scarce. The Bavarian Brewers’ Association warns of this. He therefore from beer hamster purchases. And this despite the fact that the carbon dioxide in the breweries is becoming scarce.
“On the one hand, there will be enough beer, at least of the main types, in winter, on the other hand, hoarding is counterproductive for our industry, because then we’ll run out of empties.” Georg Schneider explains this to a newspaper. He is the brewer’s president of Bavaria.
A lack of empties, however, means that the beer is becoming even scarcer. Because then the breweries will not be able to bottle it. A vicious circle. And this is even more serious than previous hamster purchases. Because there only the product was scarce. In this case, however, another important component for production is missing.
Production is changed
The breweries are forced to do this. The lack of natural gas is of course a reason for this. But the carbon dioxide is also becoming scarce. Because this is a by-product of ammonia production in Germany.
Therefore, the breweries limit their production. They produce fewer specialty beers and concentrate on the main products. Because the dealers are currently only offering 30 percent of the carbon dioxide that is normally available.
However, carbonic acid is particularly important for the filling process. This forces the oxygen out of the empty bottles. But other industries also need carbonic acid. Like meat plants. These need the carbonic acid in packaged sausages.
This creates competition between the breweries and other industries.