(ANSA-AFP) - FRANKFURT AM MAIN, DEC 23 - A record number of
German companies said they were experiencing supply issues, data
published Thursday showed, as bottlenecks which have hampered
industry for months tightened once again in December. Almost 82
percent of businesses surveyed by the Ifo institute reported
problems sourcing raw materials or components -- the highest
proportion recorded by the Munich-based think tank. In November,
74.4 percent said they were facing shortages, after the
situation had eased slightly in October. "German manufacturing
faces a paradox. Order books are full, but the shortage of
materials means companies can't ramp up production accordingly,"
said Ifo survey head, Klaus Wohlrabe. Manufacturers of
electrical equipment were the worst-affected by shortages in the
latest survey, with 93.8 percent reporting difficulties amid an
acute lack of semiconductors. (ANSA-AFP).
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