AIBU to ask if you are all hearing about these import/export problems?

[Jacopo]

This seems to be flying under the radar of news reports but many people seem to be having problems with delays on house renovations/repairs/builds because of shortages of essential materials: doors, windows, glass, wood and - most recently - cement. Are other people hearing the same? These are delays of up to six months for essential components, and Brexit, Covid, and the Suez blockage are all being blamed for the holdup in imports.
On the other hand, a number of small UK exporting businesses which I have used (Facebook, Etsy) are reporting that their previous overseas customers in Germany and elsewhere are no longer buying their product because there’s too much red tape and expense involved.
Are other Mumsnetters hearing these reports? Is this what it’s going to be like going forward?

Like MrsMaiselsRedCoat, I too live in Ireland and often ordered from UK websites.
Not anymore. It's too 'hassley' and expensive.
Compared to other posts on here, mine is a minor irritation.

I was told that building supplies are being diverted to HS2 a its a Govt project and they can pay more and have more sway in demanding rocks/stones/cement etc now so get prioritised over Joe Bloggs Builders etc.

As far as the red tape for exports goes, we have to include a ridiculous amount of text on our invoices now as well as an HS code which gets changed by Uk customs or destination customs if their definition is different! Its ridiculous and annoying but not a huge issue.

It's all the EUs fault, according to my relatives. Because... reasons.
But it's bloody awful.

@MarcelineMissouri

DH works for a cinema chain and they are definitely having problems with supply of things like food and building supplies.

He was saying this morning that one of their suppliers told them that a big problem is that this country is currently roughly 50,000 HGV drivers short at the moment due to them being workers from abroad who have gone home either due to Brexit or covid, and many of them are now unable to return even if they wanted to.

HGV driver crisis is caused by IR35 www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2021-06-15.16116.h&s=IR35#g16116.q0

It's about to get worse - extra layers of paperwork / tax / etc. starting 1st July - I've given up and my small Etsy business is no longer selling to the EU.

My garden furniture did finally arrive this week though (in time for all the rain) so there's that.

No, I don't know anyone complaining about this

DH works for a cinema chain and they are definitely having problems with supply of things like food and building supplies

Not being able to source food for cinema workers? It has to be a joke, surely...

Yep.
And it's both ways.
I'm in the EU and am no longer buying from a lot of British based companies due to import duties. Ditto small sellers on eBay and Etsy. A £4.50 second hand dress and I've got to pay £12 import duties? Not happening.
Still, we've got our old navy passports eh?

@EndoplasmicReticulum

It's about to get worse - extra layers of paperwork / tax / etc. starting 1st July - I've given up and my small Etsy business is no longer selling to the EU.

My garden furniture did finally arrive this week though (in time for all the rain) so there's that.

Yep, me too. Not bothering to sell on Etsy to the UK anymore after next week. Not worth the hassle.