A steel shortage is creating challenges for automakers across the country, including Nissan's assembly plant in Canton.
Production at Nissan has come to a stop because of a shortage of steel. The company says the supply constraints have affected production schedules. Though it's not clear how long the disruption could last.
Tiara Jackson
Steel shortages affect Nissan Canton plant
Frank Adams is a professor of supply chain logistics at Mississippi State University. Adams said there may be little impact on production of cars depending on the timeline.
“Most of the steel in the world is produced internationally,” said Adams. “We, of course, have some domestic producers. But there's a limited supply of that. And so that, again, changes the cost equations.”
Adams said due to tariffs, transporting steel to America is becoming expensive. Parts of Asia, Mexico, and Europe produce steel.
MPB reached out to Nissan for comment. The company spokesperson, Jennifer Swanner, providedthe following statement:
"Nissan is managing a steel supply constraint that has affected some production schedules. We are working closely with our supplier to minimize disruption to employees, dealers and customers.”
Despite this assurance, the company has not provided further clarification regarding the temporary pause in production, nor has it announced when normal production schedules will resume at the Canton plant.
Adams said import-export management affects the daily lives of Mississippians.
“We live in a world where we can be impacted in ways we can't even imagine by things happening in other places,” said Adams. “And so we need to be interested in what is going on in other countries and be working with other countries in hopes of better managing the economy for all of us.”
Nissan has not announced when normal production schedules will resume at the Canton plant.