Shipping delays, 2020 sales impacting fireworks availability

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Fireworks industry experts say shipping delays from China and record-breaking sales from last year are having an impact on supplies this Fourth of July. The owner of Extreme Fireworks in Rapid City, Douglas Bellinger, says a shortage is limiting the amount of products he can sell this year. Bellinger says fireworks supplies from China normally take 30 days for shipping, but this year it’s taking 60 days. The fireworks industry was not immune to the coronavirus pandemic that caused closures and staffing problems in the supply chain. On top of that, Bellinger says fireworks have been in high demand since last year when more people celebrated Independence Day at home.