Bracing for even higher prices: El Paso manufacturing company feels squeeze from supply shortages, price spikes

EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso manufacturer says a combination of the pandemic, supply chain issues, and the conflict in Ukraine are affecting the prices and availability of raw materials that are used to make so many everyday items. 

The manufacturer is buying more steel in anticipation that prices will go even higher than they already are.

Matt Keats, the president of Keats Southwest, a metal stamping company, says consumers will start noticing higher prices and shortages on items that range from electric cars to garage door parts. Keats Southwest is responsible for making metal parts that are distributed to a wide range of industries. 

Keats says his company has created a million dollars in prices increases in the past three to four months because of the lack of supply of certain metals. 

“We’re having stretches of time where our machines are sitting idle waiting for material to come in. It’s a problem,” Keats explained.