Aussies are told to start shopping for their Christmas gifts NOW as Covid-19 wreaks havoc on supply chains and sees waiting times for goods double

Freight industry insiders have warned Covid is causing huge delays in shipping
A number of experts said shoppers should start ordering Christmas items now
Government has cut the number of incoming flights into the country
80 per cent of freight into Australia arrives on passenger planes

By Brett Lackey For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 16:18 BST, 16 July 2021 | Updated: 16:18 BST, 16 July 2021

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Australian shoppers have been warned they should start ordering Christmas gifts from overseas now as the pandemic causes huge delays to shipping.

The federal government recently halved the already reduced number of flights entering the country and this combined with increased demand for online shopping is expected to create a bottleneck in the supply chain.

Additionally, factory and warehouse closures, industrial action and even shipping container shortages could could cause even more disruption.

Christmas shoppers are being warned to get their orders in for overseas items now as Covid is causing major disruptions to shipping (stock image)

Australia relies on commercial passenger flights for 80 per cent of freight goods which are stored in the plane's belly - and the number of flights into the country has been slashed (pictured: a Virgin Australia flight from Hong Kong waits on the tarmac)

'I would highly recommend that anyone who wants a guarantee of the right presents under the tree for Christmas, that they look to purchase in coming weeks while stock is available,' Freight and Trade Alliance director Paul Zaili told The Age.

Peter O'Brien, the director of importer New Dimension Oz - which focuses on toys and educational products - has similar advice.

'If you used to start thinking about Christmas shopping in October, start thinking about it in August,' he said.

Mr O'Brien said his wholesale shipment times have doubled from three to six months.

He added a reduced number of cargo ships sailing out from places such as China, India and the United States resulted in growing backlogs of deliveries at ports.

Other logistics experts have added that as Christmas gets closer these delays are only going to increase as demand from retailers and consumers peaks.

'The closer you get to Christmas is where the challenge is going to be,' KPMG's Peter Liddell said.

Overseas goods are expected to take up to double the shipping times (file image)

Australia's location as an island in the southern hemisphere also means we are particularly reliant on air and sea freight routes - which have been particularly disrupted by Covid.

The constant arrival of passenger planes into Australia actually accounted for about 80 per cent of freight - stored in the cargo holds - brought into the country in 2019, the Australian Airports Association said.

The is 30 per cent more than the global average.

And this number has the government particularly concerned especially after capping the number of returning residents to just 3035 a week.

Enough so that they have funded a $780million scheme to ensure freight only air routes are kept open.

The International Freight Assistance Mechanism aims to ensure more than 15,000 flights will continue ferrying goods to and from Australia.

But industry insiders claim it won't be enough to stop lengthy delays for overseas goods.

Frederic Horst from Cargo Facts Consulting said cuts to incoming passenger numbers would result in about $1.3billion worth of air trade being compromised each month.