Fireworks Shortage could impact July 4th Shows

[Lunican]

This July 4, Fewer Bombs May Burst in Air

An explosion that destroyed 20 fireworks warehouses in China three months ago will probably dim night skies in the United States this Fourth of July.

Fireworks vendors said that because of the sudden shortage, fireworks like bottle rockets, ladyfingers and Roman candles, as well as mortars used in professional displays, will be hard to get, meaning many of the usual pyrotechnic extravaganzas across the country may have to be curtailed or even canceled.

“Everybody in the industry is scared to death that their orders aren’t going to get here in time,” said Ken Sprague, president of Hamburg Fireworks Display in Lancaster, Ohio, which choreographs fireworks shows throughout the Midwest. “I haven’t slept a full night in months.”

The blast on Feb. 14 in the Chinese port city of Sanshui shook homes miles away and fireworks soared and burst in midair for more than 24 hours, according to local news reports. It is unclear whether anyone was harmed.

The accident led to a ban on fireworks shipments at all Chinese ports except two that are far from fireworks production areas, resulting in further delays.

“We’re not getting much information about what caused the fire,” said Julie L. Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, which represents the $900 million fireworks industry in the United States. “We’ve heard reports ranging from improperly packaged material to a security guard flicking a cigarette.”

The result, she says, is that exports of consumer fireworks from China are down 35 percent this year and professional display fireworks are down 40 percent. Many shipments have not even left factories in Liu Yang, a city in Hunan Province, where more than 95 percent of fireworks sold in the United States are made.

When fireworks shipments arrive at the shallow port of Beihai, they may sit on the docks for weeks waiting for transfer to cargo ships anchored outside Hong Kong harbor.

Only one shipping line, Maersk, will handle pyrotechnics after Hyundai Merchant Marine discontinued service following a blaze aboard one of its vessels carrying fireworks in 2006.

“It’s been a perfect storm,” said Harry Chang, president of marketing for Black Cat fireworks, a division of Shiu Fung Fireworks in Hong Kong. Wholesale prices for fireworks are up 30 percent this year, he said, because of the limited supply, as well as higher shipping costs and increased prices for chemicals, paper and labor.

“People will need to be prepared to dig deeper,” said William A. Weimer, vice president of the B. J. Alan Company in Youngstown, Ohio, one of the largest importers of fireworks in the United States.

Because he ordered earlier than usual this year, he already has 85 percent of his shipments from China. “A lot of other guys are in big trouble,” he said, adding that he has received frantic calls from competitors hoping to buy some of his inventory. “It looks like some communities aren’t going to have shows this year.”

Full Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/17/business/worldbusiness/17kaboom.html

[Ernest Street]

This is Funny. any American fireworks company that gets on record and says they use Chinese product is exactly what they advertise.There are numerous AMERICAN Pyro companies that aren't effected by a CHI-COMMUNIST firework incompetency accident. The Premier companies are of course The Zambellis...(130 years experience..and family) (think old school Mob asking them to "Break some windows" and cash sliding over)and the Grucchi's that had a horrific accident taking out 4 family members in one explosion. The professionals won't be found making Hell fire and Brimstone in some local chuch..that is another story. Quality made Fireworks shells are lovingly hand made by the Paper mache method, or made in plastic shells with the same quality standards. You have to question a Local "Landing show"... an 8" shell should be going 800 feet as well as a 12" shell should be reaching a safe vertical distance of 1200 Feet   a 4" Salute from the stadium should be reaching 400 feet minimum. What gives with this new relaxed standard of Pyro where you can have a private river display at 400 feet Maximum..or under tree top level???...I can't even see any shells over the Blue cross building on Ernest street..in 1997 the displays went over tree top level.I could watch them from my second floor window. Since then I can't even see the colors let alone the display.. just booms..SAD.The Cheapening of America continues...let your kids know about this stuff before it's ALL gone.

[Jason]

Fireworks are more fun when you can feel the boom, not just see pretty colors in the sky, IMO.  The lower altitudes make for a much more magnificent show.  Also, I have seen many different fireworks shows up and down the east coast of Florida (Miami, FTL, Orlando, Daytona Beach, Savannah) and none have compared to Jacksonville's in length, complexity, or loudness.

[Lunican]

So will the Chinese fireworks shortage impact Jacksonville's show?

[Driven1]

yes