Where's my sofa? A foam shortage is leading to delays and higher prices on furniture, RVs, more

Still waiting for that sofa you bought in January? Or boat? Or RV? Or refrigerator? Or house?

Want to know why?

Foam.

A nationwide foam shortage has compounded supply chain bottlenecks and delayed product deliveries in myriad industries, including furniture, mattresses, autos, boats, recreational vehicles, appliances, building construction and steelmaking.

Foam is the spongy material that gives seats and upholstery their fluffy feel and provides insulation in appliances, homes and commercial buildings. It even serves as lining in molds that cast steel.   

The shortage began when February’s winter storm shut down all five U.S. plants – four in Texas and one in Louisiana – that produce the main chemical, called propylene oxide, needed to make foam. Some Gulf of Mexico region factories that churn out other foam-related feedstocks were also idled by the storm but the propylene outages were more devastating because they wiped out all U.S. production.