MIAMI, OKLA. – After the inaugural pandemic year of 2020, who would have imagined 2021 could have gotten any crazier? But it did. A riot on the nation’s capital. A gas pipeline held for ransom. Tornados that flattened towns in Kentucky and hurricanes that traveled from the Gulf Coast all the way up to New England. And then, ending where we started … with another version of COVID stressing out and sickening people around the world.
Through all the ups and downs of 2021, including massive supply and demand challenges, companies have pulled together to keep products flowing and their people employed.
In response to severe weather events and natural disasters, the portable fuel containers industry worked hard to meet staggering demand this year for 21 million portable fuel containers.
“In today’s marketplace, where there are extreme situational challenges, along with staffing and COVID-19 health concerns, it’s very significant that our company was able to successfully unite to fulfill accelerated fuel container demands in 2021,” says Daniel Marshall, vice president of marketing and business development with Scepter.
Demanding Year Right from the Start
Marshall relates that product demand started early in 2021 when January ice storms and the 2021 Ground Hog Day Nor’easter impacted the East Coast. Immediately following those events, there were power outages in February in Texas due to a deep freeze. Every situation had consumers scrambling for fuel containers to operate generators and equipment.
“While we can sometimes foresee bad weather circumstances and ramp up in advance for them, there was no way to plan for the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in May,” says Marshall. “Gasoline shortages were immediate, which meant people were reacting by wanting to fill fuel containers. This was happening right about the time of National Hurricane Preparedness Week in May when people are starting to think about hurricane prep. The amount of fuel containers required during this month skyrocketed.”
Second Half of Year Push
As the summer of 2021 progressed, so did the 2021 Hurricane Season. In late August/early September, Category 4 Hurricane Ida brought strong weather from the Gulf Coast all the way up throughout the Northeast. In total, there were 21 named storms in the season, with seven hurricanes and four major hurricanes — all good reasons for people to prepare their homes and businesses to handle wicked weather.
“While many people always keep fuel and water containers filled and ready to go, there are greater numbers of people who purchase containers reactively, based on severe weather forecasts,” says Marshall. “They may never have been in a location impacted by bad weather before. Then along comes a mega storm and they need to prepare. That’s when people seek out reliable containers. And, that’s why our team works so hard to create those containers and keep the inventory available.”
The various “unplanned events” impacting container sales during 2021 occurred over just 25 to 30 specific days — or seven percent of the year. According to industry reports, on those specific days, consumer purchasing hit its peak for fuel container sales. Almost five million fuel containers were sold during a total of those days online and in stores such as Walmart®, Lowe’s® and The Home Depot®. When totaled, that’s close to 25 percent of all the containers purchased by consumers from all manufacturers for the entire year. On those extreme, high sales days, an average of 200,000 fuel containers were purchased every day. That’s enough to fill between 75 and 100 semi truckloads each day!
A Year for the Books
“This is the second record year of high demand for fuel containers for our industry,” says Marshall. “It’s actually a bit surprising. We see many items in the world transitioning to battery operation — like lawn equipment, generators and even some cars. That would make you think that demand for fuel containers would be down. However, it’s just the opposite. Consumers are purchasing more gas, diesel and kerosene containers than ever before.
“We’re proud that Scepter sold more fuel containers than any other company in 2021. And, we are exceptionally proud that we accomplished this milestone without any business interruptions, and while doing this under continued COVID restrictions.”
Scepter fuel and water containers can be found throughout the U.S. in Walmart®, The Home Depot®, Lowe’s®, AutoZone®, Pep Boys, Amazon and Northern® Tool + Equipment stores. Visit www.scepter.com for more information.
I have over ten scepter products, they’ve always been pretty solid other than the spouts. Since this is mainly a preparedness and emergency post, I’d like to give a little feed back. The 12gallon boat tank is phenomenal for extended generator run times- it needs a sump under the fill mouth( for use of a pump) and a valve on the feed( tends to leak so it doesn’t work well for storage without lines attached). Of course we would all love being able to get the military cans too. Appreciate what you guys do!
Wow. Two weeks ago, I had to buy one of those exact model 5 gallon cans the young lady is shown assembling. In below freezing weather, I tried to fire up an old farm truck to pick up a load of hay ($300 per ton, BTW), but discovered that a local known meth-head had siphoned all the gas…it turned into a long day, but the fuel can performed perfectly (after I read the spout instructions, that is).
I think they would have sold even more if they started selling MFCs in the US Civy market, instead of the Military “Style” Fuel Can that isn’t as rugged as an MFC and doesn’t fit most Jerry Can holders. The amount that used MFCs are selling for in the US market is staggering.
SCEPTER IF YOU’RE LISTENING:
Please start selling your traditional 3 handled MFC without the fuel stamped on the side and sell it just as a fluid container similar to VP Racing, this way spout size and color do not matter.
Or
Make a civilian version of the MFC that is exactly the same (3 handled, dimensions, material, etc) except with a civilian spout size.
I can almost guarantee if either of these happened the overlanding/ offroad market and the preparedness market would eat them up.
Strongly second this. The MFC seems to have a much better seal and pour system and much easier ability to stack and stock than other products.
Honestly, these cans are crappy … the company’s MFCs are better, but obviously not available to us peons!
Nowhere else in the world are people supposed to be happy with this garbage (you can even buy decent fuel cans in the UK and Canada … nanny states if there ever was), except in the US.