Nike, Adidas output snarled as Covid shuts Asian factories

The delta variant-driven surge has hit Southeast Asia especially hard

The delta variant surge has hit Southeast Asia especially hard. Picture: Bloomberg

Some of the world’s biggest footwear and garment companies are seeing production pinched as factories in Southeast Asia struggle to keep the lights on amid one of the world’s deadliest Covid-19 resurgences.

A number of firms that churn out products for global giants like Nike and Adidas have reported plant suspensions in Vietnam over the past few weeks as authorities impose restrictions to stop the virus. Other industries, such as Toyota factories in Thailand, also are scaling back as multiple countries in the region see record high cases and deaths.