Parents in Europe who have planned to buy their children a new cell phone or electronic device as a Christmas gift should think about an alternative solution as delays in the transport of goods from China are also threatening the holidays.

Large container ships carrying “gifts” or essential items for the festive season are experiencing weeks of delays in the Panama Canal, where the water level has dropped significantly, making their movement difficult.

Ships are now waiting a week or two in line instead of the eight to ten hours that used to be the norm.

That means shoppers waiting for new iPhones, TVs, exercise bikes, clothes and tree lights may not get them in time for Christmas.

According to Marine Traffic some 176 ships from China and the Middle East transited the Panama Canal this week, or 71 fewer than last year.

Some companies have paid as much as $4 million to move to the front of the queue and skip wait times, which estimated an overall average of 4.3 days on Nov. 7 to 11.7 days in December, according to data of the Panama Canal Authority.

Before the vital shipping route experienced delays, around 38 ships were crossing each day, but with the limited water level, only 24 ships have been able to cross each day since November 7.

Some ships are rerouting through the Suez Canal to avoid delays. One of them is London-based Slot-Nielsen, but the move is said to be charging customers the extra cost of the longer route, which takes 32 days.

The blockage in the channel could have a wider impact on the entire global supply chain, with experts also warning that Christmas in the UK and Europe will be significantly affected.

Marco Forgione, of the Institute of Export and International Trade, called the delays catastrophic. “There are goods that won’t be here in time for Christmas,” he told the Sunday Mirror.

The cost of food and energy prices could also rise because grain and fuel are among the other major supplies transported through the Panama Canal that are now experiencing delays.

👁️[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS]