Grocery shortages of 2025 will affect everyone, so it might be a good idea to buy them before they (completely) disappear from the shelves!
I don’t know about you, but I am extremely concerned about the current situation with the tariff increase and the flood of daily bad news. The U.S.-China trade war is only worsening, with China imposing reciprocal tariffs on American goods and some Chinese exports being hit with triple-digit tariffs.
For me, the typical American consumer, this means that regardless of where the financial impact is felt, the tariffs may eventually cause some imported ingredients and grocery items to become significantly pricier or perhaps unavailable altogether.
It’s overwhelming, and for some reason, I get the exact feeling I had back in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic started and everybody was rushing to the nearest supermarket to buy everything they could.
From baby formula to canned goods, it seems like there is a new “sorry, we’re out” every year. You may want to call me old-fashioned, but I’ve started stockpiling early because of this.
Because I love giving my readers good advice, tips, and tricks on how to survive this inflation and so on, in the following lines we will talk about the grocery shortages of 2025 and all the grocery items that may be the first to go extinct so you know what to buy on your next shopping trip.
Sichuan Peppercorns
The list of grocery shortages of 2025 starts with the one and only Sichuan peppercorn, which is a staple in my pantry since my family loves to cook with it.
It is nearly impossible to find a replacement for Sichuan peppercorns, an essential ingredient of Chinese cuisine. This spice, known for its searing heat, may soon become harder to find on supermarket shelves, which could have a big effect on Sichuanese restaurants that may need to alter their menus or use different ingredients.
What am I going to do as an avid lover of this item? I will try to buy more of it and hope that when the jar is empty, the situation with the groceries will be milder, so I will be able to buy it again. If you like Sichuan peppercorn as much as I do, I suggest you hurry and buy some until the stock runs out.
Chinese Dark Soy Sauce
What can I say? I love Asian cuisine. Since I’ve had to deal with some health issues and my doctor asked me to follow a strict diet, I tried to do my best to stick to it. In addition to natural proteins, vegetables, and fruits, I also tried to enhance the flavor of my dishes. That was the time when I first discovered how amazing soy sauce is, and we have had an awesome relationship since then. Imagine how upset I was when I saw that they are planning to raise their price, and eventually, it will disappear from grocery shelves.
Because Chinese soy sauce is subject to a 145% tariff, it may be challenging to find the ingredient, and alternative sauces may need to be used until the import taxes are removed.
For those who don’t know, Chinese soy sauce, in particular the darker variety that is sweeter and more dense, has a distinct flavor and thickness. Chinese soy sauce is made with wheat flour, whereas Japanese soy sauce is made with roasted wheat.
Sesame Paste
After I’ve read multiple articles about the grocery shortages of 2025, roasted sesame paste is one ingredient I’ve been keeping an eye on on supermarket shelves.
It’s absolutely a must to add to a lot of my favorite Chinese dishes, particularly sesame noodles and dan dan noodles. Although it may resemble tahini in appearance, it is entirely different—richer, darker, and far more flavorful.
Mala Market says the type I use is made from Xinjiang-grown sesame seeds that are deep-toasted in Shandong, China. The issue? This stuff could become so costly if tariffs increase that I’ll have to start making cuts or, worse, find a less tasty alternative. Nothing else, to be honest, comes close.
Zhenjiang Vinegar
For all the Zhenjiang Vinegar fans, I have some bad news: due to tariffs, you may not be able to see it on the supermarket shelves anytime soon.
Even chefs at restaurants are rushing to buy it, according to what I read in The New York Times. Portland importer Susie Kasem claimed to be overloaded with calls, saying, “Everyone is calling me today, yesterday, and the day before.” To be honest, I don’t blame them—this vinegar gives food a unique depth, and I also don’t want to run out.
Frozen seafood
Rich in protein and low in calories, seafood was my best buddy when I was following a low-calorie diet. And even if I am healthier now and I no longer follow a strict diet, I still buy frozen seafood and stock up on it for delicious recipes. You can imagine my disappointment when I saw this item included in the list of grocery shortages for 2025.
The United States imports a significant amount of fish, shellfish, and squid from China’s frozen seafood processing facilities. The United States currently imposes a 170% tariff on imports of squid from China, but this could change at any point, and this is very disturbing.
Squid, octopus, oysters, prawns, and many others may become much pricier and difficult to find in stores as a result, and they may also be taken off restaurant menus until the issue is resolved.
Shaoxing Wine (or the cooking wine)
The most popular kind of Chinese cooking wine is Shaoxing wine, which is used “by the gallon” in traditional Chinese cooking. The tariffs may significantly affect the cost of this wine. Shaoxing wine offers complexity and depth of flavor, much like regular wine does in Western cuisine.
I would even say that Shaoxing wine is used in almost all of the Chinese recipes I cook regularly.
…psst! With so many items to stock up on, you will definitely need a durable, heavy-duty bag to carry your groceries. So why not buy a reusable one, save the environment, and also have it for many years? On Amazon, you can find a plethora of options, but I will give you the link to my favorite one that costs around $6!
Chili crunch
Chili crisp is another ingredient that I use for almost every dish, but now I am worried that I might need to switch things up since it’s among those grocery items that will either be super expensive or completely disappear from the shelves.
In an interview I read yesterday, Fly By Jing’s COO, Matt Dunaj, explained that since all of the ingredients are imported from Jing’s hometown of Sichuan, China, they are unable to create the item in the United States. There is simply no substitute for the authentic flavor that comes from there.
Coffee
I am pleased that I always buy a little more coffee than I need, just to be certain I will never wake up in the morning and discover that my energy fuel is no longer in my pantry. I had hoped that coffee wouldn’t be on the list due to the skyrocketing prices of imported items.
Since a substantial quantity of coffee is imported into the United States from nations like Ethiopia, Colombia, and Brazil, price increases and possible shortages could result from tariffs on these imports.
Rice
The rice that is sold in every grocery store is produced in the United States, but it also imports varieties from Thailand and India, such as basmati and jasmine rice. Tariffs on these imports may affect availability and prices.
Now, I want to hear your opinion regarding this situation with the grocery shortages of 2025. Do you think things will eventually come back to normal? Or this is the new normal for us, the American citizens. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Inflation isn’t a joke, so if you’re also concerned about huge bills, check out this article: Save Water at Home: 5 Easy Tips That Make a Big Difference.
