Volkswagen is stockpiling windshields and brewers are bulk-buying beer bottles amid a looming European glass shortage, report says

A glass shortage is threatening a new supply chain crisis in Europe as Volkswagen and other manufacturers stock up.

Companies in Europe are likely to be affected by a glass shortage because of soaring energy costs.

According to The Journal, Volkswagen said it was looking for new suppliers outside Europe and that it was building components that use glass.

The automotive sector has been hit hard by a number of factors, including a shortage of components and a spike in the price of batteries used in electric vehicles.

Natural gas is used to melt sand, soda ash and limestone. The price of energy in Europe has gone up.

Germany gets 40% of its natural gas from Russia, which could lead to price hikes this winter.

A spokesman for the company told The Journal that they had purchased 50 million bottles in one go, enough to last for a year.

Supply chains for other sectors could be affected by glass shortages, as it is used to make bottles for products such as medicines and soft drinks.