In a note

Dear folks,

Please teach me what the following phrase exactly means based on

the context it appears in.

I have consulted several paper and online dics for the meaning,

but cannot figure it out, unfortunately.

Chemical and plastics buyers can operate about only two weeks before exhausting their inventories, Jefferies analyst Laurence Alexander said in a note. Many producers are already telling customers that they won't be able to meet their contractual supply obligations because of the storm.

SourceURL:https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/2017/09/01/world-s-most-important-chemical-made-rare-commodity-by-Harvey

Regards,

Ray