STOCKHOLM: IKEA, the world's biggest furniture brand, is leasing more ships, buying containers and re-routing goods between warehouses as it works hard to mitigate a "perfect storm" of global supply chain disruptions which could last into next year, executives said.

The company, which earlier on Thursday reported record annual sales as locked-down consumers spent more than ever on their homes, is also reducing the number of versions of some products as it struggles with raw materials shortages to ensure its most popular items are available. Jon Abrahamsson, chief executive at brand owner Inter IKEA, told Reuters he expects the supply chain crisis to continue into 2022, with the biggest challenge currently to get goods out of China, where roughly a quarter of IKEA's products are made.