Green Mountain Fireworks navigates rising costs due to tariffs on imported merchandise

Rising costs spark concern in towns like Alburgh, which depend on Green Mountain Fireworks for their annual Independence Day celebration

Rising costs spark concern in towns like Alburgh, which depend on Green Mountain Fireworks for their annual Independence Day celebration

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Just a few weeks out from the Fourth Of July... FIREWORKS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN HIGH DEMAND. BUT ONE local BUSINESS SAYS THAT TARIFFS ARE SPARKING BIG CONCERNS FOR the ORDERS that need to be placed years in advance. NBC 5'S YUNIER MARTINEZ JOINS US FROM ST. ALBANS... with what this means for local shows. YUNIER... GUYS... THE OWNERS OF GREEN MOUNTAIN FIREWORKS SAY SINCE OPENING FOR THE SEASON ON MAY 1ST, THEY'VE ONLY SEEN ABOUT 300 CUSTOMERS FAR FEWER THAN THE 700 THEY TYPICALLY SEE BY THIS TIME THEY BELIEVE THE DROP HAS TO DO WITH THE TARIFFS <NAT FIRE WORKS> THEY LIGHT UP THE SKY EVERY FOURTH OF JULY BUT BEHIND THE SPARKLE, GREEN MOUNTAIN FIREWORKS IS FEELING THE HEAT Matthew Lavigne, Owner, Green Mountain Fireworks <"We had a 5% tariff before on fireworks and then it went up to 150%. Now it's down to 30%."> TARIFFS ON IMPORTED FIREWORKS HAVE SOARED AND FOR THIS SMALL ALBURGH BUSINESS OWNER MATTHEW LAVIGNE SAYS IT'S A FINANCIAL HIT 00;02;06;20 - 00;02;13;19 Matthew Lavigne, Owner, Green Mountain Fireworks <"I mean, we're looking at $20,000 or more increased cost just to get each container out of port."> THAT'S ON TOP OF RISING SHIPPING FEES AND FEWER CUSTOMERS COMING THROUGH THEIR DOORS 00;03;00;04 - 00;03;07;04 Matthew Lavigne, Owner, Green Mountain Fireworks <"it's all due to uncertainty of the economy. We have people coming in and looking, but not buying."> ALL OF THIS COMES AS AMERICA GEARS UP to celebrate 250 years of independence next year. Matthew Lavigne, Owner, Green Mountain Fireworks <"It's going to be difficult. It's going to be very expensive and very limited supply."> <NAT of storage bin > AND IT COULD GET WORSE... CHINESE FACTORIES...WHERE MOST FIREWORKS ARE MADE SHUT DOWN DURING THE SUMMER DUE TO HEAT LIMITING SUPPLY EVEN MORE Owner, Green Mountain Fireworks <"Only the large companies were buying 50 containers or containers or more are going to be able to get anything from the factories. The factories are going to support the little guys. They're going to support their big customers."> THAT'S RAISING RED FLAGS IN TOWNS LIKE ALBURGH 14;06;18;20 - 14;06;20;01 <"I would hate to see it cut back."> THEY RELY ON GREEN MOUNTAIN Elliot Knight, Alburgh Select Board chairman <"Our fireworks budget of 5000 for our show to get that same show is going to be probably 6500 to 7000."> STILL ELLIOT KNIGHT SAYS THEY'RE KEEPING THEIR TRADITION ALIVE 14;07;43;00 - 14;07;51;08 Elliot Knight, Alburgh Select Board chairman <"we're going to put on a great show and get together as a community no matter what happens with the price of fireworks or tariffs or anything else, We will celebrate the 4th of July."> AND FOLLOWING THESE REAL-TIME CHANGES, GREEN MOUNTAIN FIREWORKS TELLS ME THEY DO NOT PLAN ON INCREASING THEIR PRICES, ENCOURAGIN

Updated: 6:23 PM EDT Jun 9, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Green Mountain Fireworks navigates rising costs due to tariffs on imported merchandise

Rising costs spark concern in towns like Alburgh, which depend on Green Mountain Fireworks for their annual Independence Day celebration

Updated: 6:23 PM EDT Jun 9, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

With just weeks until the Fourth of July, fireworks are in high demand, but one Vermont business says rising tariffs and slowing sales could threaten future celebrations.Green Mountain Fireworks, based in Alburgh, opened for the season on May 1. But co-owner Matthew Lavigne said business has been unseasonably slow.He adds that tariffs on imported fireworks, most of which are manufactured in China, have taken a financial toll.“We had a 5% tariff before on fireworks, and then it went up to 150%; now it's down to 30%,” he said.Shipping costs are also up, each container now costs the company more than $20,000 just to clear the port, according to Lavigne.He added that economic uncertainty is making customers more hesitant to buy.“We’ve got people coming in and looking, but they’re just not buying,” he said.Lavigne also warned that supply issues could worsen in the coming months, as Chinese fireworks factories often shut down during the summer due to heat.“Only the large companies are going to be able to get anything from the factories,” he said. “They're going to support their big customers.”That’s causing concern in towns like Alburgh, which relies on Green Mountain Fireworks for its annual Independence Day celebration.Select Board Chairman Elliot Knight said their $5,000 budget may no longer be enough. With tariffs in play, putting on the same show could cost between $6,500 and $7,000.“I would hate to see it cut back,” Knight said. “We’re going to put on a great show and get together as a community no matter what happens.”Despite the challenges, Green Mountain Fireworks says it does not plan to raise prices, at least until their next shipment arrives, as they continue working to find solutions.

ALBURGH, Vt. —

With just weeks until the Fourth of July, fireworks are in high demand, but one Vermont business says rising tariffs and slowing sales could threaten future celebrations.

Green Mountain Fireworks, based in Alburgh, opened for the season on May 1. But co-owner Matthew Lavigne said business has been unseasonably slow.

He adds that tariffs on imported fireworks, most of which are manufactured in China, have taken a financial toll.

“We had a 5% tariff before on fireworks, and then it went up to 150%; now it's down to 30%,” he said.

Shipping costs are also up, each container now costs the company more than $20,000 just to clear the port, according to Lavigne.

He added that economic uncertainty is making customers more hesitant to buy.

“We’ve got people coming in and looking, but they’re just not buying,” he said.

Lavigne also warned that supply issues could worsen in the coming months, as Chinese fireworks factories often shut down during the summer due to heat.

“Only the large companies are going to be able to get anything from the factories,” he said. “They're going to support their big customers.”

That’s causing concern in towns like Alburgh, which relies on Green Mountain Fireworks for its annual Independence Day celebration.

Select Board Chairman Elliot Knight said their $5,000 budget may no longer be enough. With tariffs in play, putting on the same show could cost between $6,500 and $7,000.

“I would hate to see it cut back,” Knight said. “We’re going to put on a great show and get together as a community no matter what happens.”

Despite the challenges, Green Mountain Fireworks says it does not plan to raise prices, at least until their next shipment arrives, as they continue working to find solutions.

Green Mountain Fireworks navigates rising costs due to tariffs on imported merchandise

Rising costs spark concern in towns like Alburgh, which depend on Green Mountain Fireworks for their annual Independence Day celebration

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