scarce commodity
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scarce commodity
A product or good that is available only in small quantities and whose demand exceeds supply.
Nach der schlechten Ernte wurden Kartoffeln zur Mangelware.
After the poor harvest, potatoes became a scarce commodity.
The word is a compound made from 'der Mangel' (shortage, lack) and 'die Ware' (goods/product). So it literally means a product of which there is a shortage.
Wegen der Dürre ist sauberes Trinkwasser in der Region eine Mangelware.
Because of the drought, clean drinking water is a scarce commodity in the region.
'Mangelware' is very often used with the verbs 'sein' (to be) or 'werden' (to become). The construction 'etwas wird zur Mangelware' (something becomes a scarce commodity) describes the process of something becoming scarce.
Bezahlbarer Wohnraum ist in Großstädten Mangelware.
Affordable housing is in short supply in big cities.
In the figurative sense, 'Mangelware' is often used for abstract things or groups of people. Typical examples are: time, peace and quiet, patience, honest people, or qualified specialists.
Gute und zuverlässige Handwerker sind leider Mangelware.
Good and reliable tradespeople are unfortunately a rare commodity.
lack / defect
'der Mangel' and 'die Mangelware' both have to do with there being too little of something. 'Mangel' describes the situation: there is not enough of something necessary or desired. 'Mangelware' refers to the thing itself that is scarce. This can be a product, but also something rare in a figurative sense, for example time or patience. The words can be confused because both express scarcity. Memory tip: 'der Mangel' is the problem; 'die Mangelware' is what is hard to get.
Im Büro ist ruhige Arbeitszeit zurzeit echte Mangelware.
In the office, quiet work time is currently a truly rare commodity.
Wegen des Mangels an Wasser musste das Training früher enden.
Because of the lack of water, the training session had to end earlier.