The cost of Barbie dolls could rise this Christmas as the maker of the toys may have to pass on increased costs.
Barbie's parent company, Mattel, also owns brands including Matchbox and Hot Wheels miniature cars, as well as Polly Pocket and Fisher-Price.
Its chief executive Ynon Kreiz told the BBC: "We will be looking at increasing prices in the second half of [the] year.
"We haven't broken out [which products will be affected], but this is in response to some of the inflationary pressures."
The toymaker is suffering from a rise in the cost of the raw materials many of its toys are made from.
This includes oil, which is needed to make plastic.
Earlier this month petrol prices jumped to their highest level in 7½ years.
The pandemic has also held up the industry due to delays on shipping and how quickly ports can operate.
Kreiz said other toymakers were also likely to have to raise prices too.
Barbie was first introduced in 1959, and more than one billion have been sold.
It is still a hugely popular toy.
Last year Mattel sold $1.35 billion (£970,000) of Barbie dolls and accessories, their highest result for twenty years.
Even in the second quarter of this year the company saw a 46% rise in demand for the dolls, compared to the same period in 2020.
Barbies normally cost between £10 and £25, depending on which model you pick.
But the dolls have come under fire for being too skinny and promoting a body shape that is unrealistic for many.
In response, companies like Lammily have created Barbie-like dolls with a more standard body size.
Other toymakers are urging parents to buy Christmas gifts early due to supply problems.
The message from the boss of The Entertainer, Britain’s biggest independent toy chain, came despite it still being summer.
It comes amid delays at some ports in the Guangdong province of China due to local Covid-19 outbreaks.
There have been warning that the problems could be worse than the Suez blockage in March this year, when a container ship was stuck across the canal for six days and caused huge hold-ups.
Gary Grant, founder and executive chairman of The Entertainer, said: “The shipping crisis in China is causing uncertainty as to what will be available and when.
“So above all, we urge our customers to shop early for Christmas this year to avoid disappointment.”
The chain predicts the best-selling toys this year will including PAW Patrol, with demand expected to fuelled by a new movie based on the TV series this summer.
Other ranges forecast to be in demand include Coco Melon, Super Mario, Bluey - and Barbie.
The issues in China, where many toys are made, have been short-lived.
However, the impact has already fed through to higher freight costs from the Far East.
And like the Suez blockage, it is feared it could take months for the cargo backlog in Southern China to clear.
