US National Retail Federation vice president for supply chain and customs Jonathan Gold commented: “Retailers’ main concern is that there is millions of dollars worth of merchandise that needs to be on store shelves that could be impacted by this.”
Shipments bound for US retailers are either sitting in Asia, onboard Hanjin ships currently stuck out at sea, or in US docks. Both the 10,100 teu Hanjin Greece and 3,400 teu Hanjin Constanza are reported to be idling off the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach having arrived after Hanjin filed for court receivership in Korea on Wednesday.
“It is understandable that port terminal operators, railroads, trucking companies and others don’t want to do work for Hanjin if they are concerned they won’t get paid,” he said.
“However, we need all parties to work together to find solutions to move this cargo so it does not have a broader impact on the economy.”
He added that retailers were working to get their shipments moving but there were “more questions than answers” at present.
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