Singapore, Oct 01: Asian shipping lines said on Tuesday the port lockout in the western United States was causing some delays and a prolonged stalemate could hit exports in the critical pre-holiday season, driving up costs. The management lockout at 29 ports due to a labour dispute could lead to higher fuel and vessel delay costs as the bulk of Asia's cargoes are unloaded at west coast ports, analysts said.
But shipping lines said ships were departing on schedule for the moment.

"We've had four ships impacted but, other than that, our global network is moving smoothly," said Sarah Lockie, vice-president of corporate communications at Neptune Orient Lines, the world's sixth-largest container shipping group.
"The economic impact to our company is so far small. If action is restricted to days, we will be able to get cargo and ships back on schedule quickly."

Evergreen Marine Corp said the lockout had delayed the unloading of two of its ships docked in Los Angeles, while a third vessel was stranded in waters close to the city.
"We are still waiting for the result of negotiations," said a spokeswoman from the Taiwanese firm, which gets 55 per cent of its sales from US routes. "So far the departing schedule from Asia to the United States has not been affected." Bureau Report