European automakers most at risk from US dockworkers strike, analysts say
Adds Stellantis and VW comments in paragraph 12 and 17
Dockworkers' strike halts flow of half the nation's ocean shipping
European automakers most affected due to reliance on East and Gulf Coast ports
Detroit automakers may benefit from reduced industry inventories
Group representing major automakers urges White House to broker a resolution
Shortage of parts could lead some automakers to reduce vehicle production
By Ben Klayman, David Shepardson
DETROIT/WASHINGTON, Oct 1 (Reuters) -European automakers are the most likely to be affected by the dockworkers strike at U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports because they rely heavily on those locations, but a longer walkout could prove "debilitating" to the entire sector, industry officials and analysts said.
The dockworkers began their first large-scale stoppage in nearly 50 years early on Tuesday, halting the flow of about half the nation's ocean shipping.
The International Longshoremen's Association union representing 45,000 port workers had been negotiating with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group for a new six-year contract.
A group representing major automakers urged the White House to broker a resolution.
"A protracted strike will be debilitating to the auto supply chain and set off economic and national security ripples across the country - harming auto communities and consumers," said John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
He noted that the ports affected by the strike handled 34% of all U.S. motor vehicle and parts trade worth $135.7 billion last year.
"If (the strike) turns into weeks, it's going to be a tragedy," said Steve Hughes, CEO of HCS International, which advises the auto sector on shipping issues.
While automakers could survive some time without vehicle deliveries, a shortage of parts would certainly hurt, Hughes said.
"If you look at a GM car, you're going to find all sorts of European and Asian parts in those cars now," he said.
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, a trade group for auto suppliers, also called on President Joe Biden to force both sides back to the bargaining table.
A shortage of parts could lead some automakers to reduce vehicle production, although analysts said some may quietly welcome that. Stellantis STLAM.MI, for example, has very high vehicle inventories.
Stellantis said it was taking steps to mitigate the potential impact of the strike on vehicle production without providing details.
Barclays analyst Dan Levy said 70% of auto parts imports into the U.S. come via the affected ports, although companies likely built up some inventory since the strike risk had been visible for a while. If automakers are forced to fly in parts, that could drive up costs.
"All of this is very, very inflationary," Hughes said.
European automakers, many of which use the ports on strike, would be the most affected, Levy said in a research note.
"The European (automakers) lean heavily on Baltimore for imports and Southeastern ports (i.e. Charleston) for exports, as most of their U.S. production exposure is in this region," he said.
BMW BMWG.DE and Volkswagen VOWG_p.DE said they were monitoring the situation closely and working to minimize any impact, while Volvo Cars VOLCARb.ST said it was devising contingency plans but had not yet experienced any noticeable impact. Officials with Mercedes MBGn.DE could not immediately be reached to comment.
European imports have accounted for as much as half of the German automakers' U.S. sales in recent years and Volvo Car is even more reliant, Levy said. However, with inventories higher than usual, the companies may have prepared and the strike impact could be limited barring a long walkout, he said.
Truckmaker Volvo VOLVb.ST said the company stockpiled parts and looked into rerouting shipments to minimize impact and doesn't expect any impact in the short term.
Detroit automakers could actually benefit modestly as reduced industry inventories could limit pricing pressure, Levy said. The companies, including General Motors GM.N and Ford F.N, are more likely affected by the import of parts since most of their vehicle imports come by truck and rail from Canada and Mexico, he said.
"We are carefully monitoring the situation and have contingency plans in place," GM said in a statement. "We will continue to work to mitigate any significant impact to our operations and will make adjustments as needed.”
The Detroit automaker declined to provide details on how it uses the ports or the nature of its contingency plans.
Ford said it was monitoring the situation, but said it was too early to speculate on potential impacts.
Asian automakers may be less affected, Levy said.
Toyota 7203.T built up extra vehicle inventory over the last couple of weeks to help buy it time and it was watching the talks closely, Toyota North America Executive Vice President Jack Hollis said in an interview.
Mazda 7261.T said the ports of Baltimore and Jacksonville, Florida, were important for the Japanese automaker, but its vehicle inventories were sufficient to meet short-term demand. Honda 7267.T said it was affected by the strike, without providing details, while Nissan 7201.T said it has implemented contingency measures to mitigate delays, but declined to provide details.
Hyundai 005380.KS said its logistics affiliate, Hyundai Glovis, was closely monitoring the talks and working on alternate plans to ensure delivery of vehicles.
Reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit, David Shepardson in Washington, Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru and Marie Mannes in Stockholm; editing by Jonathan Oatis
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دستبرداری: XM Group کے ادارے ہماری آن لائن تجارت کی سہولت تک صرف عملدرآمد کی خدمت اور رسائی مہیا کرتے ہیں، کسی شخص کو ویب سائٹ پر یا اس کے ذریعے دستیاب کانٹینٹ کو دیکھنے اور/یا استعمال کرنے کی اجازت دیتا ہے، اس پر تبدیل یا توسیع کا ارادہ نہیں ہے ، اور نہ ہی یہ تبدیل ہوتا ہے یا اس پر وسعت کریں۔ اس طرح کی رسائی اور استعمال ہمیشہ مشروط ہوتا ہے: (i) شرائط و ضوابط؛ (ii) خطرہ انتباہات؛ اور (iii) مکمل دستبرداری۔ لہذا اس طرح کے مواد کو عام معلومات سے زیادہ کے طور پر فراہم کیا جاتا ہے۔ خاص طور پر، براہ کرم آگاہ رہیں کہ ہماری آن لائن تجارت کی سہولت کے مندرجات نہ تو کوئی درخواست ہے، اور نہ ہی فنانشل مارکیٹ میں کوئی لین دین داخل کرنے کی پیش کش ہے۔ کسی بھی فنانشل مارکیٹ میں تجارت میں آپ کے سرمائے کے لئے ایک خاص سطح کا خطرہ ہوتا ہے۔
ہماری آن لائن تجارتی سہولت پر شائع ہونے والے تمام مٹیریل کا مقصد صرف تعلیمی/معلوماتی مقاصد کے لئے ہے، اور اس میں شامل نہیں ہے — اور نہ ہی اسے فنانشل، سرمایہ کاری ٹیکس یا تجارتی مشورے اور سفارشات؛ یا ہماری تجارتی قیمتوں کا ریکارڈ؛ یا کسی بھی فنانشل انسٹرومنٹ میں لین دین کی پیشکش؛ یا اسکے لئے مانگ؛ یا غیر متنازعہ مالی تشہیرات پر مشتمل سمجھا جانا چاہئے۔
کوئی تھرڈ پارٹی کانٹینٹ، نیز XM کے ذریعہ تیار کردہ کانٹینٹ، جیسے: راۓ، خبریں، تحقیق، تجزیہ، قیمتیں اور دیگر معلومات یا اس ویب سائٹ پر مشتمل تھرڈ پارٹی کے سائٹس کے لنکس کو "جیسے ہے" کی بنیاد پر فراہم کیا جاتا ہے، عام مارکیٹ کی تفسیر کے طور پر، اور سرمایہ کاری کے مشورے کو تشکیل نہ دیں۔ اس حد تک کہ کسی بھی کانٹینٹ کو سرمایہ کاری کی تحقیقات کے طور پر سمجھا جاتا ہے، آپ کو نوٹ کرنا اور قبول کرنا ہوگا کہ یہ کانٹینٹ سرمایہ کاری کی تحقیق کی آزادی کو فروغ دینے کے لئے ڈیزائن کردہ قانونی تقاضوں کے مطابق نہیں ہے اور تیار نہیں کیا گیا ہے، اسی طرح، اس پر غور کیا جائے گا بطور متعلقہ قوانین اور ضوابط کے تحت مارکیٹنگ مواصلات۔ براہ کرم یقینی بنائیں کہ آپ غیر آزاد سرمایہ کاری سے متعلق ہماری اطلاع کو پڑھ اور سمجھ چکے ہیں۔ مذکورہ بالا معلومات کے بارے میں تحقیق اور رسک وارننگ ، جس تک رسائی یہاں حاصل کی جا سکتی ہے۔
