Shippers, logistic companies shares swerve off course after US tariffs

Shares in European shipping and logistic groups fall after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on most goods imported into the United States

The extent of the now announced tariffs is most likely exceeding market expectations, Zurcher Kantonalbank analyst Gan Marco Werro says

Werro notes that around a fourth of all sea freight containers go in or out of the U.S.

Shippers Maersk MAERSKb.CO, Hapag-Lloyd HLAG.DE, logistic groups DSV DSV.CO, Kuehne und Nagel KNIN.S, DHL DHLn.DE are all down between 4% and 8%

Hapag-Lloyd says it could adjust its service network in the wake of the tariffs, as it warns of impact on demand, cargo flows and costs

*Maersk expects customers to be more cautious about inventory levels and sees a potential short-term surge in air freight orders

"We expect freight flows to shift geographically and this shift should lead to more complex supply chains for customers," Deutsche Bank analyst Andy Chu says

This could include more cross-border shipments, more value-added services and more warehousing requirements, Chu adds