You really still want to rely on your job?

Neptune Orient Lines, the world's seventh largest container carrier, said on Wednesday it will shed 9 percent of its workforce and warned the outlook was grim as the shipping sector faces up to a prolonged downturn.
NOL shares fell almost 3 percent after the firm said in a statement it will cut 1,000 jobs, mostly in North America, as it battles to weather a global economic slowdown.
The Singapore-based firm said last month its container shipping business, APL, will reduce capacity in Asia-Europe trade by about 25 percent. NOL said this capacity reduction will save $200 million in costs next year.
In the latest statement on Wednesday it said the firm will incur a $33 million restructuring cost in its fourth quarter.
While analysts were positive about NOL's move to cut costs, they expected NOL to incur losses over the next two years as the shipping industry faces a double-whammy of slowing demand and growing supply.
Deutsche Bank analyst Joe Liew said in a client note that he expects NOL to lose $100 million in 2009 and $115 million in 2010. Regional brokerage CIMB said the job cuts alone would not be enough to keep NOL in the black.
"While we are positive on the measures announced by NOL, the cost-cutting initiatives may not be able to offset the severe top-line pressure at the Asia-Europe trades," said Raymond Yap, CIMB analyst.

Source: Reuters 18 Nov 2008 07:34 PM ET

Sphere: Related Content