U.S. retailers face an estimated $700 million sales hit from the coronavirus and some shipping lines are sending vessels to retrieve empty cargo containers from Los Angeles to prevent further supply disruptions. The extended shutdown of factories in China caused by the virus, travel restrictions on workers and canceled sailings by shipping lines have thrown off the movement of containers, resulting in a surplus at the Port of Los Angeles and a shortage in Germany. U.S. retailers’ cumulative losses from coronavirus-related production and transportation shortages could hit $700 million between March 9 and April 20, said Patrick Hasani, chief of staff for digital freight forwarder Zencargo. U.S.-bound electronics, clothing and furniture have had the biggest supply chain interruptions, Hasani said. A spokesman for the world’s biggest container line Maersk ( MAERSKb.CO ) said three large ships would be deployed to carry both full and empty […]