Two of three British shipping companies ended regular ship lines on Japan and Hong Kong according to the Dutch newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 5 March 1941

An item dated Osaka, Japan 4th reported that only the regular shipping line on Japan of the Pensular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company continued. The other two British shipping companies British India Steam Navigation Company and the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company stopped with the lines on Japan and Hong Kong. There were to main reasons given namely that it was difficult for ships of belligerent countries to obtain a cargo in Japan and that the low freight rates for cargoes to be transported towards Japan. The latter while Japan refused to cooperate in adjusting the freight rates.