Hasbro Inc. (HAS) said it's comfortable with the current inventory levels of its retail customers, but that tight shipping capacity and shortages of shipping containers are concerns.

Chief Operating Officer David Hargreaves said during a conference call Monday that the toy maker has arranged additional containers and is encouraging retailers to take inventory "earlier rather than later to avoid problems."

"We're doing everything we can to avoid the problems, but I think it is something that you're going to read about in the papers in terms of container shortages and shipping capacity," he said.

Retailers import a lot of their own private-label products and nontoy items, and they seem to understand the situation, Hargreaves said. As a result, he doesn't expect it to be a "material issue."

Meanwhile, Hasbro executives said they are comfortable with the inventories of their retail customers and said several input costs appear to have peaked. Resin and paperboard costs have actually fallen from first-quarter levels, they said.

Hargreaves said Hasbro's shipments into retail are lower year-to-date, but that sell-through at retailers is up. Retail sales of toys were stronger through Easter than since then, though they have remained positive recently, President and Chief Executive Brian Goldner said.

-By Mary Ellen Lloyd, Dow Jones Newswires, 704-948-9145; maryellen.lloyd@dowjones.com