News & Insights

Our alerts, news and guides embrace all transport modes and explore global developments across all aspects of the supply chain, to keep you informed and guide decision making.

Yantian port disruption widens with global ripple effects

While some container shipping lines will continue calling at Yantian, other carriers have already diverted ships as the port’s operations have deteriorated, with Maersk warning that delays are now expected to last two weeks. The Yantian congestion is yet another disruption to global shipping... Read more

Ships continue to queue at congested US ports

Congestion levels at the major North America container gateways is expected to continue into the summer, as container imports from Asia grew a massive 31% year on year. With 1.57m teu arriving at US ports from Asia last month, the highest level on record, the container import boom shows no sig... Read more

Swiss harden position in EU market access talks with the BLOC

Last Wednesday, Switzerland announced its withdrawal from negotiations on closer ties with the EU, after failing to reach agreement on wages and immigration. The move by the Swiss government to withdraw from negotiations on a single encompassing “framework agreement” may result i... Read more

China to UK shipping; worst transits ever, at highest ever cost – and that’s a fact!

If this was a typical year, we’d be approaching the start of the peak season for sea freight and the shipping lines would be preparing a round of general rate increases (GRI), but this year is anything but typical and even with demand soaring way beyond any typical peak period and freight rates... Read more

Carriers skipping congestion hit China ports

As Yantian announces further reductions in container gate-in times, to try and alleviate congestion, shipping lines are skipping calls at Chinese ports, with the mission to improve schedule reliability and equipment availability. The partial shutdown of Yantian International Containe... Read more

Further decreasing our carbon footprint; increasing our green forwarder imprint

As a business we are committed to avoiding negative and enhancing positive impacts on our people, society and the global environment. We want to leverage our core strengths, resources and combined abilities to address and help provide solutions to local, regional and international challenges... Read more

Buyers choose operational efficiency over cost-cutting

“Driving operational efficiency” has knocked “reducing costs” from the top spot, in Deloitte’s annual survey of leading buyers, for the first time in its 10-year history. The global consultancy’s Survey 2021 saw reducing costs pushed into second place, with digital transf... Read more

Retail’s recovery is underway

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have said that retail sales in April were 10.6% above their pre-pandemic level, although many traditional retailers have suffered from the repeated lockdowns that accelerated the shift to online commerce. In a huge boost for retail’s recovery Britain'... Read more

SME eCommerce sellers hit by EU VAT changes – how will this effect trading with the BLOC ?

About 26,000 eCommerce sellers will have to register for VAT for the first time, under the EU’s new “one-stop shop” system and face £180m in additional red tape costs. On 1st July 2021, the European Union is introducing sweeping reforms to the VAT obligations for B2C e-commerce sel... Read more

Start your Christmas shipping planning right now – do not delay

Retail sales and consumer demand are still outpacing attempts to build inventory and despite the massive boom in imports, the inability to create inventory is likely to continue all year for many commodities and finished goods. So, if you want stocked shelves this Christmas, it’s time to star... Read more

Why Sea/Air is the smart choice from Asia

The global freight market continues to present challenging circumstances wherever you are shipping, by whatever mode you have chosen and on whatever trade lanes that you are operating. It is a global situation which has worsened over the last 12 months from famine to feast from a carrier perspect... Read more

Yantian Port halts entry for export containers

Restrictions have been announced after an ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the port area since last week, with areas suspended from operation for cleaning and disinfection, while high storage density has built up in the terminal. We have been informed by our colleagues in China today, 25th May,... Read more