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.

Suez Canal Closure Latest – Important Operational Update – Please Read

At approximately 15:00 today The Ever Given has been successfully refloated within the Suez Canal and is currently leaving the grounding site with the assistance of tugboats. As soon as she is clear of the Canal, the authorities will resume normal operation and start to clear the hundreds of vess... Read more

Day 3 ; Blocked Suez Canal could unleash even more congestion on the main Europe/ Asia/ Europe trade

As of noon today the ultra large container vessel Evergreen Ever Given remains lodged sideways in the main channel, blocking vessels in both directions along the Suez Canal, creating one of the worst shipping jams seen in years and threatening even more chaos, when the grounded vessel arrives in ... Read more

Q2 sea freight market report

With the 2nd quarter (Q2) of 2021 just a week away, we review five key issues, that are likely to impact maritime logistics platforms over the next three month period and the actions that you can take to protect your cargoes and the integrity of your supply chains. Equipment, space and congest... Read more

Lines set to impose new round of increased fuel surcharges for Q2

The sea freight bunker industry has been undergoing significant change since the introduction of the IMO2020 rule and the impact of measures taken in response to the Coronavirus pandemic have contributed to major shifts in oil market dynamics, with rising prices encouraging shipping lines to incr... Read more

Join Fracht USA webinar for the BIG answers and market updates

With our joint venture partner Fracht, Metro plan, organise and manage the protection, handling and global transportation of large, heavy, high value, and complex pieces of equipment. Project movements are all about attention to detail, effective briefing and the proven audit and planning proc... Read more

Air Freight Update ; Potential Heathrow April strikes

Industrial action at London’ Heathrow Airport by workers in the engineering, fire service, security, terminal operations, airside and landside sectors, will run from from the 2nd to 25th April, with the union Unite predicting “a massive effect” on cargo handling operations. The Heathrow ... Read more

Ocean Container Carriers supply & demand gamble

Global lockdowns continue to drive consumer demand for goods, keeping ships full, sea freight rates high and leading shipping lines to take ever more desperate measures to increase their capability to take revenue opportunities. But, have they got their calculations right, or will their drive to ... Read more

Suez Canal blocked by container ship

At 7:40 am on 23 March 2021, the 20k TEU container ship Evergreen Ever Given was navigating the Suez Canal when it ran aground, turning the ship sideways and blocking the canal, with the potential to impact oil and sea freight prices if she cannot be freed quickly by the tugs currently trying to... Read more

The true environmental impact of empty containers

Environmentalists have long voiced concerns about the CO2 emission damage of the global shipping fleet. They believe that shipping laden containers are doing untold damage to the climate and are extremely concerned about the volume of empty containers that have been travelling the globe recently.... Read more

Exporters bear brunt of Brexit ‘fallout’

The extension of import border controls is good news for some importers but may undermine negotiations with the EU for reciprocal easements and highlights the challenges still faced by exporters. Imports from the EU, which fell 28.8% in January, maybe buoyed by the government’s decision to ... Read more

Metro massively boost graduate intake with continued business growth and expansion

Driven by the negative impact of COVID-19, the number of payroll employees has fallen by 726,000 in a year across the UK, and vacancies were down by nearly 60%, with many graduates losing their work placement opportunities or job offer - But not at Metro! University and life after graduation s... Read more

BBC report underlines importers woes

The impact that the pandemic-driven global supply chain challenges, disruption and increased costs experienced since last year will have for consumers in 2021 has been bought into sharp focus by BBC News this week. Continuing supply chain issues and the massive increases in the cost of ship... Read more