News & Insights

All goods with a UK or EU origin require an appropriate declaration of origin to benefit from preferential tariff rates and failure to provide this proof of origin could leave the importer liable for duty and - under some circumstances - the EU may even impose duty twice on the same goods. The... Read more

As consumer demand for Asian-made goods rebounded in the second half of 2020, the shipping lines decision to remove capacity by idling vessels and stop replenishing container supplies, had an almost instant impact on freight rates with the unbalanced sea freight supply and demand equation driving... Read more

British Airways’ (BA) cargo handling operation at Heathrow airport had been threatened with significant disruption following the announcement of further strikes, by members of the Unite union, in a nine day continuation of the action that started last December. The cargo handlers have calle... Read more

The Channel ports may be quiet, but behind the scenes drivers are being held up for hours and even days because they lack the right documents. European carriers are suspending UK services and European located businesses have stopped serving UK markets. The end of the Brexit transition period c... Read more

As part of their preparation for the UK’s new EU trading relationship the government committed to build new inland border facilities, to carry out customs compliance, transit, and Sanitary and Phytosanitary checks, including one facility opened beside Metro’s midland freight hub.  Sev... Read more

Internationally recognised as a mark of security and quality excellence, Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status is an independent endorsement that our international supply chain processes are secure and that our customs controls and procedures are efficient, effective and legally compliant. ... Read more

As Metro reported in last week’s supply chain bulletin, the availability of container equipment has become the primary supply chain issue for shippers and importers from China and Asia in general.  The lack of equipment is a key issue impacting both rates and supply chains across Asia, ... Read more

While reports of free-flowing freight traffic at Dover may suggest everything is hunky-dory in the nation’s supply chain, after the end of transition, the reality is that there are problems, delays and disruption, it’s just taking place elsewhere and disruption is imminent.  Dover’s... Read more

The logistics industry has welcomed the signing of a Brexit trade deal between the UK and the EU. Running to 1246 pages the deal covers the rules relating to products which will allow them to be freely traded, and market access rules for air and road transport. The freight sector responded pos... Read more

Since the end of the Brexit transition period on New Year's Eve, new customs paperwork is required for lorry drivers, that is in addition to the recent requirements imposed by France to have a negative Covid test result. However, so far things appear to have been running fairly smoothly at t... Read more

As container freight rates continue to rise from Asia, regulators in China and the US are raising concerns and the European Commission is being urged to consider whether the carriers’ behaviour is damaging trade growth at a time of economic recession. Chinese regulators are renewing their ca... Read more

The COVID pandemic massively impacted freight infrastructure operations, rates, vessel space and equipment availability last year and is showing little sign of ending any time soon. Sea freight rates from Asia are at the highest levels ever seen, equipment shortages continue at virtually every... Read more