News & Insights

Emirates is a national flag carrier airline and is the largest airline in the Middle East, operating over 3,600 flights per week from its hub at Dubai International Airport, to more than 150 cities in 80 countries across six continents. Emirates is the world's fourth largest passenger airline ... Read more

Despite the continuing lockdowns in the UK and overseas, blanked voyages and grounded aircraft, Metro Shipping is planning, uplifting and transporting medical, PPE and non-essentials cargo by air and sea. Globally Metro ship 350,000 teu containers (FCL) each year and have core carrier agreemen... Read more

Even with the continuing lockdown, we’ll be looking forward to the forthcoming May bank holiday in the UK, but have you considered the supply chain impact of China’s labour day holidays and the month of Ramadan, which may start this Friday. Every supply chain manager sourcing from China wi... Read more

With oil prices plunging to less than $20 per barrel, ocean carriers are coming under increased pressure to cancel their bunker surcharges, but lines are holding firm to emissions targets and cutting operating costs. Containership owners are continuing with their scrubber retrofit programs des... Read more

While UK ports continue to operate relatively normally, despite the closure of many importers, Bangladesh is running out of reefer plugs and US ports are preparing to offer temporary storage ahead of an anticipated May surge. It is looking likely that Bangladesh will be the pandemics next supp... Read more

Despite the global supply chain disruptions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, our project forwarding teams are finding ways to keep their project cargo moving. We get the lowdown from our joint venture partner, Fracht Like many operation personnel, Metro and Fracht’s project logistics team... Read more

While Asia-Europe container shipping lines are reducing capacity by idling vessels from May as volumes deteriorate with the collapse in demand, air freight rates have reached their highest ever levels, making our Sea/Air solutions even more attractive for time-sensitive shipments. Media report... Read more

In the build up to the earliest Brexit deadlines in 2019, HMRC announced a series of easements designed to simplify the movement of good from the EU into the UK. HMRC has announced changes that will see the flagship easement TSP, which was to be the responsibility for the importer, replaced with ... Read more

While financial experts wonder if we’re going to witness another ‘Hanjin’, the world’s 4th largest container line, CMA CGM is following MSC in offering a ‘Suspension in Transit’ service, The Alliance cut services from Asia and 2M reduce transatlantic sailings. FINANCIALSThe deterio... Read more

The European Commission has announced a Joint European Roadmap, a plan aimed at leading the region back from the containment measures imposed on its member countries. In an official announcement on 15th April, the Commission advised its member nations that the exit from COVID19 containment mea... Read more

In good news for stretched importers, HMRC is offering payment relief for duty and VAT payments, but the deadline for deferment account holders is tomorrow! Duty deferment account holderswho are experiencing severe financial difficulty as a result of Covid-19 and who are unable to make payment... Read more

As port congestion expands in India, and fears grow at ports around the world, exporters could face unexpected costs for undelivered cargo In the UK, ports and port workers are essential, as are drivers and other participants in the supply chain. But even with the ports operating relatively no... Read more