ULD on tarmac

Continued Airfreight Growth Amid Emerging Challenges

Nov 6, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Global air freight markets have continued to post positive year-on-year growth through September and October, reinforced by stronger than anticipated build up to peak season volumes, but recent indicators point to a moderating pace and emerging challenges that merit close attention.

While recent data points to a slowdown in momentum, overall performance remains solid, underpinned by stable demand, improved belly capacity and expanding connectivity on Asia-Europe and Trans-Pacific routes.

September: Stronger Demand and Broad-Based Recovery

According to IATA’s latest data, global air cargo demand rose nearly 3% year-on-year in September, with international volumes up 3.2%. Capacity grew by roughly 3%, maintaining a healthy balance between supply and demand. The Asia-Pacific region led the expansion with a 6.8% increase in volumes, while Europe recorded a 2.5% rise and Africa posted double-digit growth.

Growth was especially strong on the Europe–Asia (up over 12%) and 10% up within Asia corridors, reflecting continued confidence among exporters and manufacturers leveraging airfreight for time-sensitive and high-value cargo. With global manufacturing activity steadying and cross-border trade recovering, September marked one of the most stable months of the year for international air logistics.

October: Consistent Throughput Amid Changing Conditions

Preliminary October data shows global air cargo volumes continuing to rise (around 4% higher than last year) indicating that demand remains robust heading into the traditional year-end peak. Industry analysts note that the pace of expansion is easing slightly as the market adjusts to higher passenger aircraft capacity and shifting economic conditions, but the overall picture remains positive.

Regional patterns are mixed: Asia continues to drive growth, supported by strong eCommerce flows and resilient intra-regional trade, while the transatlantic market remains steady. Importantly, network connectivity and schedule reliability have improved further, helping shippers achieve greater predictability and shorter transit times across major gateways.

Outlook: Stable, Predictable and Customer-Focused

While the pace of growth is slowing, there are reasons for optimism, including sustained peak season volumes, robust growth across key Asian and African corridors, and ongoing demand from eCommerce and modal shifts due to ocean shipping disruption.

The industry faces headwinds from weakening rate trends and demand imbalances, but steady year-on-year increases, even as momentum tapers, position air freight for a resilient conclusion to 2025.

Overall, air cargo remains on a positive trajectory, delivering growth despite moderating demand and evolving market challenges, with adaptability and strategic planning key for stakeholders navigating this dynamic landscape.

With demand steady and networks evolving, securing lift and predictability is all about smart planning. Metro’s air team proactively monitors capacity, fine-tunes routings, and works with trusted carrier partners to keep your cargo moving—reliably and on time.

Our platform adds real-time confidence with flight telemetry that delivers:

  • Live aircraft position and route mapping
  • Accurate departure/arrival confirmation
  • Time-stamped milestones, updated in real time

Plan with certainty, optimise inventory, and protect service levels—even when conditions change.

EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director, to explore smarter, faster, and more resilient air-freight solutions powered by live data and long-standing carrier relationships.

Suez convoy

When the Suez Canal Comes Back Online: Hidden Risks for Supply Chains

Oct 28, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

With hopes rising of stabilising conflict in the Red Sea region, analysts are increasingly considering what it would mean if shipping lines resume full use of the Suez Canal route, and it’s not all good news. 

While the shorter route from Asia to Europe might seem like a logistical boon, the modelling suggests there are several material pitfalls ahead that shippers need to be aware of.

Since late 2023, container shipping lines operating on Asia–Europe and Asia–North America routes have avoided the Suez Canal, opting instead to sail around the Cape of Good Hope. This detour has extended transit times and absorbed a significant amount of global container capacity. According to Sea-Intelligence, a full and immediate return to the Suez Canal could release up to 2.1 million TEU of capacity, equivalent to around 6.5 % of the global fleet, back into circulation.

However, this sudden release would create a powerful surge of imports into Europe. Modelling suggests that if all carriers reverted to Suez routing at once, inbound volumes from Asia could double for a period of up to two weeks, pushing overall port handling demand almost 40 % higher than previous peaks. 

Even if the transition were more gradual, spread over six to eight weeks, European ports would still face throughput levels around 10 % above historical highs, straining terminal operations, inland connections, and storage capacity.

Key Areas of Risk

  • European Port Congestion and Hinterland Strain
    European ports are already under pressure. A sudden import surge could stretch terminal capacity, yard space, and inland networks, leading to delays, higher handling costs, and increased demurrage.
  • Short-Term Disruption Despite Long-Term Gains
    While the Suez route offers shorter transits and lower fuel use, the transition back is complex. Network structures have been rebuilt around the Cape, and reverting will require major re-engineering, with temporary schedule changes and service disruption.
  • Lingering Risk and Insurance Costs
    The security issues that diverted ships from Suez persist. Even after reopening, residual war-risk premiums and contingency measures could keep operating costs elevated.
  • Capacity Overshoot and Rate Pressure
    Releasing 2.1 million TEU of capacity is likely to swing supply–demand balance, pushing rates down and while shippers may benefit in the short-term, it is likely that carriers would take drastic action to protect margins.
  • Timing and Readiness
    The timing of a full return remains uncertain. Analysts stress that rushing back before networks and ports are ready could trigger fresh disruption rather than restoring stability.

Metro’s sea freight team are already modelling reopening scenarios to ensure capacity, routing, and contingency plans are ready when trade flows shift back through the Suez Canal. 

EMAIL Managing Director, Andrew Smith to arrange a strategic review of your shipping patterns, risk exposure, and options to protect service continuity and cost efficiency when routes realign.

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U.S. Power Plays Shape Global Climate and Asian Trade Policy

Oct 27, 2025 | , , ,

The United States exerted its influence on two critical stages this month, by blocking consensus on global maritime climate regulation in London and sealing a series of trade pacts across Southeast Asia. 

At the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, U.S. pressure proved decisive in delaying adoption of a new net-zero emissions framework for shipping. After weeks of tense negotiation, the vote to postpone the measure by one year passed narrowly, with 57 in favour and 49 against, derailing what would have been the industry’s first global carbon-pricing mechanism.

The U.S. argued that the proposed levy on maritime emissions would raise consumer costs by around 10%, and threatened sanctions, visa restrictions, and port fees against nations voting in favour. Backed by Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Venezuela, the U.S. successfully persuaded several key flag states to withdraw support, effectively halting progress on a binding framework.

The decision has angered environmental groups and investors seeking a predictable framework for green fuel investment. Analysts now warn of fragmented regional carbon schemes, slower progress on decarbonisation, and renewed dominance of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as the default transition fuel.

However, the delay appears to have done little to dent the industry’s confidence. In the two weeks since the IMO vote, shipping lines have continued to place significant new-build orders, with the containership order-book ratio surpassing 33% of the global fleet for the first time since 2009. 

More orders are expected in the coming weeks as carriers push ahead with long-term fleet renewal plans, signalling sustained appetite for capacity growth despite regulatory uncertainty.

Trump’s Asia Tour: Trade Wins and Strategic Balancing

Even as Washington disrupted global climate diplomacy, President Donald Trump was securing new trade concessions across Southeast Asia. During his recent tour, the U.S. concluded four separate deals aimed at deepening regional economic ties and diversifying away from China.

  • Vietnam agreed to maintain 20% tariffs on U.S. goods but will move toward zero tariffs on selected products. The two countries will also cooperate on digital trade, export-control enforcement and anti-evasion measures.
  • Thailand retained its 19% tariff rate but committed to eliminate duties on 99% of U.S. goods, opening a broad range of consumer and industrial markets.
  • Malaysia and Cambodia went further, signing comprehensive reciprocal agreements that cap ad valorem tariffs at no more than 19%.

U.S.–China: A Cautious Thaw

Trump’s whirlwind tour culminates on Thursday 30 October with a long-awaited meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, their first in six years. The two leaders will meet on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit, where negotiators have already framed a tentative agreement that would halt new U.S. tariffs and ease Chinese export controls on rare-earth minerals, which are essential for EVs, semiconductors and defence technology.

With U.S. trade agreements, compliance requirements, and sustainability regulations evolving fast, Metro can help you assess exposure and opportunities, maintaining compliance and resilient supply chains. 

EMAIL Andrew Smith, Managing Director, to review the latest policy impacts and ensure your business stays aligned with shifting global trade and environmental frameworks.

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BIFA’s 2025 Standard Trading Conditions: A Strategic Update for UK Freight Forwarding

Oct 24, 2025 | , ,

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has unveiled its 2025 edition of the Standard Trading Conditions (STC), replacing the 2021 version under which Metro and the wider UK forwarding industry currently operate. 

The 2025 revision represents one of the most comprehensive updates in recent years.
BIFA has sought to future-proof the framework against a more volatile trading environment, incorporating lessons learned since Brexit and adapting to the increasing frequency of customs-related responsibilities handled by forwarders.

The new STC also strengthens legal robustness, ensuring compliance with the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, and updates terminology to align with modern commercial practice and current UK contract law.

Key Changes in the 2025 STC

  • Updated liability framework – Clarified definitions of loss, damage, delay, and consequential loss, with adjustments to how liability limits apply to multimodal transport and ancillary services.
  • Enhanced customs provisions – Expanded clauses covering declarations, indirect representation, and data accuracy, reflecting the critical role forwarders play in UK border compliance.
  • Digital documentation and e-commerce – Introduction of language recognising electronic records, digital communication, and automation tools as valid and binding forms of documentation.
  • Improved clarity on lien and payment rights – Modernised wording on forwarders’ entitlement to retain goods or documentation until payment is received, ensuring consistency with case law.
  • Force majeure and sanctions – Strengthened references to trade sanctions, embargoes, and extraordinary disruptions such as pandemics or cyber incidents.
  • Modernised terminology – Simplified and standardised language throughout to reduce ambiguity and prevent misinterpretation in contractual disputes.

Collectively, these revisions make the 2025 STC more aligned with the realities of today’s international trade, providing forwarders and their clients with a transparent and fair contractual framework.

What Shippers Should Do

  • Familiarise themselves with the new conditions and note how these may affect contractual responsibilities, especially regarding customs declarations and documentation accuracy.
  • Review existing contracts to ensure consistency with the updated terms ahead of implementation.
  • Engage with account managers for clarification on any specific service implications under the new framework.

Transition and Implementation

The 2025 Standard Trading Conditions take effect on 31 December 2025, replacing the 2021 edition.

BIFA has published the revised terms well in advance to give members and their customers time to prepare, review contractual documentation, and ensure a seamless transition.

The full text for the 2025 edition can be found here, and the 2021 edition here.

The 2025 BIFA Standard Trading Conditions introduce important legal and operational changes that affect all freight forwarding contracts. EMAIL Laurence Burford, Chief Financial Officer, to discuss the details, potential implications, and how Metro can help ensure your trading agreements remain fully compliant and commercially protected.

Category: International Trade

Customs | International Trade | United States

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