screen concept

Turning disruption into decision advantage

The simultaneous disruption in the Persian Gulf and continued Red Sea avoidance is creating a supply chain shock without modern precedent. Metro’s latest application release is giving you unprecedented visibility.

With vessels held or diverting, Gulf-bound cargo potentially discharging at intermediate hubs, and 2%+ of the global fleet positioned in or near the Persian Gulf, pressure is rapidly shifting across global port networks.

Congestion is no longer isolated to one region. It is migrating.

Transhipment hubs such as Salalah, Khor Fakkan, Sohar, Duqm and Colombo are absorbing displaced volumes. Secondary effects are already emerging at Singapore, Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas. As carriers reassess Gulf calls and reroute services, containers already on the water may face discharge changes, berth delays and inland knock-on disruption.

In this environment, traditional vessel tracking is not enough.

Shippers need early, reliable visibility into port performance — not just where the vessel is, but what will happen when it arrives.

Introducing port congestion visibility in Metro MVT

To support customers navigating this evolving situation, Metro has launched a new Port Congestion application within the Metro MVT Portal.

The solution provides real-time, data-driven insight into port conditions across key global gateways, enabling proactive planning rather than reactive firefighting.

Key Capabilities

Interactive dashboards deliver clear visibility of:

• Vessel Waiting Time
• Vessel Traffic at Port
• Vessel Days Wasted
• Vessel Dwell Time
• Country-level congestion trends
• Port-level congestion indicators

This allows customers to identify where congestion is building — often days or weeks before cargo arrival.

Why this matters now

With emergency war-risk surcharges applied, routing changes underway and air cargo capacity reduced, cost exposure is already rising. Port congestion adds a further layer of unpredictability.

Early visibility enables:

Smarter Routing Decisions

Assess risk exposure at potential discharge ports before cargo is affected.

Delivery & Warehouse Planning

Align inland haulage, labour and warehouse capacity with real arrival conditions — not estimated schedules.

Priority Management

Identify at-risk shipments early and protect critical cargo before delays escalate.

Cost Control

Reduce detention, demurrage and last-minute premium transport spend triggered by unexpected congestion.

From tracking to foresight

In today’s environment, supply chain resilience depends on anticipation.

Port congestion visibility transforms MVT from a tracking platform into a decision-support tool, combining global congestion intelligence with shipment-level visibility in one place.

As geopolitical volatility reshapes trade flows, having early insight into where disruption is building can materially change operational outcomes.

Accessing the capability

All MVT users with access to the Track & Trace application automatically have access to the new Port Congestion feature.

Your account director will be in touch to arrange a demo. For further information or a guided walkthrough, please EMAIL Ian Powell, Customer & Technical Solutions Director.

BHX

Birmingham airport investment will enhance cargo capability

Birmingham International Airport, a long-standing strategic hub partner of Metro, has confirmed an ambitious growth programme that will strengthen its infrastructure and bolster its role in air cargo logistics and global connectivity.

Building on years of collaborative development with Metro and ground-handling partners, which have already improved cargo turnaround efficiency, expanded value-added services, and supported new freighter services into key markets, the airport is now moving into a new phase of investment. 

Major investment plan sets framework for growth

The airport has outlined a £300 million capital programme aimed at modernising key facilities and preparing for anticipated increases in passenger and freight demand. This investment includes:

  • A significant capital commitment toward terminal and airfield enhancements designed to improve operational resilience. 
  • Upgraded airfield infrastructure, including taxiway reconstruction, new aircraft stands and runway works, which will support more frequent and diverse cargo aircraft operations. 
  • Enhanced baggage and cargo handling systems, to contribute to greater throughput capacity and speed of processing for both inbound and outbound consignments. 

While the initial focus of much recent investment has been on passenger facilities, these infrastructure improvements will also benefit cargo flows by increasing overall operational efficiency and flexibility across the airport.

In parallel with capital spending, the airport has appointed a leading international consultancy to help develop its next long-term masterplan. This forthcoming blueprint will define how the airport evolves over the coming decade, taking account of technological, sustainability and market trends. 

This forward-looking strategy reaffirms Birmingham Airport’s role as a regional and international gateway that supports economic growth and cargo connectivity across the Midlands and beyond.

Complementing physical investment, broader transport links being developed around the airport — including future rail connections and improved surface access — are expected to enhance the airport’s appeal as a logistics centre. These improvements will widen the airport’s catchment area and could unlock further opportunities for cargo route development and new airline services. 

Implications for Metro’s shippers

For Metro and its customers, these expansions reinforce the strategic value of Birmingham Airport:

  • Faster turnaround times, with greater handling capacity reducing potential bottlenecks during peak periods.
  • Improved reliability and service quality as infrastructure upgrades take effect.
  • Enhanced route potential, supporting ambitions for more diverse cargo services to and from key global markets.
  • Stronger regional freight hub, strengthening the airport’s competitive position relative to other UK gateways.

Birmingham Airport’s investment and planning activities signal confidence in the growth of both passenger and cargo traffic. By modernising infrastructure and preparing for future needs, the airport is positioning itself as a more capable and flexible partner for Metro’s client community.

Metro are able to offer time critical ‘JIT’ services through the airport where freight can be transferred in minutes rather than hours from aircraft to the road. Additional customs formalities such as ATA carnets are handled swiftly and efficiently. 

Birmingham International is the UK’s fastest-growing airport and our central air freight hub, with proximity to major clients and manufacturing regions, for speed of first/final mile logistics and 90% of the UK population within a few hours drive. EMAIL our managing director, Andrew Smith, to learn more.

tech

Metro MVT: Optimising supply chain visibility and customer value through innovation

2025 marked a breakthrough year for Metro as we continued to advance the MVT digital platform, delivering new applications, enhanced visibility, and significant improvements to our underlying infrastructure. 

These investments reflect our commitment to helping customers operate more efficiently, make better-informed decisions, and maintain complete control of their global supply chains.

Over the past year, we rolled out a series of major upgrades across MVT, including the launch of our Invoice App and E‑Bookings, making it easier than ever for customers to manage essential logistics processes from one integrated platform. We also completed a substantial investment in real‑time airfreight tracking, now fully embedded into Track and Trace. This enhancement provides accurate milestone visibility, fewer information gaps, and a more reliable digital airfreight experience strengthening Metro’s position as a leader in technology‑enabled freight solutions.

A select group of customers also gained early access to MVT Reporting & Analytics, a powerful new analytics suite designed to unlock deeper insight into supply chain performance. This comprehensive reporting tool provides dynamic dashboards, trend analysis, and operational KPIs that enable smarter planning and problem‑solving. Successive release phases will continue until the end of Q2 2026, with general release beginning 1 March 2026 for all customers.

Delivering Measurable Value for Our Customers

The expansion of the MVT application suite delivers tangible benefits that help customers run more agile and resilient supply chains, including:

  • Enhanced end‑to‑end visibility: Real‑time tracking across multiple modes allows for faster exception management and improved operational confidence.
  • Greater efficiency and workflow automation: Digital tools reduce manual activity, eliminate duplication, and accelerate core logistics processes.

Looking Ahead: What’s Coming to MVT in 2026

With an ambitious roadmap for 2026, Metro is continuing to expand and enhance the technology experience in MVT to support our customers’ evolving needs.

Q1 2026 Highlights

We look forward to sharing these imminent product releases and will provide more information via your Metro dedicated customer relationship management contacts and future newsletters.

  • Web‑based Booking App – A streamlined, modern interface that simplifies the placing of multimodal shipment bookings for our customers.
  • Port Congestion App – Real‑time insight into port performance, dwell times, and congestion risks, empowering customers to plan proactively.
  • Enhanced RoRo Vessel Tracking – More accurate sailing milestones, live ETAs, and improved visibility of delays, critical for automotive, machinery, and high‑value supply chains customers that rely heavily on RORO movements.

Q2 2026: Introducing the Schedules App

The new Schedules App will provide customers with comprehensive global carrier schedules for ocean movements. This capability enables better planning, transit‑time comparison and service selection, helping customers make informed decision around optimise their supply chain performance.

We will also release significant improvements to road freight visibility through an externally‑facing Carrier App that integrates road freight milestones directly into MVT in real time.

Continuing the Journey: Q3, Q4 and Beyond

Further enhancements through the second half of 2026 include:

  • Advanced customer‑configurable notifications across all MVT applications.
  • DCM (Demurrage, Detention & Free Time) upgrades to give greater visibility of risk and help customers manage free‑time allocation more effectively.

Simultaneously, our product and development teams will be focusing on detailed research and scoping for new digital capabilities, including customer rate tariff management and automated digital quoting, planned for release between late 2026 and early 2027.

These investments reflect Metro’s ongoing commitment to building a modern, connected, and data‑driven supply chain experience for our customers.

At Metro, our digital solutions are shaped by the people who use them every day. The MVT platform, and the wider suite of Metro applications, are developed with direct input from our customers ensuring the tools we create solve real‑world challenges and deliver meaningful value. 

We are always keen to hear from customers about their experiences with our existing products, as well as the pain points, bottlenecks, and opportunities they see across their supply chains. This insight is essential in guiding future development, influencing new product ideas, and helping us prioritise the digital capabilities that matter most. Your feedback fuels our roadmap, strengthens our innovation, and ensures Metro continues to deliver technology that truly supports your business.

For any enquiries, further information or feedback on Metro digital products and developments, please EMAIL Ian Powell, Customer and Technical Solutions Director

Liverpool office

Strengthening UK network with new regional hubs in Leeds, Liverpool and Belfast

Metro has expanded its UK footprint with the opening of three new offices in Leeds, Liverpool and Belfast, as part of its continued national growth strategy.

Investing in strategically important locations reinforces Metro’s long-term commitment to building a stronger regional presence and delivering greater operational flexibility across the UK and Ireland.

Each new office has been established to enhance regional coverage, improve responsiveness and strengthen sector support, particularly across retail, consumer goods and manufacturing.

Operating as dedicated regional hubs, the Leeds, Liverpool and Belfast teams will deliver Metro’s full service portfolio, including air freight, ocean freight, road logistics, customs brokerage and specialist retail and e-commerce solutions.

This expansion enables customers to benefit from:

  • Faster local decision-making
  • Closer commercial and operational support
  • Improved route flexibility and modal optimisation
  • Stronger integration with Metro’s wider national and international network

By combining local expertise with global reach, Metro is positioning itself to provide more agile, tailored solutions in an increasingly complex trading environment.

Strategic regional leadership

The new offices are led by experienced industry professionals with deep regional knowledge and strong commercial track records.

In Leeds, Mark Godfrey brings extensive experience in sales, key account management and general management, with a clear focus on commercial growth and long-term partnerships.

In Liverpool, Tricia Maddox adds significant operational and trade management expertise, alongside broad international customer experience across sea freight and general management roles.

In Belfast, Chris Orr leads Metro’s entry into Northern Ireland — a uniquely strategic market. Northern Ireland’s dual access to both the UK internal market and the EU single market creates significant opportunity for manufacturers and distributors seeking flexibility and tariff advantages. Metro’s presence in Belfast provides customers with direct access to this distinctive trading position while strengthening the company’s foothold in the all-Ireland market.

A platform for sustained growth

The opening of these offices is not simply an increase in physical presence; it is a deliberate investment in capability and long-term customer value.

Over the next 12 months, Metro will focus on:

  • Accelerating regional revenue growth
  • Expanding commercial and operational teams in line with demand
  • Strengthening customer acquisition and retention
  • Enhancing service performance and reliability at a regional level

As supply chains continue to face regulatory complexity, geopolitical uncertainty and operational volatility, Metro’s expanding UK network provides customers with greater stability, closer support and access to a broader range of multimodal solutions.

This latest expansion signals Metro’s intent to continue growing its national presence — building a stronger, more connected network designed around customer resilience, responsiveness and long-term success.

Metro’s new regional leaders are already engaging with customers across their markets and are keen to explore how they can support your growth.

Mark Godfrey – Regional Director, Leeds

“I’m genuinely excited to get to know the team and contribute to Metro’s continued growth and success.”
EMAIL Mark

Tricia Maddox – Regional Director, Liverpool

“I look forward to meeting colleagues and customers and helping drive growth in the region.”
EMAIL Tricia

Chris Orr – Regional Director, Belfast

“Northern Ireland presents a significant expansion opportunity for Metro, and I’m excited for this next chapter.”
EMAIL Chris