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Customs is the bottleneck in global trade — Metro is removing it

Feb 18, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Global Trade Observatory Outlook 2026, based on insights from more than 3,500 senior supply chain executives globally, delivers a clear message: customs is now the single biggest operational constraint in global trade. 

According to the report:

  • 60% of executives cite customs clearance as the leading cause of disruption.
  • 36% rank trade facilitation among the top policy priorities for enabling growth.

At a time when 94% still expect trade growth, the implication is clear: growth is possible, but only if border friction is controlled.

For importers and exporters, speed through borders is now as important as speed of transit.

Border Friction Is No Longer a Back-Office Issue

Customs delays today are not just administrative inconveniences. They create:

  • Demurrage and storage costs
  • Production stoppages
  • Missed retail windows
  • Inventory distortion
  • Reputational risk

As supply chains diversify and multi-origin sourcing becomes more diverse, compliance complexity increases. Different rules of origin, changing tariff regimes, sanctions screening, high-risk product categories and new digital reporting requirements all increase exposure.

The Global Trade Observatory findings confirm what many businesses already feel: border friction is now the pressure point in supply chain resilience and execution at customs is no longer a milestone, it is a strategic necessity.

Metro’s Customs Brokerage: Built for Complexity

Metro’s Customs Compliance Services are designed specifically for this environment of volatility and regulatory intensity. 

Our AEO-accredited team manage the full spectrum of customs requirements, including:

  • Permanent and temporary imports
  • Transit (T1) procedures
  • Specialised food and high-risk product declarations
  • UK, EU and USA clearance at all ports
  • Sanctions-origin advisory and exemption cases

This is not simply about filing entries, it is about total compliance and controlling risk before it materialises.

For example:

  • 99.8% of food shipments clear without delay, with IPAFFS paperwork typically submitted within one hour of receiving slaughterhouse documentation.
  • Export declarations are routinely processed within 30–120 minutes.
  • Secureduty refunds through proactive review and HMRC engagement.

CuDoS: AI-Driven Customs Intelligence

Metro’s AI-driven CuDoS platform automates compliance for complex, multi-line entries. 

  • Aggregates multi-line invoices (300+ lines)
  • Reduces manual processing by 70%
  • Achieves 99.3% first-time declaration accuracy
  • Completes complex entries in under two hours

In a market where manual processes can take 6–24 hours and error rates remain high, automation and AI-driven validation are competitive advantage.

From Compliance to Competitive Advantage

The Global Trade Observatory Outlook highlights how trade growth will continue despite uncertainty, but only for those who can navigate friction effectively, and customs sits at the centre of that challenge.

As supplier diversification increases and new trade corridors open, customs complexity rises. Multi-origin supply chains multiply declaration volumes and compliance touch-points.

Without disciplined brokerage and intelligent automation, delays compound quickly.

The Global Trade Observatory data confirms that customs is now the primary bottleneck in global trade. 

Metro’s mission is simple: remove that bottleneck.

If your business is experiencing clearance delays, compliance pressure, or escalating duty exposure, Metro’s Customs Compliance team and CuDoS platform deliver measurable performance improvements in speed, accuracy and cost control. EMAIL managing director, Andrew Smith, to learn more.

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Strengthening Metro’s US customer focus

Jan 21, 2026 | , ,

Metro continues to invest in capability, coverage and customer leadership as part of its expansion plans for 2026. The appointment of Jonathan Cheyne as Key Account Director for the USA reflects that commitment, reinforcing Metro’s commercial focus and customer engagement across the transatlantic market.

Jonathan joins Metro with a strong international background spanning education, sport and global logistics, bringing a people-first approach shaped by both operational delivery and customer experience leadership.

Jonathan’s higher education spans more than a decade, with undergraduate and postgraduate study, alongside research modules, completed at leading universities across Scotland, the United States and Singapore. This international academic exposure has underpinned a career built around collaboration, performance and cross-border understanding.

Alongside his studies, Jonathan rowed competitively for Glasgow University. After completing his eligibility as an athlete, he returned to the club as a volunteer coach, while working professionally with Scottish Rowing. This combination of participation and leadership helped shape a management style centred on performance, development and accountability.

Jonathan Cheyne – Key Account Director

As Regional Development Manager at Scottish Rowing, Jonathan spent two years supporting athlete pathways, regional programmes and organisational growth. The role built a strong grounding in stakeholder management, structured development and performance outcomes. Skills that would later translate into complex commercial environments.

Jonathan then spent eight years with A.P. Moller – Maersk, holding a series of progressively senior roles across the UK and Ireland. His experience spans client-facing account management, regional customer leadership and global programme director roles.

Across these roles, Jonathan worked at the intersection of customers, operations and carrier strategy, with a strong focus on service consistency, network performance and multi-carrier solutions.

Building Metro’s US commercial platform

Jonathan joined Metro in December 2025, with a clear mandate from the group’s leadership: to help build and shape Metro’s US commercial platform.

Working closely with existing and new customers, his role centres on developing long-term relationships, supporting inbound/outbound operations into the US and ensuring consistent service delivery for end customers. Crucially, Jonathan sees Metro USA as the group’s conduit to the US market, connecting customers, capabilities and opportunities across the wider Metro network.

As Metro expands its footprint and investment in the United States, Jonathan will play a key role in broadening the group’s horizons, commercially, operationally and strategically, across North America.

Whether you are exporting to the US today, considering new routes to market, or looking to strengthen service levels for your American customers, Jonathan Cheyne would welcome a conversation to understand your requirements and explore how Metro can support your ambitions. EMAIL Jonathan.

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GB Global backs major Liverpool distribution centre

Jan 7, 2026 | , , ,

GB Global, Metro’s holding group, is supporting the development of a new 950,000 sq ft multi-user distribution centre in Speke, Liverpool, reinforcing the group’s ability to handle growing and more complex freight flows.

The 50 acre site will accommodate a single cross docked facility of over 950,000 ft2 incorporating 31,000 ft2 of two storey offices, a 902,000 ft2 warehouse as well as two transport offices of 6,000 ft2 and a gatehouse.

The property will have 21m eaves, 118 dock and 12 level access doors as well as 55m yards to both sides and parking for 238 HGVs and 600 cars. The scheme will target BREEAM Excellent and an EPC A+ rating with the warehouse roof being 100% PV ready.

The redevelopment has received planning approval from Liverpool City Council, attracting national attention, including coverage by the BBC, which reflects the strategic importance of logistics infrastructure to regional growth and national supply-chain capability.

An economic impact assessment published by Brookdale Consulting estimates the £96m scheme would generate £42m in business rates over 10 years and create 500 jobs.

Located close to key motorway links, ports and air cargo gateways, the Speke site is designed to support multi-user, multi-sector distribution, offering scale, flexibility and modern facilities aligned with today’s logistics requirements.

For Metro customers, the new Speke facility will:

  • Expand available UK distribution capacity at a time when space remains constrained
  • Support faster inland connectivity between ports, airports and end markets
  • Enable more flexible inventory positioning and fulfilment strategies

As supply chains become more fragmented and risk-aware, access to high-quality, well-located logistics infrastructure is increasingly central to service reliability.

Looking ahead

The Speke development underlines how investment at group level supports stronger execution across the supply chain as a whole. For Metro customers, it reinforces the value of working with a logistics partner that sits within a broader network committed to long-term infrastructure, people and capability.

As supply chains continue to shift from cost-led optimisation toward resilience and performance, this type of strategic investment provides an important foundation for consistent service delivery in the years ahead.

About GB Global

GB Global is a privately owned international group comprising a diverse portfolio of specialist businesses spanning logistics, supply chain, technology, education, customs, consultancy, sustainability, and property development.

Employing over 3,000 people worldwide, the Group operates across all major global markets, delivering fully integrated, end-to-end solutions that connect every stage of the supply chain – from global freight and warehousing to customs compliance, digital trade management and environmental consultancy.

GB Global operates through a network of independently managed specialist businesses, each with its own leadership, expertise and customer focus, supported by shared strategic oversight, investment, assets and group-wide capabilities. This structure enables agility at company level, while providing customers with the scale, resilience and integrated services of a global organisation.

For more information, visit www.gbglobal.world

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Building capacity, capability and coverage: Metro’s expansion plans for 2026

Jan 7, 2026 |

Metro is entering 2026 with a clear focus: expanding regional presence, strengthening expertise and investing in people to better support customers operating increasingly complex and execution-critical supply chains.

In 2026, Metro will open new offices in Belfast, Leeds and Liverpool, strengthening its UK footprint and bringing decision-making, operational support and customer service closer to key manufacturing, retail and port-centric markets.

These locations have been selected to:

  • Improve regional accessibility for customers
  • Strengthen links to major ports, airports and inland networks
  • Support faster response and more localised service delivery

The expansion reflects Metro’s commitment to combining national scale with regional execution,  ensuring customers benefit from both consistency and local expertise.

Strengthening international platforms

Internationally, Metro is continuing to build momentum in key growth markets.

In the United States, Metro has appointed a dedicated Account Director for Metro Global USA, underlining the importance of the transatlantic market to UK and European customers. Metro Global USA is being strengthened to six locations, enhancing local coverage, customer support and coordination across inbound and outbound flows.

At the same time, Metro’s presence in India continues to scale strategically. The business is expanding toward seven locations, creating a stronger platform to support sourcing, consolidation, origin management and exporting across the Indian subcontinent — a market of growing importance as supply chains diversify.

Investing in expertise and people

Alongside its geographic expansion, Metro continues to invest heavily in the people and expertise that underpin reliable supply-chain execution.

During 2025 and into 2026, Metro has recruited experienced senior professionals across all transport modes and service lines, strengthening capability in ocean, air, road, warehousing, customs, IT and integrated logistics. This ensures customers benefit from deep operational knowledge, strong carrier relationships and proactive solution design across complex and time-critical supply chains.

At the same time, Metro remains focused on developing talent for the long term. Ongoing training and structured development programmes are designed to equip teams with the skills required to manage technology-enabled and compliance-driven logistics environments.

This commitment to people was recognised with Metro being shortlisted at the BIFA Awards for Apprentice of the Year and Staff Development — reflecting sustained investment in both experience and future capability.

By combining senior expertise with continuous skills development, Metro is building teams that are not only equipped for today’s challenges, but prepared for the demands of 2026 and beyond.

Looking ahead

As customers plan for 2026, Metro’s expansion is designed to deliver:

  • Greater regional access in the UK
  • Stronger international support across the USA and India
  • Deeper expertise across all transport modes
  • Continued investment in people and service quality

For customers, this means a logistics partner that is scaling responsibly, strengthening capability where it matters most, and remaining focused on execution, resilience and long-term partnership.

If you’d like to discuss how Metro’s expanded network and expertise can support your supply chain in 2026 and beyond, please EMAIL our managing director, Andy Smith.

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