Record-low water levels on the Rhine are creating another significant challenge for European supply chains, restricting barge capacity, increasing transport costs and putting additional pressure on already constrained road and rail networks. The Rhine is one of Europe’s most important…

The global airfreight market is becoming increasingly difficult to predict through headline averages. While worldwide volumes remain above last year’s levels, conditions are diverging sharply between individual origins and trade lanes as de-minimis regulation, technology demand, weather disruption and capacity…

US importers face another period of significant trade policy change as the Trump administration expands its use of tariffs across countries, commodities and industries. The immediate challenge is understanding which measures apply and how they interact. The wider issue is…

Metro’s Q3/26 Peak Season Survey suggests businesses are entering the second half of the year with growing confidence, despite ongoing uncertainty across global supply chains. While current shipping volumes remain mixed, the outlook for the next three months is positive….

For years, weather disruption was largely viewed as an operational inconvenience. A storm might delay a vessel, flooding could close a road for a day or two, or high winds might temporarily suspend port operations. That is no longer the…

The pound has been strengthening against the US dollar, improving sterling buying power for many UK businesses purchasing goods and services priced in dollars. For importers, that’s welcome news. A stronger pound can reduce the sterling cost of overseas purchases,…

Commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea is facing renewed disruption with 14 Iranian attacks on vessels since June 25th, the breakdown of the US-Iran ceasefire and a Houthi threat to target Saudi-linked shipping in the Bab…

Global air freight markets continue to outperform expectations, but the balance between supply and demand remains fragile.  What began as a short-term disruption following renewed conflict in the Middle East has evolved into a more structural capacity challenge, keeping rates…

The UK’s trade agenda continues to gather momentum, creating new opportunities for businesses trading internationally, while reshaping the way they access global markets.  The most recent agreements with major trading partners across Asia-Pacific, the Gulf, North America and Europe have…

For much of the recent past, freight markets have lurched from one disruption to another. Pandemic recovery, conflict in the Red Sea, tariff uncertainty and conflict in the Middle East have each triggered periods of higher freight rates before conditions…

Ocean freight from India has entered a period of intense demand, with tightening vessel space, rising freight rates and increasing competition for capacity across both European and North American trade lanes. For businesses diversifying manufacturing away from China or expanding…

From 8 July, regulated consumer products entering the US must be supported by electronic compliance certificates filed at the time of customs entry, turning missing or inaccurate information into a direct threat to supply chain continuity. This is not a…

US trade policy is once again shifting, and this time the uncertainty is centred not just on what duties apply, but how long they will last and what might be added next.  Importers face a confusing mix of “temporary” measures…

Metro’s LCL Optimised Solution lets shippers move smaller, more frequent orders without paying for empty container space, freeing up working capital and easing the current squeeze on capacity. As peak season tightens capacity across the major east-west container trades, many…

The UK’s incoming steel trade measures are set to reshape import dynamics almost overnight, with significant cost and compliance implications for manufacturers, construction firms, and industrial supply chains. From 1 July 2026, the UK will replace its current steel safeguards…

President Trump’s new customs enforcement drive is turning DDP and other seller‑controlled models into a high‑risk area, especially where duties are undervalued or the true importer of record is unclear. The 3 June 2026 “Strengthening Customs Enforcement” executive order marks…

Port congestion in North Europe and East Asia is increasingly a two-ended problem: weather and capacity issues at origin delay departures, and when those same vessels finally reach port in Europe, they miss their planned berths and are forced to…

Container shipping normally follows a traditional demand curve, with rates climbing into Chinese New Year, softening through spring, and then building towards a Q3 peak. But not this year. The crisis around the Strait of Hormuz is introducing an extra…

China is rewiring the legal framework around its ports and supply chains and that matters for every UK shipper moving goods to, from or via China.  Two new sets of rules in 2026 change who controls disputes, how far you…

The UK automotive industry is urging the European Union to preserve close manufacturing integration with Britain as Brussels advances new industrial policies designed to strengthen European supply chains and accelerate domestic electric vehicle production. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and…

On 13 May 2026, the King’s Speech set out the government’s plans for the next Parliamentary session, including efforts to reset post-Brexit relations, forge closer economic ties with the EU and reduce unnecessary barriers to trade. The reset is not…