News & Insights

Our alerts, news and guides embrace all transport modes and explore global developments across all aspects of the supply chain, to keep you informed and guide decision making.

Asian Cargo Surge Threatens to Overwhelm North Europe Ports

North Europe’s container gateways face a turbulent August and September as a surge of inbound cargo from Asia collides with already stretched terminal operations. Strong import demand through the first half of the year has driven double‑digit growth in volumes, with the peak season now set... Read more

August 2025 Tariff Situation: New Rules, New Rates

The US tariff reset that took effect from has ushered in a tiered regime targeting dozens of trading partners, while locking in new agreements with key allies including the UK and EU. The measures follow months of negotiation and a deadline that forced countries to strike deals or face steep duti... Read more

BoE Set to Cut Rates as Global Policy Paths Diverge

The Bank of England (BoE) is expected to lower its base rate by 25 basis points to 4.00% at its 7 August Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, which will be the third cut of 2025. The move signals a clear shift from restrictive to more accommodative policy as economic pressures mount. UK... Read more

Front‑Loading and Hidden Inventory Disrupt Traditional Peak Season

The traditional second‑half transpacific cargo peak is unlikely to materialise this year as a wave of accelerated shipments in the first half of 2025 has drained demand from the later months, while significant volumes of hidden inventory remain stalled in supply chains. In the first half of ... Read more

Tighter Transshipment Rules Put Southeast Asia’s Supply Chains Under the Spotlight

The latest US trade agreements have introduced tougher measures targeting the rerouting of Chinese goods, reflecting heightened scrutiny on supply chain flows through Southeast Asia. While these rules are designed to curb “origin washing” — the mislabelling of goods to disguise their tru... Read more

US–EU Trade Deal Signals New Trade Era

The US and EU have agreed a landmark trade framework taking effect 1 August, with a 15% baseline tariff, replacing many higher existing rates. In addition to lowering tariffs the new trade deal opens markets, and pledges huge investment flows, with significant opportunities for UK traders able... Read more

Security Alert: Sophisticated Email Scam Targeting Businesses

Metro has recently detected and blocked a highly targeted spear‑phishing campaign designed to deceive recipients and obtain sensitive information.  The emails are sophisticated, imitating genuine correspondence and attempting to impersonate known contacts. Our investigation shows that th... Read more

Carriers Reroute as European Ports Buckle Under Congestion

European container terminals continue to face mounting congestion, triggering service reshuffles, extended inland delays, and spiking freight rates. At several key hubs, container yard density surpassed 80%, pushing carriers to adjust port calls and rethink network strategies in the heart of the ... Read more

Transatlantic Air Cargo: Calm Surface, Hidden Currents

The transatlantic air cargo market may appear steady, with stable capacity and rates, but beneath this surface calm, subtle shifts are reshaping flows, costs, and opportunities, especially on niche routes like Canada–Europe and Mexico–Europe. While wide-body and freighter capacity from Eur... Read more

Elevating Information Security

We are delighted to announce that Metro has achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, the international gold standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). This milestone is the result of a rigorous external audit process, covering all aspects of how we manage sensitive informat... Read more

Red Sea Return Scuttled by Houthi Vessel Sinking

The deadly July 7 attack on the Eternity C cargo vessel by Yemen’s Houthi rebels marks one of the most severe escalations yet in the Red Sea shipping crisis, reinforcing the view that this vital trade artery will remain off-limits for carriers through 2025.  The Red Sea, via the Suez Canal,... Read more

UK Bid to Join Pan-Europe Trade Area Blocked

The UK government’s attempt to join the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Convention, a framework that simplifies supply chains and reduces tariffs across Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East has been blocked by the EU. Established in 2012 and modernised in 2025, the PEM Convention ... Read more