News & Insights

Our trade body, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) has advised members, including Metro, to be cautious while acting as ‘indirect representatives’, as HMRC have been taking action against UK intermediaries in relation to valuation issues, under-paid duties and VAT since 2021... Read more

With a goal of net zero emissions by the year 2050, the European Union is expanding its Emissions Trading System (ETS) to the shipping sector in 2024, which means container shipping lines will need to purchase emission allowances while investing in alternative fuels, with the increased costs like... Read more

The significant drop in UK inflation from 8.7% in May to 7.9% in June is the first fall since last November, and is a 15 month low that could hopefully be a turning point in the cost of living crisis. Global logistics is the barometer for UK trade and the health of the economy both within the ... Read more

Exactly two weeks ago the Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 (The Act) received Royal Assent from King Charles III and will come into effect on the 20th September 2023. It sets out the basis upon which trade documents can exist and be dealt with in electronic form, such that an electronic trade ... Read more

The Financial Times has reported that Brexit checks on food and food products coming to the UK from the EU, that were due to start at the end of October have been delayed by the government for the fifth time, due to fears over inflation. The decision to suspend plans to enforce the controls, w... Read more

Subject to ratification, the UK has joined the CPTPP trade pact with countries in Asia and the Pacific, including Japan, New Zealand and Australia, with whom the UK has agreed Free Trade Agreements (FTA). The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) was est... Read more

With over 70 fires on container ships blamed on hazardous cargo, chemicals and batteries in the past five years and an onboard Li-ion fire contributing to the fatal crash of a UPS Flight in 2010, insurers are calling for improved regulatory clarity and the need to address transport safety issues ... Read more

A survey by the British International Freight Association (BIFA) confirms that freight forwarders are coming under increasing pressure from customers to show evidence of decarbonisation, while those same customers need to get ready for carbon emission audits now. The BIFA survey found that leg... Read more

According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), UK car production rose for the fourth consecutive month in May, up almost a third on 2022. Domestic production volumes increased by 45.4% and exports rose 22.9%, with exports accounting for 80% of the p... Read more

We are pleased to see key carrier partners, Emirates, Qatar and Saudia commit more flights, with air freight capability, directly to our Birmingham Airport hub, from key Middle East and Asia origins. Birmingham International Airport (BHX), has underlined again its critical importance as our ai... Read more

Maersk took a sea fright market struggling with excess capacity by surprise a fortnight ago, when it announced its intention to impose a 49% freight all kinds (FAK) general rate increase (GRI) on the 1st August 2023. The carrier said that to continue offering a broad portfolio of high-quality ... Read more

Despite continuous efforts by air and sea carriers to increase direct shipper relationships beyond the largest volume (BCO) contracts, freight forwarders still control the vast majority of air freight and last month NVO’s like Metro handled over half of FCL’s sailing from Asia, suggesting tha... Read more