News & Insights

After months of volatility and gradual rate decline, airfreight rates on key Asia–Europe and trans-Pacific lanes are climbing as capacity tightens ahead of a softer-than-usual peak season, while ocean carriers are seeing container spot rates rebound for a second consecutive week thanks to blank... Read more

The U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) newly imposed port fee regime is massively impacting container and roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) operators, inflating operating costs, tightening vessel capacity, and prompting warnings of severe disruption to U.S. logistics. UPDATE 30 OCTOBER - Donald Trump an... Read more

With hopes rising of stabilising conflict in the Red Sea region, analysts are increasingly considering what it would mean if shipping lines resume full use of the Suez Canal route, and it’s not all good news.  While the shorter route from Asia to Europe might seem like a logistical boon, th... Read more

The United States exerted its influence on two critical stages this month, by blocking consensus on global maritime climate regulation in London and sealing a series of trade pacts across Southeast Asia.  At the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, U.S. pressure proved decisiv... Read more

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has unveiled its 2025 edition of the Standard Trading Conditions (STC), replacing the 2021 version under which Metro and the wider UK forwarding industry currently operate.  The 2025 revision represents one of the most comprehensive updates... Read more

In U.S. trade compliance, even a one-minute delay can be costly. Recent cases show importers and logistics partners facing thousands of dollars in penalties simply because mandatory filings were completed moments after official cut-off times. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has steppe... Read more

The British pound has come under renewed pressure this week, falling against the U.S. dollar amid a backdrop of global monetary shifts and troubling domestic inflation forecasts. The GBP/USD exchange rate dipped as investors digested signals from central banks and fresh warnings from internati... Read more

As it enters its 3rd week the U.S. government shutdown is squeezing every part of the country’s trade and logistics ecosystem, with air traffic control, ports and customs all under strain. While some critical functions persist, the uncertainty is already slowing imports, exports and regulatory ... Read more

Container lines are tightening capacity to defend freight rates just as new U.S. port fees on China vessels start on 14 October—costs that carriers say will be passed through to shippers. In the run-up to contracting season, the shipping alliances have stepped up blank sailings to support pr... Read more

Europe’s container ports may see a short reprieve following a court-mediated agreement to pause a major strike at the Port of Rotterdam, but broader port disruption continues to threaten sea  freight flows across the continent. Hundreds of lashers at Europe’s busiest container terminal su... Read more

Even though air cargo is easing back after a brisk summer, global tonnages rose in the third quarter, with eCommerce redrawing lanes and hub dynamics, while UK airport expansions point to a more connected decade ahead. Worldwide air cargo tonnages were up 4% YoY in Q3 2025 and while average sp... Read more

The North Europe to US, transatlantic trade-lane, is settling into a more predictable rhythm, after a trade deal and took much of the guesswork out of export planning, while carriers have lifted reliability and held blank sailings to minimal levels.  The result is a market where prices are ea... Read more