News & Insights

On the 1st March 2023, the European Union is launching a customs pre-loading and pre-arrival safety and security programme, which will require the pre-advice of mandatory information and failure to provide the correct data in good time may lead to goods being rejected by the airline. The EU’... Read more

Metro has become a member of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, to be closer to the beating heart of the automotive industry and to share best practice in managing supply chains, to optimise manufacturing, assembly and despatch - to accelerate global success. For over 40 years Met... Read more

There was no pre-CNY transpacific rush this year and with China re-opening, factories are expected to open again in the second half of February, which is why carriers have tried to maintain rates. The CNY has given US ports a respite and most are now clear, with hardly any ships waiting outside W... Read more

Ships emit around one billion tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, or 3% of global emissions and despite IMO 2023 aiming to reduce carbon emissions from international shipping by 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2050, the EU is including maritime emissions in its emissions trading scheme (ETS). The EU... Read more

Leading garment manufacturer, Bangladesh, has withheld over USD $200 million of airline funds for repatriation, reportedly using the funds to shore up its depleted treasuries, leading foreign airlines to scale back their services and discouraging new market entrants. The International Air Tran... Read more

Shipping lines have cancelled almost 30% of pre and post Chinese New Year sailings from Asia, with THE Alliance cutting 36% to Europe and diverting backhaul sailings around the Cape of Good Hope, which adds two weeks transit time to China.  In a normal year, the weeks building up to China... Read more

Our focus has always been on building long-term, mutually-rewarding relationships, built on understanding. Gathering regular feedback from you provides us with the insights we need to drive the future decisions that will help us maintain a truly customer orientated business. Satisfied and happ... Read more

The US Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA), which was passed into law last June, gives the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) more power to deal with shipping lines and mitigate supply chain disruption, leading to a slew of claims and jealous European shippers.  In just six months the Federal... Read more

Manufacturers or importers of 10 or more tonnes of plastic packaging, containing less than 30% recycled material, over a 12-month period should be registered for the tax, with the liability date fast approaching on the 1st May 2023. The Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) came into force in the UK on ... Read more

The global shortage of RoRo (roll on – roll off if you have ever wondered) capacity for finished vehicle shipments has intensified over the last two quarters, encouraging an increasing number of car manufacturers to look for control of vessel assets, while many others look to containe... Read more

With factories closing across China, ahead of Sunday’s start of the Lunar new year holidays, air freight demand on major routes has continued to decline, prompting our commercial team to remind their colleagues what makes Metro’s air freight product stand out from the crowd. With air freig... Read more

If travel for the Lunar New Year holidays increases COVID transmission, we will see large numbers of infected workers having to quarantine, which will delay their return to work and factories, hauliers, terminals and ports that would traditionally restart operations by mid-February could be shut ... Read more