News & Insights

The government, who would like your feedback on UK border controls, have announced an unexpected border easement, but another one that nearly a quarter of a million traders would welcome is unlikely to happen. Customs Declaration ServiceThe customs handling of import and export freight system ... Read more

HMRC is introducing four new border easements tomorrow, focused around the submission of safety and security (S&S) information for vehicles taking goods into and out of the UK. The facilitations, that will be welcomed by the logistics sector, were recently confirmed to members of the Joint... Read more

The customs handling of import and export freight system (CHIEF) has been in use by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for nearly 30 years and was due to be replaced when the UK left the European Union (EU), but its CDS replacement was not ready to handle the large increase in customs declarations, so... Read more

Critics often dismiss Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a gimmick, or short-term marketing ploy, but we are committed to give back and CSR is not just a responsibility it is our duty to society, which is why core environmental and employee welfare initiatives are continuous, with no timefr... Read more

While The House of Representatives passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act this week, to overhaul regulation of the container shipping industry, its focus on detention and demurrage billing and the container lines’ responsibility to load exports, will have little impact on import congestion, or re... Read more

Global sea freight operations have struggled with disruptions since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic over two years ago, and this has continued into 2022, with a peak shipping season this summer that is likely to be very chaotic. China’s zero-COVID strategy lockdowns have slowed supply cha... Read more

The biggest rail strike in modern history will affect all rail operations and potentially bring the country to a standstill next week. Our transport teams are working with our service providers on contingency plans that will keep freight moving. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has... Read more

Matthew Weight with 30 years’ experience and a specialist background in automotive logistics has joined Metro as Automotive Director. With responsibility for automotive services, Matthew will establish Metro as the first choice global logistics partner for finished vehicle, automotive component... Read more

While there has rightly been much focus on driver shortages and spiking fuel costs, it is a shortage of engine oil and lubricants that is currently the biggest threat to the road transport of freight. Road transport is an inherent component in almost every freight movement and the critical col... Read more

Container volumes at eight of China’s top ports surged 25% to 16.8 million TEU in April, largely driven by consumers in Europe and the US, but manufacturers are anticipating weakening demand. According to figures released by China’s Transport Ministry, only Shanghai recorded a decline in s... Read more

As COVID lockdown measures are gradually relaxed in Shanghai it is uncertain how quickly export sea freight volumes will rebound, but many experts are anticipating a strong and sustained spike in demand creating a backlog of shipping containers, which could once again result in oce... Read more

In the 70 years that Queen Elizabeth II has been our monarch, her reign has heralded the transformation of international trade and the beginning and spread of a new global economy. When Elizabeth II acceded to the throne in 1952, at the age of 25, Britain had lost two-thirds of her pre-war exp... Read more