News & Insights

Following European complaints of defective medical equipment, Chinese authorities have tightened quality controls and increased customs inspections, in a move that has led to rising air cargo costs and congestion in South China. New regulations include yesterday’s announcement by China’s M... Read more

Most businesses are complicated to manage in the best of times. The Coronavarius pandemic is exposing weaknesses and issues, that technology will cure. This successful business operates eight production plants in the UK, Europe, Russia, Malaysia and Brazil, selling products into almost 100 cou... Read more

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the world, with us facing an uncertain future. Metro believe that the most effective way to eradicate uncertainty and doubt is knowledge, which is why we produce our regular supply chain bulletins and why we share this information platform,... Read more

Even under social distancing, forwarders like Metro Shipping are the “Architects of Trade”, keeping fragile trade lanes open in the midst of a pandemic that has left the world economy reeling, according to Basil Pietersen, president of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associ... Read more

In today’s uncertain times, blank sailings and unreliable sailing schedules are becoming the new norm, underlining the importance of resilient, flexible and transparent supply chains and real-time information. The pandemic has highlighted the need for supply chain visibility and the need for... Read more

The extensive programme of cancelled sailings, by shipping lines on the Asia to Europe trade, will removed almost a third of capacity in the coming weeks and the impact is starting to be felt at origin ports across Asia The deteriorating global economic outlook has seen carriers make extensive... Read more

Technology is one of Metro’s four key service pillars - together with forwarding, supply chain and outsourcing - and a unique selling point for the business. As Technical Solutions Director, Simon George is in a critical role, leading the businesses technology strategy and driving the team that... Read more

Emirates is a national flag carrier airline and is the largest airline in the Middle East, operating over 3,600 flights per week from its hub at Dubai International Airport, to more than 150 cities in 80 countries across six continents. Emirates is the world's fourth largest passenger airline ... Read more

Despite the continuing lockdowns in the UK and overseas, blanked voyages and grounded aircraft, Metro Shipping is planning, uplifting and transporting medical, PPE and non-essentials cargo by air and sea. Globally Metro ship 350,000 teu containers (FCL) each year and have core carrier agreemen... Read more

Even with the continuing lockdown, we’ll be looking forward to the forthcoming May bank holiday in the UK, but have you considered the supply chain impact of China’s labour day holidays and the month of Ramadan, which may start this Friday. Every supply chain manager sourcing from China wi... Read more

With oil prices plunging to less than $20 per barrel, ocean carriers are coming under increased pressure to cancel their bunker surcharges, but lines are holding firm to emissions targets and cutting operating costs. Containership owners are continuing with their scrubber retrofit programs des... Read more

While UK ports continue to operate relatively normally, despite the closure of many importers, Bangladesh is running out of reefer plugs and US ports are preparing to offer temporary storage ahead of an anticipated May surge. It is looking likely that Bangladesh will be the pandemics next supp... Read more