Category: Air

Air cargo gains momentum from rising prices in ocean shipping

The record-breaking sea freight rates, driven by restricted volumes, equipment availability and service disruption is pushing increasing quantities of ‘distressed’ ocean cargo to air freight solutions. Metro have advised and updated regularly on the dynamic air freight market, which has re... Read more

Excessive demand likely to mean higher contract rates next year on all modes

The early start of the sea freight peak season and its likely extension through 2021 and possibly up to the Lunar New Year in 2022 means the chance of current market rates softening significantly are slender, particularly as disruption in any region creates more congestion and... Read more

Getting ready for air freight demand peaking during ‘peak’ season

While air freight demand from Asia and the Far East to the US has remained high, buoyed by eCommerce and inventory replenishment, demand into Europe has not been so strident in June, but even so rates are now beginning to rise. May and June are normally a slack period and the air freight marke... Read more

Air cargo peak season starts early with no end in sight

Chaotic sea freight markets are driving delayed distressed planned ocean cargo over to faster air freight, creating an artificial early peak season, in which massive global demand meeting limited capacity, means that only the highest paying cargo will make it out of Asia on a flight, reg... Read more

Air Freight Update; Central UK hub re-opens for Metro air freight arrivals

With increased support from key carrier partners, Metro has recommenced routing air freight traffic directly to our Birmingham Airport hub, from key Middle East and Asia origins, as well as trucking consignments directly from southern airports and mainland Europe. Alongside Heathrow, Gatwick a... Read more

Air freight rates show no sign of softening despite dip in demand in May

Current supply and demand dynamics will maintain elevated prices through peak season and into 2022, with analysts predicting systemic market changes that will keep rates at an elevated level in the long term. The rate of air freight rate growth has slowed on many routes, since peaking at the b... Read more

Air Freight Market Update; 20th May 2021

Asia’s economic bounce back continues to show strong growth, driven by new manufacturing orders and the ensuing increase in export sales, which is putting more pressure on supply chains, leading to increased lead times, shortages of aircraft space and rising prices. Purchasing managers data ... Read more

Air cargo industry’s first sustainability report

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has released their Air Cargo Sustainability Report - Accelerating the sustainable transformation of air cargo - which is the first comprehensive study undertaken on the sustainable transformation of the air cargo industry.   As part of TIACA... Read more

Air freight market still climbing

The global air freight market is accelerating rapidly, with massive rate increases impacting many trade lanes, with Asia & Europe to the US particularly affected. Volumes out of China have been increasing weekly, with higher yields to the US attracting carriers to the routes and reducing d... Read more

£150m stolen from supply chains in 2020

Over £400,000 worth of goods in transit were stolen every day from Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) supply chains in 2020, even with many countries being under lockdown for much of the year. The Transport Asset Protection Association (TAPA) recorded 6,463 cargo thefts across 56 countries... Read more

South East Asia market weekly update and focus

Singapore is a major global freight hub, that is located at the heart of major shipping lanes in Asia and a gateway for Southeast Asia, which is why we value the regional insights and transport intelligence provided by our partners in-country. Metro recognised Singapore’s pivotal role in reg... Read more

India and Bangladesh enter new lockdowns, impacting supply chains

Having just come through a full weekend lockdown, Maharashtra state (location of the major port of Nava Sheva) government imposed lockdown-like curbs, including curfews, in the state from 8pm on 14th April for the next 15 days for everything but essential services, which includes transport, suppl... Read more