Category: Chemical

European container terminals continue to face mounting congestion, triggering service reshuffles, extended inland delays, and spiking freight rates. At several key hubs, container yard density surpassed 80%, pushing carriers to adjust port calls and rethink network strategies in the heart of the ... Read more

The deadly July 7 attack on the Eternity C cargo vessel by Yemen’s Houthi rebels marks one of the most severe escalations yet in the Red Sea shipping crisis, reinforcing the view that this vital trade artery will remain off-limits for carriers through 2025.  The Red Sea, via the Suez Canal,... Read more

The UK government’s attempt to join the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) Convention, a framework that simplifies supply chains and reduces tariffs across Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East has been blocked by the EU. Established in 2012 and modernised in 2025, the PEM Convention ... Read more

Global container shipping is evolving rapidly, with Asia–Europe trade lanes showing fresh strength just as the transpacific market enters a significant slowdown. This divergence is creating new challenges and opportunities for shippers. On the Asia–Europe route, demand has been steadily ri... Read more

Global businesses must prepare for a fundamental overhaul of their supply chains, as the cumulative impact of geopolitical tension, climate volatility, cost inflation and sourcing risk reshapes the logistics landscape. According to a recent survey by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), 87% of l... Read more

New live flight tracking powers smarter airfreight decisions with MVT Track & Trace. We’re excited to share a powerful new upgrade to MVT Track & Trace, Metro’s shipment visibility platform, that delivers even greater control and confidence when managing your airfreight. Our lat... Read more

Container shipping lines are driving spot rates sharply higher, with the 2025 transpacific peak season likely to begin earlier than usual, fuelled by a surge in US imports from Asia. Spot rates on key routes are rising faster than during the pandemic-era boom. Carriers implemented general rate... Read more

Faced with rising tariffs, geopolitical risk, and ongoing disruption to global transport networks, a growing number of businesses are turning to near-shoring as a strategic way to strengthen supply chains. Near-shoring, the relocation of manufacturing or sourcing to nearby countries, gained at... Read more

Container shipping schedule reliability improved for the second consecutive month in April 2025, reaching its highest level since November 2023. According to the latest industry data, 59% of vessel arrivals were on time in April, up from 58% in March and 6% higher than April 2024. While still ... Read more

A U.S. federal court has ruled that President Donald Trump's sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs are illegal — delivering what may prove to be a major blow to his trade policy agenda, or simply a temporary setback. On May 28, 2025, the United States Court of International Trade determined that... Read more

The UK government has made major strides in strengthening its international trade relationships this May, concluding three key agreements with India (6 May), the United States (8 May), and the European Union (19 May). These agreements could reshape trade routes and sourcing decisions, reduce c... Read more

The recent 90-day pause on US tariffs on Chinese imports has sparked a dramatic surge in demand, as American importers scramble to front-load shipments ahead of the 14 August deadline. The demand spike is now placing considerable pressure on supply chains across Asia and Europe, threatening to di... Read more