Category: Coronavirus

The transport of personal protective equipment (PPE) and essential medical products, particularly from China, may be less frenetic than at the pandemic’s peak, but it remains continuous and is just as critical, with Metro already successfully importing and distributing over 200 million units th... Read more

An increase in Chinese manufacturing in May, combined with seasonal demand for summer products, and a need to replenish inventories are the basis for optimism by container lines serving Asia exports markets, according to Jeremy Nixon, CEO of Ocean Network Express (ONE). The need for replenishm... Read more

It is clear that the container shipping lines are expecting weak demand to extend into the peak season, with the announcement of blank sailings for the third quarter global network schedule. In total 75 blank sailings have been announced for Q3. Maersk and MSC has announced the cancellation... Read more

As millions of garment workers face uncertainty globally because of cancelled orders amid the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of the world’s leading clothing brands have yet to publicly claim financial responsibility for finished garments. Apparel factories in Bangladesh are still running at ... Read more

The vast majority of Metro staff have been working successfully from home over the past 10 weeks and now we are returning to our offices, gradually and safely. As announced by the Government last week, the UK’s rate of infection has now reduced to below 1, meaning we can slowly begin to retu... Read more

With consumer and commercial automotive demand falling, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, specialised RORO car carriers are coming to terms with a pronounced downturn, with as many as one in three vessels projected to be idled in the coming months. Working in some of the most demanding ... Read more

From the earliest days of the Coronavirus outbreak in China, we have been working tirelessly to meet critical customer needs, protecting the health and safety of our employees and ensuring business continuity. At the outset of this crisis Metro directors set up a COVID-19 Response Team to moni... Read more

The Coronavirus pandemic continues to suppress global demand for most goods, leading container shipping lines to cancel a record number of sailings through June, but with expectations of demand rising, vessels are being reinstated. Despite some lines reinstating blanked trans-pacific services,... Read more

While the coronavirus pandemic may slow the low-carbon transition plans of freight modes, its short-term fallout will not be a serious setback to Metro’s carbon monitoring, reporting and offsetting objectives. While Metro are determined to drive forward our environmental initiatives in 2020,... Read more

The Department for International Trade has issued the new UK Global Tariff, which will apply from 1st January 2021, assuming that no Free Trade Agreement is agreed with the EU. In total, 60% of UK imports will be tariff free in January under this scheme and the preferential trade deals that ex... Read more

The virus is releasing its grip in many regions, but any recovery is likely to be drawn out, with supply chains experiencing differing levels of disruption across regions and countries. Since China reported its first death on the 11th January, the Coronavirus pandemic has swept vast swathes of... Read more