Category: International Trade

The North American sea freight market faces ongoing challenges, with recent labour actions on the US East Coast fuelling local anxieties and adding congestion and capacity pressures on the West coast. The three-day strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) on the US East C... Read more

The new labour government has confirmed its commitment to the ‘Freeports’ initiative that aims to stimulate economic growth, by offering an array of incentives, from tax relief on investment to National Insurance contributions (NICs) relief on employee earnings. With eight Freeports now op... Read more

Metro’s strategic partner network is central to delivering market-leading logistics services, especially as global supply chains face ongoing challenges. With the appointment of Peter Orange as head of global network development, Metro is deepening its commitment to building robust partnerships... Read more

Ongoing labour disputes on the US East Coast and Canada’s Port of Montreal continue to threaten disruptions to North American supply chains. The agreement between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on the US East coast (USEC) brings temporary relief, securing peace for th... Read more

The air cargo market is seeing a significant surge in rates, driven by strong demand and tight capacity, especially on routes from Asia to North America and Europe. In October, spot rates reached their highest point this year, with rates from Vietnam to the US increasing by 65% and to Europe b... Read more

As Bangladesh’s apparel sector ramps up production following months of disruption, exporters are benefiting from creative logistics solutions to overcome rising freight rates and capacity shortages.  Metro shipments from Bangladesh have been utilising an innovative mix of air freight, sea/a... Read more

The sea freight market in October 2024 is facing continued challenges from geopolitical tensions and industrial actions, with strikes on the US East and Gulf Coasts contributing to significant disruptions. Although the three-day US East coast strike in early October has been resolved with a te... Read more

The global market for refrigerated containers, or reefers, is facing significant pressure as we approach the end of 2024. Seasonal demand, combined with increased export activity from regions like Latin America, is straining equipment availability. This surge coincides with the peak season for... Read more

While a tentative agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) has paused the strike, a final resolution must be reached in January 2025, or further disruption could occur. The recent US East and Gulf Coast dockworker str... Read more

At 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday 1st October 2024, dockworkers along the US East and Gulf Coasts began a major strike, marking the first significant work stoppage in nearly 50 years, threatening major supply chain disruption across the US and beyond. Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longs... Read more

In response to heightened security concerns, the US, Canada, and now Australia have implemented stricter security protocols for air cargo originating from Europe and the CIS, to minimise potential risks after incendiary devices were discovered within European parcel networks. Australia’s Dep... Read more

The 2024/25 Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season is now underway, which means strict import regulations are implemented by Australia and New Zealand, with the United Kingdom a target risk country. The BMSB is an agricultural pest native to China, Japan, the Korean peninsula, and Taiwan, an... Read more