Category: 4PL

With the dissolution of the 2M partnership between MSC and Maersk in February 2025, new partnerships and slot-sharing agreements are emerging, positioning shipping companies in a transformed global market. One of the key developments is the formation of the Premier Alliance, which will replace... Read more

With capacity already strained and further challenges expected from potential labour strikes and reduced belly capacity in the final quarter, shippers are under increasing pressure to secure cargo space ahead of the peak season. Strong demand According to IATA’s latest figures global air ca... Read more

Battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) production in the UK expected to surpass one million units between 2030 and 2035, reaching 95% of total automotive capacity by 2035. Metro’s expertise in shipping finished vehicles and handling lithium-ion batteries will be a critical success factor for le... Read more

When managed effectively, supply chains not only reduce costs and boost profitability but also play a crucial role in sustainability. The impact of climate change has underscored the need to improve supply chains to protect our ecosystem and conserve natural resources for future generations. A... Read more

The European freight market continues to face a complex landscape, characterised by fluctuating demand and evolving capacity challenges. In this review, we examine the current state of the road freight market and highlight recent group developments, including the acquisition of a Portuguese inter... Read more

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has urged the government to establish a specific offence for freight crime and to develop more secure truck stops. This call comes in response to organised crime gangs (OCGs) increasingly targeting cargo, with over £1 million worth of goods stolen in a single i... Read more

Peaceful protests by university students against a government job quota system favouring relatives of war veterans escalated into nationwide violence last week, resulting in over 150 deaths, communication blackouts, and curfews. Today, Bangladesh began to gradually lift the curfew imposed last Th... Read more

Global demand for ocean freight container shipping has surged to unprecedented levels, surpassing even the peak during the Covid pandemic and comes when available capacity is already strained due to diversions around Africa, leading to concerns that any peak season demand could be calamitous. ... Read more

On Friday, a faulty update to Microsoft software by cyber-security firm Crowdstrike, saw global supply chain operations significantly disrupted, with the fallout expected to take weeks to fully resolve. Thousands of flights were grounded or delayed at major air freight hubs in Europe, Asia, an... Read more

The recent sinking of the Prestige Falcon oil tanker, following a Houthi attack, marks the deadliest incident involving these strikes to date. The vessel capsized near the Omani coastal city of Duqm, and while the Indian Navy rescued nine of the 16 crew members, one was found deceased, and six... Read more

In June, a catastrophic factory fire erupted after several lithium batteries exploded, killing 22 people in South Korea. As a leading producer of lithium batteries, South Korea’s Aricell factory housed an estimated 35,000 battery cells, used in products ranging from electric vehicles to laptops... Read more

The last week of June saw further gains on sea freight spot rates from Asia into Europe and North America, as a series of peak season surcharges (PSS) were imposed and new FAK levels from 1st July creating double-digit increases in spot freight rates. With spot and FAK rates across all three c... Read more