The Global Trade Observatory Outlook 2026, based on insights from more than 3,500 senior supply chain executives globally, delivers a clear message: customs is now the single biggest operational constraint in global trade.
According to the report:
- 60% of executives cite customs clearance as the leading cause of disruption.
- 36% rank trade facilitation among the top policy priorities for enabling growth.
At a time when 94% still expect trade growth, the implication is clear: growth is possible, but only if border friction is controlled.
For importers and exporters, speed through borders is now as important as speed of transit.
Border Friction Is No Longer a Back-Office Issue
Customs delays today are not just administrative inconveniences. They create:
- Demurrage and storage costs
- Production stoppages
- Missed retail windows
- Inventory distortion
- Reputational risk
As supply chains diversify and multi-origin sourcing becomes more diverse, compliance complexity increases. Different rules of origin, changing tariff regimes, sanctions screening, high-risk product categories and new digital reporting requirements all increase exposure.
The Global Trade Observatory findings confirm what many businesses already feel: border friction is now the pressure point in supply chain resilience and execution at customs is no longer a milestone, it is a strategic necessity.
Metro’s Customs Brokerage: Built for Complexity
Metro’s Customs Compliance Services are designed specifically for this environment of volatility and regulatory intensity.
Our AEO-accredited team manage the full spectrum of customs requirements, including:
- Permanent and temporary imports
- Transit (T1) procedures
- Specialised food and high-risk product declarations
- UK, EU and USA clearance at all ports
- Sanctions-origin advisory and exemption cases
This is not simply about filing entries, it is about total compliance and controlling risk before it materialises.
For example:
- 99.8% of food shipments clear without delay, with IPAFFS paperwork typically submitted within one hour of receiving slaughterhouse documentation.
- Export declarations are routinely processed within 30–120 minutes.
- Secureduty refunds through proactive review and HMRC engagement.
CuDoS: AI-Driven Customs Intelligence
Metro’s AI-driven CuDoS platform automates compliance for complex, multi-line entries.
- Aggregates multi-line invoices (300+ lines)
- Reduces manual processing by 70%
- Achieves 99.3% first-time declaration accuracy
- Completes complex entries in under two hours
In a market where manual processes can take 6–24 hours and error rates remain high, automation and AI-driven validation are competitive advantage.
From Compliance to Competitive Advantage
The Global Trade Observatory Outlook highlights how trade growth will continue despite uncertainty, but only for those who can navigate friction effectively, and customs sits at the centre of that challenge.
As supplier diversification increases and new trade corridors open, customs complexity rises. Multi-origin supply chains multiply declaration volumes and compliance touch-points.
Without disciplined brokerage and intelligent automation, delays compound quickly.
The Global Trade Observatory data confirms that customs is now the primary bottleneck in global trade.
Metro’s mission is simple: remove that bottleneck.
If your business is experiencing clearance delays, compliance pressure, or escalating duty exposure, Metro’s Customs Compliance team and CuDoS platform deliver measurable performance improvements in speed, accuracy and cost control. EMAIL managing director, Andrew Smith, to learn more.
