News & Insights

As Chinese New Year approaches, sea freight markets from Asia to Europe and the United States are being shaped less by price competition and more by carrier control. This year’s seasonal peak has arrived earlier than normal, with demand pulled forward and capacity actively withdrawn to prote... Read more

Metro continues to invest in capability, coverage and customer leadership as part of its expansion plans for 2026. The appointment of Jonathan Cheyne as Key Account Director for the USA reflects that commitment, reinforcing Metro’s commercial focus and customer engagement across the transatlant... Read more

Average east-west spot freight rates strengthened into December as peak-season demand lifted pricing, and while they eased back over the year-end, early January data shows a sharp rebound in demand. Outbound air freight rates from Asia rose firmly into December, reflecting year-end demand and ... Read more

The trans-Pacific sea freight market is entering 2026 with pre-Chinese New Year volumes rising earlier than usual, spot rates climbing sharply and carriers leaning on capacity discipline to manage risk. Despite Chinese New Year falling later than usual this year, shipment activity has moved fo... Read more

After years of competing on an uneven post-Brexit playing field, UK international hauliers are entering 2026 with structural advantages finally moving in their favour. Regulatory change, rising cost pressures across the EU and tighter controls on cross-border movement are beginning to reshape ... Read more

Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) and project cargo shippers are entering a decisive phase, as fleet expansion, industrial investment and energy-driven demand are converging, creating both opportunity and pressure for shippers moving vehicles, machinery and oversized cargo. The global Pure Car Carrier (... Read more

Supply chains are no longer judged on efficiency alone, in 2026 they will be expected to anticipate disruption and adapt at speed to actively support growth. The experience of the past year confirmed that stability is no longer a realistic planning assumption, but performance under pressure is. ... Read more

Metro is entering 2026 with a clear focus: expanding regional presence, strengthening expertise and investing in people to better support customers operating increasingly complex and execution-critical supply chains. In 2026, Metro will open new offices in Belfast, Leeds and Liverpool, strengt... Read more

As the Asia–Europe trade moves deeper into peak season, Chinese New Year (CNY) is already reshaping pricing, capacity and execution risk. What was once a predictable seasonal slowdown has become a compressed, high-impact period where demand surges, capacity is tightly managed and disruption ris... Read more

As the UK enters 2026, there are early signs that the export and domestic economic environments are turning a corner. And while UK consumer sentiment is likely to remain cautious in Q1, recent PMI data shows UK exports returning to growth after a year-long slump. However, while macroeconomic p... Read more

GB Global, Metro’s holding group, is supporting the development of a new 950,000 sq ft multi-user distribution centre in Speke, Liverpool, reinforcing the group’s ability to handle growing and more complex freight flows. The 50 acre site will accommodate a single cross docked facility of o... Read more

Government support for supply chains is increasingly being framed as a matter of national capability rather than short-term intervention. That shift was made explicit in June 2025, when the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy earmarked £600m for logistics sites, signalling that logistics, ... Read more