News & Insights

Our alerts, news and guides embrace all transport modes and explore global developments across all aspects of the supply chain, to keep you informed and guide decision making.

Complaints by shippers to FMC soar

The US Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA), which was passed into law last June, gives the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) more power to deal with shipping lines and mitigate supply chain disruption, leading to a slew of claims and jealous European shippers.  In just six months the Federal... Read more

20,000 UK businesses eligible for Plastic Packaging Tax – are you one of them?

Manufacturers or importers of 10 or more tonnes of plastic packaging, containing less than 30% recycled material, over a 12-month period should be registered for the tax, with the liability date fast approaching on the 1st May 2023. The Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) came into force in the UK on ... Read more

Chinese carmakers look to container shipping for a reliable logistics solution

The global shortage of RoRo (roll on – roll off if you have ever wondered) capacity for finished vehicle shipments has intensified over the last two quarters, encouraging an increasing number of car manufacturers to look for control of vessel assets, while many others look to containe... Read more

In a challenging air freight market it’s time to remember the basics

With factories closing across China, ahead of Sunday’s start of the Lunar new year holidays, air freight demand on major routes has continued to decline, prompting our commercial team to remind their colleagues what makes Metro’s air freight product stand out from the crowd. With air freig... Read more

Chinese New Year + COVID escalation = supply chain disruption in Asia

If travel for the Lunar New Year holidays increases COVID transmission, we will see large numbers of infected workers having to quarantine, which will delay their return to work and factories, hauliers, terminals and ports that would traditionally restart operations by mid-February could be shut ... Read more

New appointment further strengthens European team and platform expansion

Metro’s award-winning European solutions will be enhanced, expanded and advanced by new European Director, and industry veteran, Richard Gibbs. Commenting on his new role, Richard said. “Metro have a familiar and dependable partner network in place, with the ability to exten... Read more

Beating the transatlantic logistics challenge

The ocean freight trade-lane between Europe and the United States is dominated by a handful of large carriers and while we have good relationships and work closely with those carriers, we also maintain a roster of smaller carriers, for tactical use, including one which has a particular pedigree. ... Read more

The benefits of the new UK Freeports

Freeports are ‘customs free zone’, areas within the UK’s customs territory, with different customs and tax rules, which aim to promote trade and business by lowering duty, tax and paperwork costs. In March 2021, following the UK’s departure from the EU, the Government announced plans t... Read more

Metro expand further in India

With an expanding team of 50+ colleagues, led by UK trained ‘super-users’, Metro have taken possession of a newly commissioned premises in Chennai, after a traditional Puja ritual to spiritually celebrate the office opening and launch of our new Indian entity, M-... Read more

China’s Zero-COVID release may boost global economy

The move by President Xi Jinping to lift China’s zero-COVID strategy and ease travel restrictions has raised hopes that it may soften the blow of higher global interest rates, unleashing production lines and unlocking supply chains after a turbulent three years. From the 8th January 2023&nbs... Read more

The new logistics normal in 2023; Part 1

For almost three years shippers, forwarders and carriers, across all modes, have battled unparalleled global supply chain disruptions and, as the massive consumer driven volumes finally subsides, some suggest that the “new normal” is manifesting on a global scale. The desire for norma... Read more

Air France and KLM sign inaugural environmental deal with Metro

Metro is the first of the airlines’ customers in the United Kingdom to invest in their joint, innovative Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) programme, confirming our shared ambition to contribute to the development of reduced greenhouse gases within the aviation logistics sector.  (Pictured ... Read more