The effective closure of key Gulf shipping routes has halted vessel access to major regional hubs, leaving ships anchored or diverted and forcing carriers to discharge cargo at alternative ports across Oman and the UAE. These ports are now acting…

Overland transport across the Middle East has moved from a contingency option to a critical component of regional supply chains, as disruption to ocean and air networks forces cargo onto road-based alternatives. The result is a rapidly tightening environment, where…

The UK economy is showing clear signs of slowing, with growing pressure on importers and exporters, as supply chain disruption and rising energy costs begin to feed through.  While headline indicators suggest marginal growth, underlying conditions point to a more…

The latest Global Trade Observatory Outlook, based on insights from more than 3,500 senior supply chain executives, highlights a contradictory confidence in trade growth, while the conditions that support growth are increasingly fragile. Global goods trade reached record levels in…

Middle East linked disruption extends well beyond the region, with growing implications for global supply chains.  As capacity tightens, routes are reconfigured and costs come under pressure, supply chains are entering a more complex and less predictable phase. Air freight…

Ocean freight spot rates are entering a more volatile phase, as Middle East disruption, port congestion and carrier pricing strategies combine to reshape conditions across the main east–west trade lanes. Recent market data shows a widening gap between how different…

As disruption across the Middle East continues to restrict traditional air and ocean routes, shippers are increasingly turning to road and road–air solutions to maintain cargo flow.  What began as a contingency response is now becoming a core part of…

Plans to reintroduce regular cross-Channel rail freight services are moving forward, signalling a potential shift in how goods move between the UK and mainland Europe.  As investment in infrastructure gathers pace, rail is re-emerging as a viable complement to established…

The process of refunding tariffs to US importers is beginning to take shape following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down duties imposed under emergency powers.  US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is developing a dedicated system within its Automated…

Security incidents on 11 March have added further pressure to global freight networks already affected by disruption across the Middle East. A drone strike at the Port of Salalah in Oman hit fuel storage tanks, forcing the suspension of port…

The simultaneous disruption in the Persian Gulf and continued Red Sea avoidance is creating a supply chain shock without modern precedent. Metro’s latest application release is giving you unprecedented visibility. With vessels held or diverting, Gulf-bound cargo potentially discharging at…

The evolving security situation across the Middle East is now materially affecting both ocean and air freight networks, with implications extending far beyond the region itself. The Middle East is currently classified as high-risk for international transport operations, and the…

Birmingham International Airport, a long-standing strategic hub partner of Metro, has confirmed an ambitious growth programme that will strengthen its infrastructure and bolster its role in air cargo logistics and global connectivity. Building on years of collaborative development with Metro…

As global trade patterns shift and US tariffs reshape export economics, many UK fashion brands are re-evaluating where growth will come from next. For an increasing number, the answer is closer to home. The European Union — a £250bn clothing…

The opening months of 2026 are bringing clearer signs of a cooling UK labour market — a notable shift after several years of acute skills shortages and sustained wage inflation.  In the logistics and supply chain sector, this transition marks…

Container shipping capacity remains under pressure as carriers increase blanked sailings, schedule reliability weakens and port congestion ties up vessels across key gateways. According to maritime researchers Drewry, 136 sailings were cancelled in February across the transpacific, Asia–Europe and transatlantic…

Severe winter weather across the United States has triggered the sharpest short-term trucking spot rate spike in more than three years, with disruption now filtering upstream into inland rail and intermodal hubs. Snow and ice blanketing large parts of the…

Chinese New Year 2026 falls on Tuesday, 17 February, marking the start of the Year of the Fire Horse. While the official public holiday in China runs from 17–23 February, the operational impact on global supply chains is far longer….

Air freight markets have entered the new year on firmer footing than many expected, with volumes rebounding sharply through January as shippers accelerate movements ahead of earlier-than-usual Chinese New Year factory shutdowns.  While underlying demand remains uneven, front-loading has concentrated…

Sterling has strengthened meaningfully against the US dollar and held a relatively firm range against the euro, reshaping landed costs, sourcing decisions and margin dynamics for UK importers and exporters. As of early February 2026, GBP/USD has traded near multi-year…

With the flow of goods providing the real momentum, global trade closed 2025 at record levels, with the outlook for an even more robust 2026.  Despite geopolitical tension, shifting trade policy and lingering supply-chain risk, the movement of physical goods…