Current News

Freight association sees no change in container shipping fundamentals for months … possibly years

Commenting on the current state of the international container shipping market, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) says that it foresees rates remaining at extraordinarily high levels, possibly increasing; with capacity remaining extremely tight; ongoing service delays and container shortages, as well as punitive surcharges.

Air Cargo Posts Strongest First Half-Year Growth Since 2017

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air cargo markets for June showing a 9.9% improvement on pre-COVID-19 performance (June 2019). This pushed first half-year air cargo growth to 8%, its strongest first half performance since 2017 (when the industry posted 10.2% year-on-year growth).

EU Exit - Stages 2 & 3 and the updated Border Operating Model

Trade must be fully prepared for the implementation of Stages 2 and 3 of the Border Operating Model (BOM), which will result in the UK imposing border controls in line with the Free Trade Agreement that was signed between the EU and UK.

Typhoon could continue to disrupt Shanghai ports

City's airports reported to have re-opened

Road freight goes green with £20 million funding boost

Government encourages fleet operators to convert to battery-electric vehicles in the transition to zero emission road freight.

DEFRA announce series of training webinars

Whilst the UK left the EU, when Transition ended on 31 December 2021 with full border controls being introduced in the EU for UK goods being shipped to the Continent and Ireland, full controls have not been imposed on EU goods being imported into the UK mainland from the EU.

BIFA releases report on the issues impacting the Container Market

BIFA has been monitoring conditions in the container market for some time, liaising with international organisations in order to compare global market conditions.

No evidence yet of widespread price-out of low-value cargo

Analysis by Sea-Intelligence finds no firm evidence yet that record-high sea freight rates are ‘pricing out’ cargo from the market to significant levels, despite anecdotal reports indicating that it is beginning to happen – or soon will

Lifting of lockdown restrictions prompts work to activate Operation Brock

The lifting of lockdown restrictions from Monday 19 July has triggered the next deployment of the moveable barrier system on the M20 in Kent in preparation for increased passenger numbers, Highways England has confirmed today.

The air cargo industry should be proud of itself, says TIACA

By unconventionally and intelligently working together, airlines, airports, and ground handlers, often supported by regulators, helped to ensure that supply chains did not collapse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, vaccine doses, medical items, and PPE could be flown to many regions, despite tight transportation capacity due to the lack of lower deck options caused by the sudden and extended grounding of passenger traffic. During the TIACA-initiated ‘TakeOff Cargo’ event with Routes on Tuesday, 20JUL21, TIACA General Secretary, Glyn Hughes high-lighted and acknowledged the outstanding role played by the air cargo industry during the pandemic in keeping flows running.