April 2022

Government delays SPS checks yet again

The government says it will once again delay introduction of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks on food-related imports from the EU into the UK, which were due to be rolled out in July this year. It now says that the checks will be implemented at the end of 2023. This is the fourth time that SPS import checks have been postponed. The government said it would wanted to avoid imposing new administrative ... [+]

Road rate index hits all-time high

The International Road Transport Union (IRU) said the European Road Freight Rate Benchmark hit an all-time high in the first quarter of 2022. Rising costs, supply and capacity disruptions, regulatory change and war in Ukraine created a potent mix of rate drivers. The Benchmark index rate rose by 4.3 points over ... [+]

Antwerp and Zeebrugge to create Europe’s largest export port

The ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge officially merged on 28 April, creating Europe's largest export port and a major gateway in many other sectors of the market, including containers and ro ro. The two Belgian gateways will henceforth market themselves as Port of Antwerp-Bruges. It follows the signing of a shareholders' ... [+]

Rail firm celebrates two decades at Felixstowe

Today GB Railfreight (GBRf) has celebrated its 20-year partnership with the Port of Felixstowe, marking its first intermodal service for MSC. Since then, GBRf has gone on to operate 50 daily services nationwide, of which 14 are for MSC. Rail services by all operators at the port have expanded from 28 ... [+]

Liverpool’s Far East service set to expand as China ambassador pays a call

Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang paid a visit to the port of Liverpool this week to commemorate the first anniversary of the ‘China Xpress’ service, its first direct route from the Far East. The China Xpress service was launched by North West based shipping line - DKT Allseas - in May 2021, ... [+]

African online forwarder raises $5m funding

Online forwarder OnePort 365 has raised $5 million in seed funding to digitise of freight management in Africa and support its expansion into new markets. Africa’s clearing and forwarding market is growing, with latest figures suggesting a market size of $4.2 billion and a projected 12.5% growth. However, challenges including congestion ... [+]

B&H signs up for Earthly delights

Aerospace logistics provider, B&H Worldwide, has partnered with Earthly, a platform that connects businesses to nature-based solutions that remove carbon, restore biodiversity and support local communities.  B&H says it will commit to long-term projects with measurable benefits rather than simply paying to offset its carbon emissions. From the beginning of ... [+]

Brussels allows Ireland to support truckers

The European Commission has approved an €18 million Irish scheme to support its road haulage sector following Russia's invasion of Ukraine under the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework. It will allow the government to support the road haulage sector affected by fuel price increases as a result of the war. ... [+]

UK zeroes Ukraine import tariffs

The UK has reduced all tariffs on goods imported from Ukraine to zero and removed all quotas under a free trade agreement. It follows a direct request from President Zelenskyy’s government to support the Ukrainian economy. The country’s major exports include barley, honey, tinned tomatoes and poultry. The UK has ... [+]

United plans transatlantic flight surge

United Airlines says it will launch or resume 30 transatlantic flights from mid-April through early June. The carrier will add new services to hubs including London, Milan, Zurich, Munich and Nice. It is also resuming 14 routes it has historically served and adding frequencies in six others. Its transatlantic route network ... [+]