Archives



Freight News, Logistics, Sea


Retailers call for twin-port shipping strategy

[ March 6, 2024   //   ]

A group of retailers, including Home Bargains owner TJ Morris, have joined Liverpool operator Peel Ports Group to call for shipping lines to introduce a new North/South, two-port UK strategy for delivering deep-sea containerised cargo. 

Around 90% of deep-sea containerised cargo enters the UK via southern ports, despite 60% of these goods being destined for the north. This leads to numerous challenges, including insufficient rail and truck driver capacity, congested roads, delays, ineffective landside logistics and added pollution caused by long, unnecessary road journeys. 

The new approach was discussed during a British Retail Consortium webinar jointly hosted by Peel Ports Group. Retail leaders said that changing the current model would enhance effectiveness of the country’s retail supply chain.  

TJ Morris freight manager John Cavanagh and Trinity Logistics managing director Amanda Unsworth discussed how bringing the import of goods closer to their end destination would deliver a more efficient, robust, and sustainable retail supply chain. 

The panel said that a two-port strategy would allow retailers to be more responsive to customer requests and capitalise on market trends.

Peel Ports group commercial director, Stephen Carr, said: “A North South, two-port UK strategy could address many of the country’s logistics challenges, transforming and modernising supply chains for retailers and other cargo owners. 

“There’s a high level of support from the retail sector, driven by a need to better optimise the flow of seaborne cargo to enable much greater landside efficiencies. 

“If we’re to see a supply chain which works with retailers, not against them, then it makes little sense to rely on the current status-quo – we need to utilise the ports of entry in the north, and across the whole country.” 

Peel Ports recently surveyed hundreds of UK retail leaders and cargo owners, 76% of whom said they wanted to see goods imported closer to their end destination, while the research also revealed improving sustainability is a key ambition for retailers.  

A similar proportion said that cutting carbon emissions is one of their top strategic priorities, and 79% believed the more efficient transportation of goods is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Tags: