Perishables

Sort out row over NI Protocol so logistics can start planning longer-term

Legal and political struggles over the Northern Ireland Protocol pose little immediate danger to day-to-day supply chain operations, but do threaten the viability of strategic future planning.
Yesterday, the EU began legal proceedings against the UK over its decision to extend grace periods on new customs checks on products moving GB-NI, said to be an infringement of the protocol, with the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) launching a judicial review of the …

The post Sort out row over NI Protocol so...

https://theloadstar.com/sort-out-row-over-ni-protocol-so-logistics-can-start-planning-longer-term/

M&A radar: Maersk’s rumoured MCI sale – if you can’t stand the heat, get into the freezer

Now then, this all looks veeeeery familiar.
Market talk
Bloomberg this week reported that AP Møller Mærsk (APMM) might be looking to sell off its reefer manufacturing subsidiary Maersk Container Industry (MCI), putting a rich price tag of $1bn on it.
APMM responded in their usual fashion when contacted by Splash247 for a comment.
The narrative twist plus related corporate feedback here:
“A spokesperson for A.P. Moller-Maersk suggested MCI would remain within the group. ‘As a …

The post M&A...

https://theloadstar.com/ma-radar-maersks-rumoured-mci-sale-if-you-cant-stand-the-heat-get-into-the-freezer/

Logistics investment goes on hold as US supply chain review looms

US companies are unlikely to make significant moves in global sourcing strategy over the coming three months as the government conducts a strategic review of the nation’s supply chains.
On 24 February, President Biden signed an executive order for a 100-day review of critical supply chains to identify vulnerabilities, following the shortage of semiconductors that has disrupted car production. The review targets four groups of critical goods as well as six …

The post Logistics investment goes on...

https://theloadstar.com/logistics-investment-goes-on-hold-as-us-supply-chain-review-looms/

No relief for perishables shippers: reefer rates will stay high into summer

From 1 April, Hapag-Lloyd will raise rates for general and reefer containers from Egypt to Latin America, while higher rates will kick in at MSC for cargo going from Australia, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent to the US as well as from the US to Latin America.
Yesterday’s announcements mark the latest increases in reefer rates and spell further grief for perishables shippers.
Like general 20ft and 40ft ocean containers, …

The post No relief for perishables shippers: reefer rates will...

https://theloadstar.com/no-relief-for-perishables-shippers-reefer-rates-will-stay-high-into-summer/

Chancellor surprises with news of eight winning freeport bids for England

UK chancellor Rishi Sunak caught industry offguard today, revealing eight winning bids for UK freeport status as he announced the Budget.
East Midlands Airport, Felixstowe, Humber, Liverpool, Plymouth, Solent, Teesside and Thames were all awarded freeport status, amid expectations that the first one will be online by the end of the year.
Mr Sunak said the new freeports would operate under rules that made it “easier and cheaper” to do business.
He added: …

The post Chancellor surprises with news...

https://theloadstar.com/chancellor-surprises-with-news-of-eight-winning-freeport-bids-for-england/

Northern Ireland ‘hamstrung’ by Brexit, which may threaten quality of life

Brexit has “hamstrung” Northern Ireland, with its unfettered access to Great Britain reduced and a fix potentially months away as business waits on the UK government to supply accurate data.
Senior economist at Ulster University’s Business School Esmond Birnie warned that costs in NI were rising “far more rapidly” than in the other three UK nations.
Left unchecked, this could price the region out of the UK, he said.
“We’ve no official quarterly …

The post Northern Ireland ‘hamstrung’ by Brexit,...

https://theloadstar.com/northern-ireland-is-hamstrung-by-brexit-which-may-threaten-quality-of-life/

Trailer shortage fears as EU drivers question the viability of serving the UK

European road freight shipment visibility platform Transporeon has questioned the idea that Europe faces continent-wide trailer shortages as a result of increasing haulier reluctance to serve the UK post-Brexit.  
Sources have told The Loadstar that red tape and associated delays were scaring-off EU drivers – paid per kilometre, and in some cases facing 12-hour delays – from coming to the UK without guarantees that they will be paid for round trips.  
One source predicted that driver shortages...

https://theloadstar.com/trailer-shortage-fears-as-eu-drivers-question-the-viability-of-serving-the-uk/

Scottish shellfish lorries in Brexit protest park-up at Downing Street

Traffic is plaguing Whitehall after “dozens” of (mostly) Scottish shellfish lorries parked up outside Downing Street in protest at the post-Brexit challenges faced by UK fishing, The Scotsman reports. Last week, numerous fisheries announced they would be suspending services to the EU, as they struggled to get to grips with new customs formalities – a problem not being helped by weak guidance from UK authorities. Signs plastered over the lorries …

The post Scottish shellfish lorries in Brexit...

https://theloadstar.com/scottish-shellfish-lorries-in-brexit-protest-park-up-at-downing-street/

FloraHolland accused of patent infringement of flower storage technology

There is an interesting legal case in the Netherlands, which will no doubt be closely watched. Royal FloraHolland is being sued by Noord-Holland Floration Europe for allegedly copying its patented ocean container storage techniques for roses and chrysanthemums. The claimant says it suspected the use of its techniques by FloraHolland for some time and, in September, seized a container to check the packaging. FloraHolland, meanwhile, said it rarely used sea …

The post FloraHolland accused of...

https://theloadstar.com/floraholland-accused-of-patent-infringement-of-flower-storage-technology/

New customs systems ‘not up to speed’, sparking NI truck shortage fears

Northern Ireland continues to bear the brunt of changes brought about by Brexit as concerns over truck shortages grow.
Policy manager for Northern Ireland at Logistics UK Seamus Leheny told the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee there was a lack of procedural understanding on the GB side of the Irish Sea.
“Haulage logistics between Great Britain and Northern Ireland works in a cyclical manner,” Mr Leheny told the committee of MPs.
“And yet, …

The post New customs systems ‘not up to...

https://theloadstar.com/new-customs-systems-not-up-to-speed-sparking-ni-truck-shortage-fears/

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