Rebuilding the UK

The key to post-Brexit change is preparation – don’t delay, say thriving firms

Post-Brexit trade is proving “confusing” for British businesses, but a report from Descartes has stressed the importance of preparation ahead of pending changes.
While headline figures from the report, Beyond Brexit: The Realities of Brexit for UK-EU Cross Border Trade, point to a substantial majority of businesses, 90%, recording disruption related to Brexit changes, 19% claim to be thriving.
Vice president sales and business manager for Descartes UK, Pol Sweeney said: “Brexit has thrown …

The...

https://theloadstar.com/the-key-to-post-brexit-change-is-preparation-dont-delay-say-thriving-firms/

Grand plans for UK trade and investment hubs receive frosty industry response

UK government plans to create four regional trade and investment hubs, aimed at boosting economic growth, have received a frosty industry reception.
Yesterday, secretary of state for international trade Liz Truss (pictured) announced hubs would be developed in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Darlington as part of the government’s “levelling up” programme.
She said: “I’m determined to use UK trade policy to benefit every part of the UK, and these trade and investment …

The post Grand plans for UK...

https://theloadstar.com/grand-plans-for-uk-trade-and-investment-hubs-receive-frosty-industry-response/

The UK now ‘a micro-climate in Europe’ when it comes to shipping

UK trade is beginning to feel increasingly isolated from global markets, but confusion rages over the source of the difficulties as Brexit, Covid-19 and empty-box shortages take a bite.
One forwarder told The Loadstar Asian carriers were adding a $1,000 surcharge per 40ft to service the UK, with even higher surcharges on the prepaid spot market, claiming the country is seen as a “nuisance”.
“This is tied to Brexit and the pandemic, but …

The post The UK now ‘a micro-climate in Europe’ when it...

https://theloadstar.com/the-uk-now-a-micro-climate-in-europe-when-it-comes-to-shipping/

Carriers ‘cherry-picking’ customers as rates continue to head north

Container spot rates from Asia may have eased slightly from their record highs, post-Chinese new year, but rates for backhaul and secondary trades continue to head north.
According to today’s Freightos Baltic Index (FBX), the spot rate for North Europe is $7,684 per 40ft, down from more than $8,000 at the beginning of the month.
However, the FBX reading for Mediterranean ports, of $7,990 per 40ft, has held steady, while the spot …

The post Carriers ‘cherry-picking’ customers as rates continue to...

https://theloadstar.com/carriers-cherry-picking-customers-as-rates-continue-to-head-north/

There’s a clearer picture for post-Brexit fine art logistics

Covid, not Brexit, appears to be the biggest burden for UK art exporters as they battle global museum and gallery closures.
Government efforts to mitigate post-Brexit import and export practices for transporting art, including the digitisation of the export licensing system and the development of new inland pre-clearance processes for export licences, have been roundly welcomed.
Simon Sheffield, executive chairman of Martinspeed, which specialises in providing art storage, logistics and...

https://theloadstar.com/theres-a-clearer-picture-for-post-brexit-fine-art-logistics/

UK seafood exporters need same grace period as importers to avoid ‘disaster’

Seafood Scotland is demanding UK exporters receive the same grace period for frictionless trade with Europe as their importing counterparts, following a “collapse” in trade.
Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures released on Friday pointed to an 83% drop in fish and shellfish exports out of Scotland in January.
This led the CEO of Seafood Scotland, Donna Fordyce, to warn that UK exporters were being “choked” by post-Brexit regulations.
“We are baffled by …

The post UK seafood exporters need...

https://theloadstar.com/uk-seafood-exporters-need-same-grace-period-as-importers-to-avoid-disaster/

Call for more help for UK SMEs left out in the Brexit cold

SMEs are facing a disproportionate impact from the UK’s new trading relationship with the EU, leaving many to evaluate whether cross-Channel trade is “worth it”.
Although there were expectations of a far more explosive start to post-Brexit life, the absence of truck queues on the motorway into Dover allowed the UK government to suggest its mitigation measures had been a success, which led to allegations of “spin doctoring of the highest …

The post Call for more help for UK SMEs left out in the...

https://theloadstar.com/call-for-more-help-for-uk-smes-left-out-in-the-brexit-cold/

Deferring new UK-EU customs controls no ‘universal fix’ for underlying problems

The UK government must act now to address failings in its post-Brexit border operating policy if its much-welcomed postponement of border checks are to do more than just delay “disaster”.
UK Brexit mastermind Michael Gove informed Parliament late last week that pre-notification requirements for products of animal origin, animal by-products, and high-risk food not of animal origin, would be implemented in October, rather than April as originally planned.
It was also announced …

The post Deferring...

https://theloadstar.com/deferring-new-uk-eu-customs-controls-no-universal-fix-for-underlying-problems/

UK government accused of ‘spin-doctoring of the highest order’ over freight movement

Allegations of “spin doctoring” have been levelled at the UK government over its reporting of empty freight movements and the country’s capacity to handle additional customs work.
Despite being sanctioned by the UK Statistics Authority over use of unpublished and unverifiable data, the Cabinet Office has continued to stand by figures that suggest empty movements across the short straits average about 30% in “normal times”.
The figure came with a strenuous denial …

The post UK government accused...

https://theloadstar.com/uk-government-accused-of-spin-doctoring-of-the-highest-order-over-freight-movement/

More than 25% of trucks leaving the UK for EU are empty as exports dive

More than a quarter of the trucks crossing into the EU from the UK are travelling empty, as Brexit eats into UK export figures.
Data from the Road Haulage Association (RHA) shows empty lorries leaving the UK accounted for 26% of all truck movements into the EU, with total loaded haulage exports down 47% last month, compared with last year.
A spokesperson for the port of Portsmouth told The Loadstar empty EU-bound containers were …

The post More than 25% of trucks leaving the UK for EU are empty...

https://theloadstar.com/more-than-25-of-trucks-leaving-the-uk-for-eu-are-empty-as-exports-dive/

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