New EU Border Security Rules Apply For Exports From January
From 1 January 2026, tougher EU border security rules will apply to goods moving from the UK into the European Union. All shipments will require an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) to be submitted in advance. Goods arriving without a valid ENS may face delays, inspections, or refusal at the EU border. Import Control System 2 […]
Global Container Volumes Grow, But Overcapacity Concerns Loom
Recent data shows that worldwide container traffic has continued to expand in recent months, even as signs of slowing demand emerge on the Asia–Europe corridor. In October, global container volumes rose by 2.8% compared with the previous month, reaching 16.3 million teu. This marked a 2% increase year on year and lifted cumulative growth for […]
Eastbound Detours Reduce As Carriers Test Red Sea Safety
Two carriers in The Ocean Alliance have taken a notable step toward reopening traditional routes from Europe to Asia, confirming that select Eastbound services will transit the Suez Canal and Red Sea. Both CMA CGM and OOCL have recently confirmed vessel journeys eastbound, marking the most consequential progress toward route normalisation since Houthi attacks pushed […]
UK Government to Scrap De Minimis Rule for Low-Value Imports
As part of the 2025 Autumn Budget, the Chancellor has announced that the government will remove the de minimis rule that currently exempts low-value goods entering the UK from customs duty. Under the existing framework, items priced below £135 can be imported without duty charges — a provision heavily relied upon by overseas e-commerce sellers […]
Port Congestion Remains A Persistent Threat To Supply Chains
As the logistics sector moves toward 2026, port congestion remains a persistent threat to global supply chains despite some recent dips in vessel waiting times at select ports. These recent improvements appear driven more by weakened market demand than by long-term enhancements in port efficiency. As a result, disruption continues to be both widespread and […]
EU Plans to Scrap Low-Value Custom Duty Exemption
The European Union is preparing to abolish its long-standing de minimis rule, a move that could significantly reshape the landscape of international e-commerce. At present, goods valued below €150 can enter the EU without incurring customs duties. That exemption is now set to disappear. The planned overhaul will take full effect once the EU launches […]
Billions on the Line as Trump Tariff Case Reaches Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court last week reviewed the Trump administration’s challenge to two lower-court decisions that struck down its expansive tariff policy. At the heart of the dispute are the “Liberation Day Tariffs,” a set of duties enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Citing a national emergency linked to the country’s trade […]
Breakthrough? One Carrier Directs Containerships Through Red Sea
In a major development for global ocean shipping, an Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV) has completed a Red Sea transit for the first time in almost two years. The 17,859 TEU CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is currently en route eastbound to Asia, after its westbound voyage travelled around the Cape of Good Hope Shortly after […]
US Agrees Trade Deals In Asia But Legal Case Threatens
President Trump’s trade policy gathered new momentum this week as the US agreed a series of trade frameworks with Asian nations and advanced negotiations toward a potential breakthrough with China. New agreements were finalised with Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia, marking a notable expansion of Washington’s economic ties in the region. Under the deal, Vietnam […]
The Long Way Around: Cape Route Likely To Stay For Now
Despite a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East, the prospect of reopening Asia–Europe shipping lanes through the Red Sea remains remote. Since Houthi forces began targeting commercial vessels in early 2024, ocean freight carriers have rerouted traffic around the Cape of Good Hope — a significantly longer but far safer alternative. The detour extends voyages […]