2019

Freight forwarders query whether government is listening

This week’s news that very few companies have registered for a new government online system designed to protect value added tax revenues on foreign parcels in the event of a no-deal Brexit has led the UK representative body for freight forwarding and logistics companies to question whether Government is listening to advice from industry experts.

May air freight volumes remain weak

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air freight markets showing that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs), decreased by 3.4% in May 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. This was a slight improvement on the 5.6% contraction in April.

BIFA Freight Services Awards now open for entries

Entries are now open for the British International Freight Association (BIFA) - www.bifa.org - annual Freight Service Awards competition.

Scam Alert

We have been notified of a scam where our letterhead has been mocked up with the EdExcel logo added. It is a fairly obvious scam but if you receive such a bogus demand it’s nothing to do with BIFA and you should simply delete it.

Seminars aim to tackle Heathrow truck congestion

CCS-UK User Group's solution for speeding up collection and delivery times for air cargo by trucks at London Heathrow's freight terminal will be presented at a series of seminars hosted by the not-for-profit organisation that represents users of the UK's air cargo community data system.

US-China trade war may benefit shipping

Escalating economic hostilities between the two countries is bad news for the transpacific container trade but should result in higher volumes of intermediate goods, notes Drewry.

Heathrow announces tough emissions policy

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is the body that provides independent advice climate change to government, providing recommendations for future policy. In the latest “Net Zero – Technical Report” the CCC recommended that a number of targets be made more ambitious, leading to the UK’s emissions falling to ‘net zero’ by 2050.

Container shipping shifts to Vertical Integration

Global container shipping is focusing more on vertical integration, moving into logistics and away from consolidation amid slowing growth in container trade as well as digital disruption, Fitch Ratings says.

Concern over trade wars impacts shipping confidence

Confidence in the shipping industry has fallen marginally over the past three months, largely as a result of ongoing concern over trade wars and increased regulation, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from leading shipping adviser and accountant BDO.

Inside job becomes thieves No 1 MO in cargo theft, says insurance study

CRIMINALS are recruiting employees of targeted companies to gain data, cargo information, delivery routes and destinations and access to IT as security measures become more sophisticated, according to a cargo theft reports produced by marine insurer TT Club and the British Standards Institution (BSI).