Industrial & Manufacturing
Creating lean, agile and responsive supply chains, for inbound raw materials and exports to global destinations.
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Supply
chains
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Years
experience
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Unique
platforms
Outsourcing
- N Completely managed supply chain
- N Total documentation service
- N Global inventory management
Expertise
- N Decades working with large blue-chip organisations
- N JIT, finished goods & after-sales
- N Customs, commercial & financial compliance
Technology
- N Seamless ERP integration
- N Bespoke user dashboards
- N Automated workflows
Learn more

I&M News & Insights
Balance tilting towards UK hauliers
After years of competing on an uneven post-Brexit playing field, UK international hauliers are entering 2026 with structural advantages finally moving in their favour. Regulatory change, rising cost pressures across the EU and tighter controls on cross-border movement are beginning…
UK supply chain policy is reshaping shipper risk and resilience
Government support for supply chains is increasingly being framed as a matter of national capability rather than short-term intervention. That shift was made explicit in June 2025, when the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy earmarked £600m for logistics sites, signalling that…
Key finance factors shaping UK manufacturers and shippers in 2026
As the UK enters 2026, there are early signs that the export and domestic economic environments are turning a corner. And while UK consumer sentiment is likely to remain cautious in Q1, recent PMI data shows UK exports returning to…
Smart 2026 supply chains are being engineered for pressure
Supply chains are no longer judged on efficiency alone, in 2026 they will be expected to anticipate disruption and adapt at speed to actively support growth. The experience of the past year confirmed that stability is no longer a realistic…
Rising Freight Crime Sparks Industry, Government and Police Action
Road haulage operators are on high alert as criminal activity peaks during the dark winter months, with investigations revealing how organised gangs are posing as legitimate operators, buying haulage companies, and infiltrating supply chains to steal trailer loads. The scale…
Progress and Paralysis in US Trade Policy
After weeks and months of economic tension and political uncertainty, a flurry of developments in early November have reshaped the outlook for US trade and logistics. From tariff rollbacks to port fee suspensions, and a potential landmark Supreme Court ruling…
France Ends Regime 42: What It Means for Exporters and Why You Should Attend Metro’s December Customs Webinar
France will withdraw Regime 42 from 1 January 2026, removing the VAT simplification that currently allows goods to enter France without import VAT when they are destined for another EU member state. The ending of Regime 42 has attracted little…
Continued Airfreight Growth Amid Emerging Challenges
Global air freight markets have continued to post positive year-on-year growth through September and October, reinforced by stronger than anticipated build up to peak season volumes, but recent indicators point to a moderating pace and emerging challenges that merit close…
USTR Port Fee Shockwave Hits Chinese Shipping and Vehicle Carrier Sectors
The U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) newly imposed port fee regime is massively impacting container and roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) operators, inflating operating costs, tightening vessel capacity, and prompting warnings of severe disruption to U.S. logistics. UPDATE 30 OCTOBER – Donald Trump and…
When the Suez Canal Comes Back Online: Hidden Risks for Supply Chains
With hopes rising of stabilising conflict in the Red Sea region, analysts are increasingly considering what it would mean if shipping lines resume full use of the Suez Canal route, and it’s not all good news. While the shorter route…
One Minute Late, Thousands Lost: U.S. Customs Tightens Enforcement Across All Modes
In U.S. trade compliance, even a one-minute delay can be costly. Recent cases show importers and logistics partners facing thousands of dollars in penalties simply because mandatory filings were completed moments after official cut-off times. U.S. Customs and Border Protection…
UK Faces Highest Inflation in G7 as Sterling Slides Against Dollar
The British pound has come under renewed pressure this week, falling against the U.S. dollar amid a backdrop of global monetary shifts and troubling domestic inflation forecasts. The GBP/USD exchange rate dipped as investors digested signals from central banks and…
Carriers Pull Sailings and Add GRIs as US Port Fees Add New Cost Layer
Container lines are tightening capacity to defend freight rates just as new U.S. port fees on China vessels start on 14 October—costs that carriers say will be passed through to shippers. In the run-up to contracting season, the shipping alliances…
Rotterdam Strike Suspended as Europe’s Port Disputes Worsen
Europe’s container ports may see a short reprieve following a court-mediated agreement to pause a major strike at the Port of Rotterdam, but broader port disruption continues to threaten sea freight flows across the continent. Hundreds of lashers at Europe’s…
Airfreight Cools; Growth Still Building
Even though air cargo is easing back after a brisk summer, global tonnages rose in the third quarter, with eCommerce redrawing lanes and hub dynamics, while UK airport expansions point to a more connected decade ahead. Worldwide air cargo tonnages…
Brands Adapt to a New US Trade Reality
UK fashion brands and retailers have long viewed the United States as the ultimate growth market, drawn by its scale, spending power, and trendsetting influence. But new trade policies and tariff changes mean that succeeding in America now demands more…
CSRD: Turning Mandatory Reporting into a Competitive Edge
The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) makes sustainability disclosures mandatory for thousands of companies. Deloitte’s recent assessment of 200 early adopters reveals both compliance challenges and an emerging opportunity to use reporting as a strategic differentiator. The CSRD…
US Targets Tariff Evasion
The White House has launched a revitalised Trade Fraud Task Force to clamp down on tariff evasion and customs violations. This coordinated cross-agency initiative is set to bring sharper enforcement tools and greater scrutiny to a trading environment already complicated…
EU Deforestation-Free Product Law Faces Further Delays
The EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), which defines compliance obligations for businesses trading with the European market, is facing further implementation delays. Designed to prevent the sale and export of goods linked to deforestation and forest degradation, EUDR applies…
Growth Sustained, But Reliability and Policy Risks Loom for Air Freight
Air cargo volumes surprised on the upside again in August, rising by around 5% year on year, the second consecutive month of growth at this pace. Capacity also increased by 4%, though yields came under pressure as rates softened. Despite…
Road freight prices edge higher in August
Stronger August demand lifted UK road transport prices, with both haulage and courier markets firming despite fresh capacity entering the system. The latest TEG Price Index shows overall prices rising nearly 2% month on month and sitting 2.4% above August…
Case Study
Walking in the footsteps of giants
This British multinational is an iconic global brand and one of the world’s leading manufacturers of equipment for construction, agriculture, waste handling and demolition.
Operating from 22 factories across Asia, Europe, North America and South America, this client has an 11,000 strong workforce, its products are sold in over 150 countries and Metro have been their preferred supply chain partner for 30 years.
A dedicated Metro department support the global manufacturing sites inbound and outbound supply chains, raising documentation, managing customer deliveries and providing logistics support to 750 worldwide dealers, with international ocean shipment by container, RoRo and conventional vessel.

