Global Logistics – A New World of Delays?

Following this years lockdowns and the supposedly emergence of a new world, reporting on global logistics events right now seems to be a series of reporting delay after delay.

Whether that be a shortage of space, a lack of equipment, driver shortages, congestion, industrial action or a knock on effect of coronavirus measures, it seems that everywhere we look we are finding a reason to highlight issues.

Currently around the globe we have the below problems, to name but a few, that are impacting importers and exporters in the UK:

• Major space issues and spiraling rates for ocean freight movements from Asia.
• A lack of container equipment for ocean freight movements from Asia.
• Space issues and rising rates for air freight from Asia.
• Congestion and backlogs at Australian ports, largely due to industrial action.
• Major congestion at US West Coast ports.
• Congestion throughout US and Canadian rail terminals and container yards.
• Congestion in Canadian/US Mid West container ports and yards following last month’s Montreal strike.
• A backlog, now clearing, through Calais/Dover following last week’s Calais port strike.
• Major congestion at UK ports – Felixstowe in particular.
• Container transport delays throughout the UK

That’s without consideration of what may be unleashed upon us as we approach the increasing likelihood of a no-deal Brexit at the end of the year.

Of course, we have been working in unprecedented circumstances and while some industries have been severely affected by the pandemic, we have effectively just squeezed six months of global trade into a four month period following lockdown measures – that is bound to have impacted our global logistics infrastructure.

China is now entering its Golden Week period, which means Chinese exports effectively stop for a week and traditionally this begins the softening of the peak season period. This could mean that global ports will start to get some much needed respite in three to four weeks time, perhaps giving them a little breathing space to better acclimatise to the new world.

In the meantime, global logistics continues to be a challenge and the most adaptable and agile providers will rise to the fore. At Evolution, we have always enjoyed a challenge, we deal primarily in moving dangerous goods products, which are demanding in their own right, and we continue to specialise in finding a solution to the most difficult of logistics challenges.

Evolution Forwarding specialise in the movement of dangerous goods internationally, by air, ocean and road. We provide a complete solution which includes packing, documentation, compliance and training for dangerous goods products. For further information please email info@evolutionforwarding.com or call 0800 4346244.