E-commerce businesses are preparing to reshape their supply chains, as geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing disruption push resilience to the top of the agenda. New research from 3PL Fidelity Fulfilment, conducted with Opinion Matters, points to a significant restructuring of global production over the next few years. A shift in manufacturing and fulfilment The survey of 1,500 e-commerce businesses across the US, UK and Europe found two clear trends: 87% are likely to change

To gauge the health of global trade, economists once turned to GDP figures or purchasing indices. Increasingly, they look at something more immediate: the cost of moving a 40ft container from Shanghai to Rotterdam. Container rates have become one of the most timely and reliable signals available, and they merit closer attention from anyone operating in the supply chain. What rates actually measure The leading benchmarks, Drewry, Freightos and the Shanghai index, all track the

Container spot rates have risen sharply again, after carriers introduced fresh general rate increases and new FAK levels on 15 June. The result was another round of double-digit rises on the transpacific and Asia-Europe trades. Where rates stand Drewry's World Container Index put Shanghai to Rotterdam up 15% to $4,342 per 40ft, and Shanghai to Genoa up 12% to $5,756. On the transpacific, Xeneta recorded jumps of 29% to the US west coast and 25% to the east coast. Drewry's ind

Peak season has arrived early in 2026, and it's testing both ocean and air freight. With ocean capacity stretched and rates climbing, some shippers are eyeing air as an alternative. The trouble is, air space is tight too. Why the peak came early The US National Retail Federation reports that the retail import peak has landed ahead of schedule. June box imports are forecast at 2.25m teu, up 14.3% on June 2025. The main driver is front-loading, with retailers shipping early to

China has overhauled its Maritime Code for the first time in over 30 years. The revised Code took effect on 1 May 2026, and it brings real changes for shipowners, charterers and anyone with cargo moving through Chinese ports. Here's a plain-English look at the parts that matter most. Stronger protections for cargo claims Several changes make it easier to protect a claim and recover losses: A claim's limitation period can now be paused by a simple written demand, such as a let

From 1 July 2026, the EU is changing the way it treats low-value parcels arriving from outside the bloc. If you ship into Europe, here's what you need to know. The headline change is the end of a long-standing exemption. Until now, goods sent into the EU in consignments worth €150 or less have been free from customs duty. From July, that exemption disappears and a flat €3 customs duty takes its place. A few practical points: It's charged per item, not per parcel. The duty app

The Chancellor has set out a clear plan to back the technologies shaping the next era of growth, and to speed up how quickly they're adopted across the economy. The goal is ambitious: to make the UK the fastest adopter of AI in the G7. Here are the headline measures: Growth Labs: New cross-economy "sandboxing" powers will let innovations be tested in live markets, with targeted, time-limited regulatory changes and close supervision. In practice, that could mean faster access

After 40 years in the industry, Roger Berry from our Manchester office has hung up his freight gloves. Roger (left) receiving his leaving gift from Andy Taylor, Regional Manager Roger spent the last 12 of those years with AWL, and he'll be missed by everyone who worked with him. Forty years is a long career, and he leaves with a great deal of experience behind him. Now he gets to enjoy the next chapter. Roger is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Ceri and the

It's been a great start to the quarter at our newest office in Birmingham, where we're delighted to welcome Scott Showell to the team. Scott joins our National Sales team and brings over 10 years of sales experience from across the Midlands. That's a real depth of local knowledge, and it means he understands the businesses in the region, the challenges they face, and what good logistics support actually looks like on the ground. His arrival is part of our continued growth, an

Team AWL was back on the fairways for White Lodge this summer. On a very hot day, with the sun beaming down on the Surrey hills, our team got off to a steady start. By close of play, Team AWL finished in a respectable 13th place out of 28 teams. White Lodge is a brilliant Surrey charity that supports over 2,500 children, young people and adults with disabilities, plus their families and carers, with everything from physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to a specialist nursery and sh

Greetings to all our much-valued customers and partners in the UK and wherever you are located around the globe. As I write, we have almost reached the halfway point of the year, having experienced our first heatwave of the summer, with temperatures hitting 36 degrees Celsius, or, in 'old money', nearly 97 degrees Fahrenheit, which, for the UK, is very hot for us Northern Europeans! Aircon is the exception, as opposed the norm in most places so it can be a little tough at t

The recent conflict in the Middle East has led to widespread airspace closures across the Gulf region. As a result, thousands of passenger and cargo flights have been cancelled or suspended, disrupting key global air freight routes. Major Middle Eastern carriers play a critical role in connecting Asia, Europe and beyond. With services grounded or rerouted, global air cargo capacity has dropped sharply in a short space of time. What this means for shipments The impact is alrea

The 2025 edition of BIFA’s Standard Trading Conditions came into effect on 1 January 2026, replacing the previous version from 2021. As a BIFA member, AWL operates under these updated conditions, which reflect the realities of today’s trading environment. A new framework for a changing market The new edition has been introduced in response to major shifts in the UK’s trading landscape. There’s been a significant increase in customs-related activity, along with ongoing turbule

The UK government has confirmed that from 25 February 2026, enforcement of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be stepped up. This means visitors to the UK, including HGV drivers, who aren’t compliant with the scheme may be denied access to the UK. The government has stated that those without a valid ETA won’t be able to board their transport and won’t be permitted to travel. If you have drivers or colleagues travelling into the UK, now’s the time to make sure ever

As we plan for the year ahead, now’s the perfect time to review your supply chain and explore new opportunities to improve performance and reduce costs. At AWL, we’re inviting you to book a visit or a Teams call with a member of our National Sales team. It’s a simple conversation that could unlock real value for your business. Why book a meeting with AWL? Fresh eyes on your supply chain Our expert team will analyse your current supply chain and highlight areas where improveme

Our focus for 2026 is clear. We’re building on strong momentum and continuing to grow our UK presence. Over the past three years, we’ve added three regional offices to our footprint. Now, we’re ready to take the next step, investing in key people to help drive further expansion. Senior BDM opportunity – Essex and Felixstowe We’re looking for a Senior Business Development Manager to support our continued growth in the Essex and Felixstowe regions. This role is ideal for a Seni

Moving goods around the world is fast and efficient, but it doesn’t come without risk. Even with the best security measures in place, unforeseen incidents can happen, including theft, damage or loss during misroutes or ocean container overboard incidents. These risks apply across all modes of transport. In today’s global supply chain, theft, loss and damage result in billions of pounds in losses every year. That’s why cargo insurance is more important than ever. Why stand

We're pleased to confirm that AWL has secured its place at the JC Trans Networking Event in Bangkok, Thailand, taking place from 1-4 April 2026. This is one of the largest logistics networking events in the global calendar, with around 4,500 visitors expected to attend. It's a fantastic opportunity to connect with partners from across the world, strengthen relationships and explore new opportunities in key markets. Flying the flag for AWL Wes Grundy will be attending the even

We are pleased to announce that, from 2 January 2026, Simon Barnes has been promoted from National Sales Manager to UK General Manager. Simon has played a key role in driving growth and strengthening customer relationships across the UK. His leadership, industry knowledge and commitment to delivering results have made a significant impact on the business. In his new role, Simon will oversee UK operations, leading the team with a continued focus on service excellence, commerci

In January 2026, the AWL Sales Team exhibited at Merchandise World at the CBS Arena in Coventry. The UK’s largest promotional merchandise trade show delivered its strongest January performance since before the pandemic. Day One welcomed 950 unique visitors, the highest ever recorded. Day Two saw more than 450 unique visitors, with several hundred distributors attending across both days. Across the event, thousands of high-value meetings took place, bringing together distribut