We Welcome the New Year of the Rabbit 兔年

Posted Posted in News 1

As Chinese Spring festival reaches its peak another year comes to an end we look forward to the Year of the Rabbit 兔年.   We wish all our customers a very happy and successful year ahead.   The last year has been challenging with many changes. Shipping rates have happily reverted to pre covid levels. But currency…

Finally Hong Kong is back on the Menu

Posted Posted in News 1

We have just visited Hong Kong for the first time in 3 years.  I have to say it’s good to be back but the world has changed so much in the intervening 3 years and that includes Hong Kong.  Aside from the quarantine restrictions which are now largely lifted requiring just 3 days semi isolation…

A discussion on China and its changing economy.

Posted Posted in News 1

Last night our director Mike spent an interesting half hour in discussion with Professor Hong Bo, professor of financial economics SOAS London and Professor Xiaolan Fu, professor of technology and international development Oxford University on a program ‘The Bottom Line’ hosted by Evan Davis on BBC Radio four and also on the World service. The…

Welcome to the Year of the Tiger 老虎年

Posted Posted in News 1

As another year comes to an end we look forward to the Year of the Tiger 老虎.   The last year has been eventful and a year full of change and volatility particularly in respect of shipping but also uncertainty of supplies and currency exchange rates – all of which makes trading difficult and challenging.  But…

Is China Still Open For Business?

Posted Posted in News 1

Many things have changed in the sphere of trade over the past few months.  Trading has certainly got more difficult and costs have risen.  Despite this ‘The West’s’ appetite for ‘things’ seems to continue un abated and demand is as high as ever.   In the UK as the high street continues its in exorable decline…

Is this a perfect storm?

Posted Posted in News 1

The UK supply industry is facing unprecedented challenges over the coming months.  This is not new and has been developing steadily over the past 18 months but it is only now starting to feed through to the general public and consumers who are now seeing increasing empty shelves or the dreaded ‘currently out of stock’…

Problems with shortages of building supplies

Posted Posted in News 1

Supplies of a wide range of goods to the UK has been challenging over the past few months.   This has been caused primarily by the effects of Covid-19 which has disrupted supply chains and altered demand in an unpredictable manner.  Brexit has been an additional complication especially form supplies coming from the EU and not…

Latest trade news – China

Posted Posted in News 1

As the UK comes out of lockdown and trade resumes demand for products from around the world and China in particular has risen.  The last few months have not however been without their difficulties for companies sourcing products from Asia.   We have seen unprecedented rise in the cost of shipping – sometimes by as much…

UK Port Chaos

Posted Posted in News 1

Last month we reported on this site about the difficulties and delays occurring in the supply of goods by container to the UK and from China in particular.   The chaos which is unfolding has also now been highlighted inn a very good article written by Zoe Wood in the Guardian http://tiny.cc/0wr4tz where she highlights further…

Post Brexit Opportunities

Posted Posted in News 1

As the year draws to a close we are still unsure whether the UK will manage to secure a trade deal with the EU before the end of the year and commentators seem divided on the prospects of this being achieved. Some businesses are looking forward to the prospects of a no deal Brexit other…

Affects of COVID-19 on Shipping and UK supplies

Posted Posted in News 1

We have seen increasing problems over recent weeks with congestion at our major container ports in the UK.  In short they are struggling to cope with the capacity of containers arriving.  This is leading to backlogs, log jams and vessels being diverted.  In some cases shipping lines are simply diverting to other countries avoiding the…

New record for Supplies of PPE

Posted Posted in News 1

We have just broken our record for supplies of PPE as yet another large consignment of face masks arrives for our customers.  This time a truck loads of 3 ply type IIR masks – the sought preferred by care homes and other health care providers.  It’s the only 3 ply mask which has certified fluid…