Exceptionally low water levels on the Rhine are placing growing strain on European inland freight networks. As barge payloads are reduced and some services become unavailable, more containers are being pushed towards already constrained road, rail and intermodal alternatives.
EU and UK manufacturing activity is expanding, new orders are strengthening and inflationary pressures have eased in some areas, but businesses still face elevated transport costs, geopolitical uncertainty and uneven conditions across global freight markets.
Businesses across the UK and EU continue to operate in an environment where regional conditions, geopolitical events and shifting trade patterns are shaping supply chain performance.
Trade into the United States has entered another period of uncertainty as new tariff proposals and ongoing legal disputes reshape the cost landscape. Rather than providing clarity, recent developments are adding further layers of complexity for importers.
After months of disruption, tentative peace progress in the Middle East is beginning to shift market sentiment. Ceasefire agreements and renewed diplomatic frameworks have eased immediate geopolitical pressures, while early indications suggest the Strait of Hormuz could progressively reopen to commercial traffic.