Latest News

Atlantic Pacific Group proudly continued our support of the Basildon Borough Volunteer Awards by sponsoring the 2024 Young Volunteer of the Year category at this year’s awards.

Atlantic Pacific will be attending the 2024 Latam Partnership Meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, next week.

It’s just over a month until the start of this year’s International Food & Drink Event (IFE2023), and we’re looking forward to showcasing Atlantic Pacific.

Houthi targeting of commercial ships in the Red Sea has continued this week, with the latest being a missile attack on a British registered cargo vessel, resulting in the crew abandoning ship.

Some steamship lines have been on the move during recent weeks, as the carrier alliance pack starts to get reshuffled ahead of next year.

Following the attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, and the subsequent routing of ocean freight vessels around Africa, air freight has started to feel the knock-on effects.

There seems to be no immediate signs of respite for global supply chains, as attacks on container ships in the Red Sea have continued this week.

Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics were delighted to be confirmed as winners of the 2023 BIFA British Freight Service Awards in the European Logistics category yesterday.

Maersk Line and Hapag Lloyd have this week announced a new collaboration that looks to have broken the mould of the existing carrier alliance structure.

Import rules for animals and animal products from the EU will be changing from January 31st.  New import risk categories and rules will be coming in that apply to all imports from the EU and EFTA.

Christine Nichols, Lady Chairman of the London Freight Club and Atlantic Pacific Group Director, attended the Glasgow Freight Club’s Feast of the Hangover last Friday.

Ocean freight rates from Asia are moving upwards day by day since the attacks on container ships in the Red Sea area, with carriers also declaring ‘force majeure’ for shipments already enroute.

Wednesday was an emotional day for Atlantic Pacific Group Director – Christine Nichols – as it was her last event as Lady Chairman of the London Freight Club (LFC).

While it’s barely a couple of days since carriers started to reroute whole schedules around Africa, we have already seen an impact on ocean freight rates.

Following at least two more attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea on Friday, both Maersk and CMA CGM paused all ships heading through the region over the weekend.

Trouble at the world’s two most important shipping canals is likely to be the biggest threat to supply chains for the first quarter of next year, and perhaps beyond.

Ocean freight carriers are making a big push to uplift rates, especially on Asia origins, between now and the new year, with further GRI’s recently announced.

A number of cargo ships have come under attack in Middle East shipping lanes recently, which has led to some vessels being rerouted around Africa and the Cape of Good Hope.

Herewith the Atlantic Pacific business hours for operations and customer service in the UK, Ireland, and USA, during the upcoming holiday season.

Maybe not quite as eagerly awaited as John Lewis, but an Atlantic Pacific Christmas video is now a traditional part of the festive season for us, and it’s time to share our latest version. We hope you enjoy!

Despite numerous attempts to raise rates this year, which have largely failed, General Rate Increases (GRI’s) are once more being suggested for December.

Atlantic Pacific Group Chairman Ashley Nichols, and Company Secretary Jackie Hutchinson, attended the first BIFA Sustainable Logistics Policy Group meeting in London this month.

Severe congestion in the South African ports of Cape Town and Durban has driven some carriers to start dropping calls from their schedules.

Atlantic Pacific Group Director – Christine Nichols – was delighted to give a speech to the members of BIFA’s Young Forwarders Network this week, which was followed by a Q&A session.

The recent London Freight Club guest speakers were Stuart Pearce MBE and Unity In Community’s Patron Tony Cottee, who both talked about their fantastic careers.

Storm Ciaran has made landfall in the UK, bringing with it widespread travel chaos, cancellations, and delays, which are expected to disrupt logistics for the next few days.

2M Alliance members – Maersk and MSC – are understood to have started deploying their vessels independently on some service loops, leading to speculation of an early split.

The Alliance have recently announced the suspension of two service loops from Asia, as an ocean freight GRI looks set for next month.

Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics are delighted to confirm that we have reached the finals of the 2023 BIFA British Freight Service Awards in two separate categories.

Carriers have confirmed a host of blanked sailings through to the end of November, as a recent report suggests idle capacity passes one million teu.

After just celebrating making The FEBE fastest growing companies list, Atlantic Pacific Group have now been advised of another milestone.

Notifications from ocean freight carriers suggest there will be surcharges introduced from January to cover the increased requirements of the EU’s Emissions Trading System.

Atlantic Pacific Group Director – Christine Nichols – was delighted to to be invited aboard the world’s only seagoing paddle steamer ‘PS Waverley’ last week.

Atlantic Pacific Group Directors – Christine and Ashley Nichols – attended the FEBE 2023 Awards at the iconic Abbey Road Studios.

A fantastic auction concluded this summer’s Herd In The City, with Atlantic Pacific as logistics partners and sponsors, raising funds for Havens Hospices. 

Atlantic Pacific’s Christine Nichols attended a preview evening ahead of this week’s Herd In The City farewell auction for Havens Hospices.

China National Day is fast approaching, which is officially the National Day of the People’s Republic of China.

England’s only Rugby World Cup winning captain – Martin Johnson was the guest speaker at the London Freight Club this week.

Carriers have been using blank sailings on Asian routes to control capacity levels, and now this practice has started to impact TransAtlantic routes.

Atlantic Pacific are delighted to have recently joined LATAM Forwarders Club, which focuses solely on international logistics through Latin America.

The government have released the new outline for border controls last week, which are due to be introduced from January 2024.

Super Typhoon Saola is about to hit Southern China and is expected to disrupt logistics in the region.

Atlantic Pacific were delighted to participate in the first ever meeting of the LOGIFEM Society Logistics Network in Cappadocia, Turkey this month.

HM Customs have this week announced that the deadline for export CDS has now been delayed until March 30th 2024.

The UK and China have recently been identified as emerging risk countries for the upcoming BMSB season.

Carriers have continued their programme of blanking sailings on the Asia-Europe trade to offset low demand, with more announcements in the past week.

Atlantic Pacific Group are delighted to announce that we are now sponsors of Max Reynolds, a 21 year old British amateur golfer.

Restrictions at the Panama Canal, in response to persistent low water levels, are causing delays of up to 20 days in crossing times. 

Atlantic Pacific have recently agreed a sponsorship partnership with a wonderful new charitable project – Selfie On Sea

Ocean freight rates from Asia to Europe and North America are currently subject to a General Rate Increase (GRI) from next month.

A Canadian port strike, which halted operations for 13 days at the Port of Vancouver, came to an end on Friday, thanks to mediation by the Canadian government.

Atlantic Pacific Group are delighted to have become partners with Billericay Town Women’s & Girls FC.

Christine Nichols of Atlantic Pacific hosted her fourth luncheon of the year at the London Freight Club this week.

Christine Nichols represented us at the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers annual summer drinks reception.

A port strike on the West Coast of Canada has now reached its fourth day, after workers stuck to their word and walked out on Saturday.

Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics were delighted to attend the ‘everywoman’ Transport & Logistics Awards in London last week.

A new scheme, in conjunction with the Windsor Framework, is currently being introduced that replaces the existing UK Trader Scheme (UKTS) from 30th September.

A new post-Brexit trading scheme has been introduced this week, that replaces the GSP preference scheme, providing reduced tariffs for 65 developing countries.