Industry News
Ian Matheson , from Impress Communications, reviews some recent news that might impact on Members’ business. Don’t miss Ian’s weekly news round up on BIFA TV, which can be seen on our You Tube channel. Subscribe by scanning the QR code.
Prestwick Airport launches seafood export service
detailed customs technical handbook covering the legislative background, rules and requirements applicable to traders wishing to take advantage of the Temporary Admission (TA) procedures. It can be seen at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance /temporary-admission- customs-technical-handbook A European Commission report about product compliance at the EU’s external borders highlights the need for improved customs controls and co-operation, and in particular how to deal with the rapid growth of e-commerce. The report also shows that customs controls on product compliance are increasing every year. It can be read at: https://op.europa.eu/en/publ ication-detail/- /publication/ea5db20e-840f- 11f0-9af8- 01aa75ed71a1/language-en IN BUSINESS The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) has said recorded cargo losses in the EU totalled €549 million in 2023. That’s a 438% jump compared with 2022, and more than ten times higher than in 2021. Globally, the TAPA EMEA Intelligence System recorded more than 157,000 cargo crimes between 2022 and 2024. In June 2025 alone, 634 incidents were reported across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. OVERLAND China is positioning the inland city of Chongqing as a strategic hub for a high-speed rail corridor connecting Southeast Asia to Europe, offering a faster alternative to traditional sea routes, reported Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post . The overland route, served by daily freight trains, links countries such as Vietnam and Singapore to Germany and Poland.
IN THE AIR Glasgow Prestwick Airport has launched a new seafood export service, backed by a £1million investment in equipment and a dedicated cool chain team. The Scottish gateway has invested in high- volume metal detectors, temperature exposure and tracking systems, and four chillers with a capacity of 87 tonnes in a facility that will support seafood exports to China and mainland Europe. Xeneta reported, in mid- September, that air cargo demand continued to beat expectations in August as
compared with the same month in 2024.
New figures from Cargo IQ, the IATA interest group responsible for performance management standards in air cargo, point to a decline in the on-time performance of major airlines, with average reliability dropping to 77% in July. This represents a decrease from 80% in June and 81% in May, signalling a downward trend that is causing concern within the air cargo sector. ON THE OCEAN Danish liner consultancy Sea- Intelligence has calculated the share of empty relative to full containers, based on TEU- miles, and found that currently The World Shipping Council (WSC) has released a report summarising inadequacies in government cargo inspection programmes, showing that 11.39% of inspected cargo shipments were found to have deficiencies. These include mis-declared and undeclared dangerous goods, incorrect documentation, and improper packing – all of which can lead to serious safety incidents, including ship fires. It also announced the launch of its Cargo Safety Program, an industry-led initiative to detect mis-declared and undeclared dangerous goods using artificial intelligence in order to prevent ship fires, protect crews, vessels, customers’ cargo and the marine environment. ACROSS THE BORDERS HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has produced a 41% of containers are transported empty.
volumes grew again, but the outlook for the remainder of the year remains uncertain. This came after IATA reported a 5.5% increase in global air cargo demand in July 2025
6 | October 2025
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