News

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released new guidance on the transport of Lithium Metal, Lithium Ion, and Sodium Ion Batteries. This guidance is based on the 2025-2026 Edition of the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air and the 66th Edition (2025) of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). The updated provisions for lithium and sodium ion batteries are included in the IATA Battery Shipping Regulations (BSR) 12th Edition, which contains detailed classification flowcharts, packing, and documentation examples. Access the IATA Lithium Battery Guidance Document here: Lithium Battery Guidance Document . For further insight, BIFA has also discussed this topic in a recent episode of BIFAlink TV . Need Support? If you have any questions or require assistance with your shipments involving lithium or sodium ion batteries, please don’t hesitate to contact Sandford Freight. We’re here to help ensure compliance with the latest regulations. Best regards, Sandford Freight UK Ltd

There has been a recent development that may affect your imports from Germany. On 10 January 2025, the German Chief Veterinary Officer confirmed an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD) in a herd of farmed water buffalo. As a result, Germany has lost its FMD-free status, leading to immediate changes to import regulations in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales). The UK government has suspended the importation of the following commodities from Germany: Live ungulates (ruminants and pigs, including wild game) and their germplasm. Fresh meat from ungulates. Meat products from ungulates not subjected to specific treatments (D1 or higher). Milk, colostrum, and related products unless treated as per Regulation 2010/605. Animal by-products unless effectively treated to mitigate FMD risk. Additional measures for animal by-products, hay, and straw imports will be announced shortly. Actions Required: Suspend Imports: Please immediately suspend imports of the affected products. Goods Held at the Border: If goods are being held at the GB border, Port Health Authorities (PHAs) and Local Authorities can assist with their return to Germany. Contact the PHA at the relevant port of entry for guidance. Recently Imported Goods: For goods that recently arrived in GB with Export Health Certificates (EHC) issued prior to 10 January 2025, we strongly advise against introducing these products into the GB supply chain. UK authorities are tracing and removing products originating near the outbreak as part of their safety measures. We recommend maintaining communication with your suppliers and monitoring updates as the investigation progresses. For further details, please visit the official UK Government guidance page. At Sandford Freight, we are here to support you through this situation. If you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Best regards, Sandford Freight

We have been informed that Holyhead Port will remain only partially operational until at least the end of March 2025 due to damages caused by Storm Darragh. From 16 January 2025, one ferry berth at the port has opened, offering four daily sailings to and from Dublin. This is expected to enhance service availability and improve scheduling. Important Update: We are delighted to confirm that the Temporary Increased Cost Working Surcharge of 17.5% has been removed. We will closely monitor the situation and provide further updates as the impact of this partial reopening becomes clearer.

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We are pleased to inform our customers of significant developments in the shipping industry from East China. Major carriers, including MSK, MSC, OOCL, EMC, and THE Alliance (ONE, YML, HMM), have recently announced substantial rate reductions. These adjustments provide a valuable opportunity for businesses to lower their shipping costs and improve profitability. However, it's important to note that these favorable rates may be temporary. With the upcoming Chinese Golden Week (October 1-7), the market is expected to stabilise, potentially leading to a rise in shipping rates once again. We encourage customers with upcoming shipments to take advantage of these reduced rates while they are still available. Early action could result in significant cost savings and help ensure the smooth operation of supply chains during this period. For more information or to discuss your shipping needs, please contact us at quotes@sandfordfreight.co.uk.

It was a pleasure to welcome our valued customers to the DP World London Gateway Port! It’s a fantastic opportunity for our customers to explore the inner workings of this bustling port and gain a deeper understanding of its operations. Big thanks to Ben Swan from Mediterranean Shipping Company for organising this insightful event! And a special shout-out to our hosts, Daniel Walker and Roy Walker! If you would be interested in attending in the future, please email t.siva@sandfordfreight.co.uk

We strive to keep our customers informed, and here are the latest updates on our import challenges from China and other countries. Import rates have surged consistently due to congestion at ports in the Mediterranean, Singapore, Dubai, India and China. Unfortunately, this trend is expected to persist until at least the end of October. In July, to control ocean freight, carriers have arranged blank sailings. The Alliance has scheduled a total of four blank sailings, while the OA Alliance has five. Recently, we've received news that YML and ZIM will increase their General Rate Increase (GRI) substantially in August. Carriers are pushing to arrange these sailings as early and as frequently as possible to avoid high costs in August. Due to the extended transit times via the Cape of Good Hope, the Christmas season shipping will commence in August. Severe terminal congestion is causing significant delays in vessel schedules, leading to longer waiting times at trans-shipment ports and unpredictable shipping schedules. Some shipping lines have even reduced vessel space. To prevent space wastage, shipping lines are now imposing cancellation fees. The ongoing issue of equipment shortages means we cannot guarantee space or rates. All bookings will be handled on a shipment-by-shipment basis. Additionally, due to problems in the Red Sea, transit times have increased, so please plan for additional shipping time to avoid missed deadlines. High demand for air imports is creating space shortages and slight increases in air import rates. We will continue to provide regular updates and manage all bookings individually. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.