Smaller ports around the UK, such as Liverpool, are currently benefiting from global supply chain disruption, as suppliers now look for alternative routes for cargoes.
This is according to Mark Whitworth, chief executive of Peel Ports, which operates Liverpool port, who explained to Reuters that smaller 1,500 TEU container ships coming in from China have been calling at Liverpool over the last few months in order to accelerate delivery times, something that hadn’t been viable in the past because of scale and costs involved.
Worldwide bottlenecks in the supply chain have been seen recently because of the rise in demand for retail products from consumers in lockdown as a result of the pandemic, which has led to problems with the supply of container ships to transport cargo. Brexit has also caused problems with driver shortages and border checks adding to the difficulties.
Mr Whitworth went on to say that Liverpool is now expecting to see volumes of one million TEUs for the first time this year, compared to the 750,000 it handled in 2020. Peel Ports, the second biggest port operator in the UK, is now planning for at least another 12 months of global supply chain disruptions, he added.
With Christmas just around the corner, supply shortages are now being predicted by big industry players and shipping groups are having to divert vessels to continental European ports so that cargo bound for the UK can be loaded onto smaller crafts in order to access British ports. Products expected to be particularly badly hit include furniture, toys and clothes.
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