NEWS BLOG

It goes without saying that Trans-Rak steel framed car racking systems for containerised transport are the starting point for safe, secure and efficient transport. Although the great benefit of using the Trans-Rak system is optimising the payload within shipping containers, this is not the priority when loading vehicles. 

Global events in 2020 created the perfect storm in the shipping industry, leading to rocketing costs in excess of 350%, as lockdowns crippled international trade, demand for goods from the Far East soared, and the Evergreen incident in the Suez Canal caused months of delays. With the cost of container shipping still high, businesses that need to ship cars overseas face financial meltdown if they can’t find a more cost-effective solution that maximises their use of container space.

On the surface, the Brexit deal did not impose any additional tariffs on trading vehicles between Britain and the EU, which was of great relief to all in the automobile industry. However, on closer inspection, strict Rules of Origin requirements (RoO) impose worrying barriers to trade that may have serious repercussions on the vehicle market.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a large economic bloc comprising 10 member states in Southeast Asia. The members – which include Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Brunei, and Cambodia – all have in common a shared coastline in the South Pacific or South China Sea. The shipping lanes that run between the thousands of small islands in the bloc are strongly dominated by container ships, and the ASEAN region encompasses some of the most important trade routes in the world for international car transportation.

Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the carbon footprints of their supply chains. This is a challenge for car manufacturers and sellers, as vehicle manufacturing is a truly global enterprise. Shipping is one of the biggest global contributors to CO² and NO² emissions. Is there a way of transporting a fleet of cars responsibly?

Are you an entrepreneur considering overseas car trading as a venture? Cars can be big business. The UK in particular has a rich transport heritage, with a strong market in the USA, Europe, India, and Asia. Whether the aim is to ship classic vehicles, top-end models, or everyday transport, these trade routes are bursting with opportunities.

Transporting classic and luxury cars across oceans is fraught with risks. The thought of their pride and joy being manhandled into containers or revved on and off a ship's loading ramp is enough to raise the blood pressure of any classic car purchaser or dealership. Meanwhile, car buyers are desperate for reassurance that their expensive new purchase will arrive unscathed.

In short, the answer is no, you cannot reduce costs by transporting vehicles by air. While the cost of shipping has risen significantly due to Covid and other factors, many car transporters are considering different options, including air freight.

With Africa becoming more prosperous, the future of British exports appears healthy: yet, at present, the continent only accounts for 2.5% of the UK’s overseas trade. Nigeria and South Africa – the two largest economies in Africa – comprise nearly two-thirds of current UK-Africa trade but, with the post-Brexit landscape still evolving and shipping routes to Africa improving, the opportunities for automotive businesses is promising.

Electric vehicles (EV) are the wave of the future. Worldwide outcry over the detrimental effects on health and the environment of Nitrogen Oxide (NO2), Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Particulate Matter (PM), especially from diesel vehicles, has led to a new generation of hybrid and fully electric vehicles. These energy efficient, green vehicles are good news for consumers, being cheaper to run than fossil fuel driven cars, and great news for city planners struggling to control air pollution in urban centres.