Imports ‘Port can easily cope with extra demand’
BRISTOL Port says it is “more than able” to cope with an increase in demand as concern grows around congestion at a number of major UK ports.
British businesses are warning there could be shortages of goods and rising prices as shipments are delayed entering the UK at some ports.
On Wednesday car giant Honda confirmed it was pausing production at its plant in Swindon following “transport-related parts delays”.
Bristol Port said it had seen an “uplift” in enquiries and cargo over the last two weeks but was “more than able” to absorb the demand.
A spokesperson said: “The Bristol Port Company has seen an increase in demand for containers through the port in recent months.
“This is due to natural and planned growth in demand, but this has been exaggerated by the run up to Black Friday, Christmas and a build up in Brexit stock.
“We have seen a further uplift in enquiries and cargo in the past couple of weeks, by shippers and freight forwarders, as a result of well publicised congestion in some of the more dedicated container ports and the delays they have experienced.”
The Port said it had invested more than £7million over the past year in container handling infrastructure which would help it to meet demand.
It also operates more than one million sq ft of warehousing next to the container terminal which it said was being used to assist with the “fast turnaround” of containers once unloaded from the ships.
UK Major Ports Group, the trade association representing the country’s ports, is calling on the Government to do what it can to improve the situation, according to the BBC.
Tim Morris, chief executive of the UK Major Ports Group, told the broadcaster: “We recognise government’s capacity to step in is limited, but where they can, they should look at ways of increasing the capacity for moving containers on and off ports.
“That could mean running more and longer trains to and from ports, allowing hauliers more flexibility to collect containers out of normal hours, and for drivers to take on longer shifts where that can be done safely.”
According to the UK Chamber of Shipping, the sector is not in crisis but the organisation acknowledged there were backlogs.
“We are confident the resilience within the supply chain can cope with this disruption,” it said.
The Department for Transport told the BBC that partners across government were working closely with the freight industry to resolve the issues.
The news comes as the end of the UK’s transition period draws closer. Businesses that trade with the EU are being urged to prepare for the changes on January 1.
South West-based chambers Business West says companies need to be ready in order to avoid delays and extra costs at the border.
The business organisation said firms that had previously only traded with the EU would need to complete customs declarations in January – regardless of whether there is a deal.
It warned the number of customs declarations was predicted to increase from 55 million to 255 million.
Catherine Stephens, head of international trade services at Business West, said: “There is still time to act. The worry is companies are leaving this, but even if the UK secures a deal with the EU businesses will still need to complete customs declaration forms.”