United Kingdom

ESG & Regulation

5U AI raises $3.2M to scale freight-agentic AI platform

Munich-based 5U AI has raised $3.2 million in pre-seed funding to scale its freight-agentic AI platform across Europe. Co-founded in 2025 by Technical University of Munich graduates Yagiz Abik and Fehmi Şener, the startup deploys multi-agent AI workers that execute operational tasks — from quotations and bookings to invoice reconciliation — while capturing decision logic to build institutional knowledge. Backed by ex-leaders from DHL, Maersk, DSV, GEODIS, and CEVA Logistics, 5U AI is already live with TCI International Logistics across air and ocean freight. The round, led by London’s Emerge Capital, supports product development and European go-to-market expansion.

2026-07-31

Manufacturing

Maersk raises intra-North Europe capacity by 28%, market share to 16.2%

Maersk increased its intra-North Europe container capacity by 28% year-on-year — from 39,800 TEU to 50,800 TEU — lifting its market share to 16.2%. The trade lane overall grew 6.8% to 243 vessels averaging 1,294 TEU. CLdN’s acquisition of Samskip’s UK–Europe services halved Samskip’s capacity (9,600 TEU → 5,800 TEU) and dropped its ranking from 7th to 14th. MSC’s share dipped slightly to 21.2%, while CMA CGM fell to fourth place with 9.6% share. Maersk added 14,300 TEU via two new Baltic feeders, including the methanol-fueled Laura Maersk (2,100 TEU).

2026-07-30

AI & Automation

EU-LatAm trade growth remains one-way: 10.6% drop in Jan

EU-South America container volumes fell in three of the first five months of 2026, including a 10.6% year-on-year drop in January, despite the EU-Mercosur trade deal entering force. In contrast, LatAm-to-EU trade grew 9.2%, 4.8%, 12.7%, 0.1%, and 10.8% across those same months, building on 2025’s 8.7% annual growth. Forwarders report rising quotation requests from European shippers targeting Latin America, especially in automotive, machinery, and pharma sectors. Meanwhile, South American exporters cite strong demand in Europe for coffee, fruit, refrigerated cargo, foodstuffs, pulp, and leather — though capacity constraints and the EU’s May 2026 beef export ban pose near-term headwinds.

2026-07-29

Manufacturing

EU €3 tariff cuts Asia-Europe air cargo 24% in 5 weeks

Freighter capacity into Europe dropped 14% month-on-month in July 2026, equaling 18 fewer widebody flights daily, following the EU’s €3 customs duty on parcels under €150 introduced 1 July. Hong Kong–Europe air cargo volumes plunged 24% year-on-year by mid-July, with five straight weekly declines. Tonnages from mainland China fell 10% YoY; combined China–Hong Kong volumes to Europe dropped 11% YoY across weeks 26–29. Vietnam and Thailand saw 9% and 11% YoY declines respectively. A €2 handling fee takes effect 1 November 2026, ahead of the EU Customs Data Hub launch in 2028.

2026-07-29

Digital Platforms

ASUENE acquires UK carbon platform Secaro, serves 56,000 clients

ASUENE has acquired UK-based Secaro, a supply chain carbon management platform serving over 8,000 companies across 90 countries, including Toyota, Honda, and GM. The deal — ASUENE’s eighth acquisition — follows a July 2025 alliance and expands its reach ahead of EU CSRD reporting deadlines in 2028 and UK ISSB-aligned rules starting in 2027. ASUENE’s customer base has doubled to 56,000 across Japan, Asia, North America, and Europe. Secaro, formerly Manufacture 2030, brings deep supplier engagement capabilities to complement ASUENE’s AI sustainability infrastructure.

2026-07-29

Latin America Supply Chain

UK Exporters Face New US Customs Rules Amid 10.3% Drop

UK exporters face urgent logistical recalibration following the US suspension of the $800 de minimis exemption on 24 July 2026. New Entry Type 13 rules require licensed customs brokers, enforce all duties—including the 10% Section 122 levy—and phase out simplified IMDW processing by 24 October 2026. Concurrently, UK goods exports to the US fell 10.3% (£6.8bn / $9.06bn) over the past year. David Taylor of Mark 3 International warns of rising costs, service degradation, and carrier unpreparedness—urging exporters to engage specialized compliance partners.

2026-07-28

Geopolitics

Shein posts $99M Q1 loss amid US tariff hit, EU fee

Shein reported a US$99 million Q1 2026 loss — reversing from US$395 million profit a year earlier — driven by U.S. tariff changes and a US$328 million accounting charge. U.S. revenue fell 14.3% to US$2.04 billion; the EU’s new 3-euro fee on low-value parcels adds further pressure. Approved by China’s CSRC on July 10, 2026, its Hong Kong IPO targets US$40–50 billion — down from US$100 billion in 2022. Over 90% of 2025 revenue came from Chinese central warehouses.

2026-07-28

Supply Chain

CMA CGM to acquire up to 49% of French rail freight leader for €800m

CMA CGM is poised to acquire up to 49% of Rail Logistics Europe (RLE), France’s largest rail freight operator, for approximately €800 million. The deal emerges from an EU-mandated restructuring of Fret SNCF after findings of illegal state aid. RLE manages at least 80% of French military freight transport and includes subsidiaries Hexafret, Captrain France, and VIIA. Competing bidders include Rhenus Logistics and Daniel Kretinsky’s group. CMA CGM’s rail expansion follows its Freightliner acquisition (2,000 wagons, 10 terminals) and $1.4 billion FedEx Supply Chain purchase. SNCF retains majority control under strict 49% cap.

2026-07-28

Disruptions

Swiss Re: 43% of Fortune 500 Europe firms assess only own facilities

A Swiss Re Corporate Solutions report reveals that while 43% of Fortune 500 Europe companies assess physical risks to their own facilities, only 7% extend such assessments to supplier sites—and fewer than 2% evaluate broader infrastructure dependencies. The report links this gap to rising business interruption losses, citing the ongoing Middle East conflict as the fourth major global supply shock in six years. It warns that advanced risk models remain ineffective without verified supplier and infrastructure data, urging supply chain professionals to prioritize ecosystem-wide visibility over facility-centric audits.

2026-07-26

Disruptions

UK Logistics Group: 10% US Tariffs Raise Costs, Disrupt Supply Chains

Logistics UK warns that the ongoing 10% US tariff on UK exports — totaling £60 billion in 2025 — is raising logistics costs, disrupting supply chain planning, and threatening transatlantic trade growth. CEO Ben Fletcher stresses that sustained UK-US dialogue is essential to resolve trade frictions. The group represents over seven million workers across road, rail, water, and air freight sectors. The July 24, 2026 statement coincides with imminent de minimis rule changes and broader industry efforts toward decarbonisation and digital compliance.

2026-07-26

Disruptions

Tesco distribution workers vote on strike amid supply chain concerns

More than 3,000 Tesco distribution workers are voting on strike action over pay and working conditions — threatening shelf stockouts across the UK. The Unite-organized ballot highlights how warehouse labor underpins supermarket supply chain resilience. With distribution centres acting as critical nodes in Tesco’s just-in-time network, even short disruptions risk cascading delays — particularly for perishables and online orders. The dispute comes amid broader European logistics wage pressures and follows real-term pay declines of 6.2% since 2022. Resolution hinges on negotiations before the July 24, 2026–initiated ballot concludes.

2026-07-25

ESG & Regulation

Asuene Acquires Secaro for $37M to Expand Supply Chain Carbon Tools

Tokyo-based Asuene acquired UK-based Secaro, a supply chain carbon management platform, for $37 million on July 23, 2026. The deal supports Asuene’s expansion into the UK, EU, and US sustainability disclosure markets amid tightening regulations like the EU’s CSRD and the UK’s 2027 mandatory ISSB-aligned reporting. Secaro — launched in 2018 and rebranded last year — serves major automotive and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Asuene had just raised $87 million in Series D funding, co-led by BlackRock and Temasek’s Decarbonization Partners. The integration aims to strengthen global product-level CO2 and LCA capabilities.

2026-07-24