Forwarder reports steady recovery in China-UK volumes

Davies Turner estimates that levels are currently approximately 60% of those prior to the Chinese New Year and the subsequent Coronavirus outbreak.

UK-based independent freight forwarder Davies Turner (DT) is seeing a steady recovery in Chinese export and import volumes as the spread of Covid-19 has slowed and the country’s economic activity has picked up.

“We estimate that levels are currently approximately 60% those we witnessed prior to the Chinese New Year and the subsequent Coronavirus outbreak,” the company’s head of European development, Danny Southby, told Lloyd’s Loading List.

“But this volume recovery will inevitably be further interrupted as tighter movement restrictions within the UK are advised by the government and these restrictions will likely result in reduced consumer spending,” he warned.

In addition, to offering customers air and freight solutions from and to China, DT also operates a scheduled China-Europe rail freight service.

In keeping with normal practice, the service did not operate during the Chinese New Year holiday break and its suspension was further extended due to the coronavirus.

Southby revealed that DT’s Express China Rail Service resumed earlier this week, leaving from the central Chinese city of Xi’an for Duisburg in Germany, with an on-forwarding connection to the UK. He expects the consolidated containers to be unpacked in Dartford around 8 April.

Source: Lloyd’s