Ports & shipping
Routes, port conditions and shipping line changes affecting sea and air freight between Asia, the Gulf and the UK.
Transit times and costs between Asia and the UK depend on things far from your supplier or your warehouse: which way ships are routing, congestion at transhipment hubs, and capacity on each service. In 2026, conflict in the Middle East has made that more changeable than at any time in years.
We follow the sailings on our lanes every week. These updates explain what is changing on the routes from China, Bangladesh, India and the Gulf, and how to plan around it.
Latest in ports & shipping
Useful guides
Practical step-by-step guides from our customs and freight team.
How-to guides
Can I import small cargo from China? Yes, here's how Importing a few cartons or a pallet from China: courier, air freight and sea part load compared, with timings, charges and paperwork.
How-to guides
Full container or part load? How to choose When a full container (FCL) is cheaper than groupage (LCL), the 15 cubic metre rule of thumb, and the other things that should decide it.
How-to guides
How to export from the UK: a step-by-step guide How to export goods from the UK: EORI, commodity codes, licences, Incoterms, export declarations, proof of origin and VAT zero-rating.
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