Delays at the EU/UK border are getting worse, according to a new survey of supply chain managers. Over half (58%) UK businesses said that delays had become longer since the beginning of January 2021. And 30% of this group reported that delays are now significantly longer than they were when the new border rules came into effect at the beginning of the year.
The survey found that 63% had experienced delays of at least 2-3 days getting goods into the UK, up from 38% in a similar survey in January. The situation is only slightly better for exports, with 44% experiencing delays of at least 2-3 days getting goods into the EU.
By far the main reason for the delays is the time it takes for customs to work through the new paperwork needed since the UK left the EU, with nearly half of businesses (47%) citing this as the main reason for the delays. Other customs issues such as a lack of capacity among customs staff, and drivers being turned away for having the wrong paperwork were also cited by respondents. Last week Make UK and SGS launched a customs brokerage service to help companies address the problem of documentation.
The survey of 350 UK supply chain managers was undertaken in mid-February. The delays come despite the fact many new import certifications have yet to come into force.
Its findings were supported by the latest IHS Markit/CIPS UK manufacturing purchasing managers index, which found that the upturn in the UK manufacturing sector was constrained by supply-chain disruption and rising cost pressure in February, keeping output growth only marginal despite a modest improvement in new order intakes.
CIPS Economist Dr John Glen said: “We are well into the second month of the new arrangements, and the hope that delays at the border would reduce as freight volumes returned to normal and customs systems became used to the new processes has not come to pass. The delays are continuing to get longer, putting more and more pressure on the UK’s supply chains and affecting the timely delivery of much-needed goods. The paperwork required at the border is not going to change any time soon, so we should brace ourselves for these delays to continue for at least the next few months.”
Manufacturing organisation Make UK has launched a partnership with certification company SGS to address the customs documentation problem. It will offer a simple customs brokerage service to help companies fill in the complex customs declarations correctly for imports and exports.
Many businesses have found the forms difficult to complete and have been struggling to find a customs agent to take on the job for them.
The SGS brokerage service is staffed by a team of highly skilled customs specialists who will ensure declarations and related work is completed before goods arrive at the border crossing.
Make UK director of EU affairs Fergus McReynolds said: “SGS have the experience to help our members who need to find an intermediary to cut through the complexity and alleviate the burden of customs paperwork for them.”
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For details of Make UK member rates for the brokerage service, email brexit@makeuk.org or call 0808 168 5874