Brexit trade delays getting worse at UK border, survey finds

Brexit trade delays getting worse at UK border, survey finds

Delays importing and exporting goods to and from the EU have worsened since Brexit was introduced at the start of the year and will result in stock shortages and price rises for consumers, according to a report.

A survey of 350 supply chain managers found that two out of three had experienced delays of "at least two to three days“ getting goods into the UK, compared with 38% who reported delays in a similar survey in January.

A third of this group said the delays were "significantly longer“ than in January, 28% said "slightly longer“ and 15% reported delays of a similar length to January. Just 18% of those surveyed by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) said they experienced no delays or fewer delays.

The situation is only slightly better for exports, with 44% experiencing delays of at least two to three days getting goods into the EU.

"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,“ said John Glen, a CIPS economist and visiting fellow at the Cranfield