Just around the corner from my home a road-side sign has appeared announcing Christmas trees for sale. The success of the festive season has always relied on the logistics sector working away in the background, unnoticed at all hours. Covid-19 has highlighted the reliance of businesses and consumers on our industry and another lockdown at this time of year can only drive home just how critical that industry is to the UK.
Latest registration figures from SMMT for October show another rise, this time up some 13%: the increase in home deliveries is one factor. But, anecdotal feedback from the market suggests that concern over potential tariffs in the new year is pulling orders forward. We could see something of a slowdown as the year unfolds and uncertainty settles across the economy from the new trading regime.
Finally, one of the major events in the industry calendar will be taking a different form this year. SMMT 2020 Update – Live will be a vital, virtual event for the sector, so hopefully we will ‘see’ you there.
