The introduction of a new digital border system by the European Union is expected to cause significant delays at the Port of Dover, potentially leading to serious disruptions in the UK’s supply chains, according to Logistics UK.
From autumn 2024, the EU will roll out the European Entry and Exit System (EES), a new measure designed to bolster security at the external Schengen border. The system will require non-EU citizens to create a digital record and provide biometric data, such as fingerprints and photographs, when entering the Schengen area.
Logistics UK, in collaboration with independent researchers MDS Transmodal, has released new research highlighting the potential trade delays between Dover and Calais, and the impact these could have on the British economy. According to the business group, Ashford Borough Council has warned that passenger delays at the Port of Dover could stretch up to 14 hours in a worst-case scenario, causing significant knock-on effects for freight transport.
“Any delay in processing passengers will inevitably impact freight,” said a spokesperson for Logistics UK. Their research estimates that such delays could cost up to £1,100 per truck – a cost that would ultimately fall on consumers.
Kevin Green, policy director at Logistics UK, pointed out that even a 90-minute delay for the 3.35 million HGVs that passed through the Short Straits in 2023 would result in economic losses of £400 million per year.
“This is a cost that the logistics industry cannot just absorb,” Green said. “Our members already operate on incredibly narrow margins and are facing rising operating costs that are putting pressure on their ability to keep trading.
“With the new system coming into force in October, a time when the UK is heavily reliant on imported fresh produce, there’s a real risk of supply shortages and price increases for British consumers – assuming the goods arrive at all.”
He further warned that EU hauliers may choose to avoid the UK altogether, opting to collaborate with retailers on the continent instead, which would exacerbate supply issues and push prices even higher.
Green concluded with a stark warning: “Adding border checks on imports to the delays caused by EES could have a disastrous impact on the UK’s supply chain, which was once based on ‘just in time’ deliveries. In recent years, we’ve seen how border closures, customs strikes, and even bad weather have affected the Short Straits.
"Without a swift app-based solution to ease pressure on the border, delays could become a regular occurrence, further damaging the UK’s supply chain.”
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