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Ten years after the Brexit referendum reshaped the United Kingdom’s trading relationship with the European Union, British International Freight Association (BIFA) is drawing attention to the role freight forwarders have played in helping businesses navigate a significantly more complex trading environment.
Since the UK left the EU, what was once largely frictionless trade has become a process requiring customs declarations, rules of origin documentation, VAT and duty compliance, security filings, and, in many cases, sanitary and phytosanitary controls. For many importers and exporters, adapting to these requirements represented one of the most significant operational challenges in decades.
Freight Forwarders Expand Capabilities
In response, freight forwarders expanded customs brokerage services, introduced specialist UK EU logistics solutions, and invested in digital systems and staff training. These efforts enabled businesses to maintain supply chain continuity while adapting to new regulatory obligations.
Industry participants have spent years helping traders understand and comply with changing UK and EU regulations. Their work has reduced the risk of delays, penalties, and disruptions at border crossings that became more common following Brexit.
The transition has not been without difficulties. Additional paperwork, increased inspections, higher compliance risks, and rising operating costs have become routine features of cross border trade. Groupage operations have faced particular pressure, as consolidated cargo movements often require multiple customs declarations and checks.
Border Challenges Drive Innovation
The development of new customs and border management systems, particularly at non inventory linked ports such as Dover, highlighted the scale of the challenge facing both government agencies and logistics providers.
Some sectors have encountered greater obstacles than others. Food products, agricultural goods, and live animal shipments have faced stricter controls because of enhanced biosecurity requirements. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland has emerged as one of Europe’s most complex trading corridors, demanding specialist customs and regulatory expertise.
Logistics providers have also had to adapt continuously to evolving border procedures, the introduction of the EU Entry Exit System, and new environmental compliance measures.
Trade Friction Remains
Research indicates that UK EU trade volumes remain between 10 and 20 percent below levels that might have been achieved without Brexit. Despite those challenges, the freight forwarding sector has evolved significantly, with customs and compliance services now forming a core part of many operators’ business models.
Steve Parker, director general of BIFA, said Brexit had made UK EU trade more costly and administratively demanding but noted that freight forwarders helped businesses manage the transition.
He said BIFA members had become indispensable partners for importers and exporters by providing expertise, resilience, and innovation in an increasingly complex trading landscape.
According to Parker, Brexit has become a story of transformation for freight forwarders, demonstrating the strategic importance of their role within international supply chains and global trade flows.
Source:BIFA
