Keeping you up to date with our business and industry news as we continue to operate around the globe.

Macro Update:

As many of Australia’s regions continue to come out of lockdown, we are seeing a slight improvement in services across the country. Furthermore, Australia is allowing more outbound travel from its borders, meaning several carriers and airlines are able to add more flights to their schedules, which will increase frequency of flights for B2B and B2C shipments. However capacity remains limited, and several air routes remain suspended.

With on-going COVID Alert Level restrictions keeping retail closed in Auckland, New Zealand, local mail within the country is experiencing delivery delays of up to 5 working days.

Shipments for express couriers are experiencing slight delays in Hong Kong. 

The continued shortage of HGV drivers and recent fuel shortages in the UK has created pressure and delays throughout the nation.

As peak shopping events approach, we urge B360 customers to prepare stock shipments via air freight to any of our facilities this week at the latest. This will help ensure organised arrangements in the run up to peak events such as before Black Friday.

Service Updates:

Australia

Fulfillment services: Operational and as per SLAs.

Inbound Receiving services: Operational and as per SLAs.

Shipping services: We are currently seeing domestic delays across all regions, with improvements expected over the next few weeks as restrictions are eased. On average we are seeing 3-4 day delays over the estimated transit times for our Standard and Express services. You can read more about domestic delivery times across Australia’s regions here.

Christmas delivery: Australia Post has posted their Christmas delivery cut off days which can be seen here. For WA and NT, the date is December 8 for parcel post and 15 December for Express services. For all other states the cut off is 13 December for parcel post, and 20th December for their Express services.

Direct injection International services at this time: No delays. As more flights become available there will be increased space capacity for B2B shipments.

International to postal providers: Australia Post is experiencing significant delays when sending post to China, and Canada. This is due to limited air freight capacity. Canada Post has temporarily suspended some outgoing parcel services to Australia and New Zealand also, due to a lack of air freight capacity.

US

Fulfillment services: Remain unaffected by delays and same day dispatch is being met as per SLAs.

Inbound Receiving services: Operational and as per SLAs.

Daylight savings:

On Sunday 31 October 2021 the European Daylight Saving Time (DST or ‘Summer Time’) ended and changed clocks ‘back’ by one hour. The US and Canada will make this change on Sunday 7 November 2021. These changes will affect cut off flight times, moving them up by one hour.

UK

Fulfillment services: Operational and as per SLAs.

Inbound Receiving services: Operational and as per SLAs.

Yodel and Royal Mail services: No delays or disruptions at this time.

Hong Kong

Fulfillment services: Operational and as per SLAs.

Inbound Receiving services: Operational and as per SLAs.

EU

Fulfillment services: Operational and as per SLAs.

Inbound Receiving services: Operational and as per SLAs.

Canada

Fulfillment services: Operational and as per SLAs.

Inbound Receiving services: Operational and as per SLAs.

PSS

As we are currently within the Peak Season, surcharges are in effect. However to ease financial burdens on our customers, we pass on all surcharges at cost.

You can read more about current surcharges in place on our Helpsite here.

Freight Forwarding Update:

Sea freight - Asia to north America

We are seeing a strong demand for services with huge levels of congestion in several US ports, with many mini container ships waiting longer than usual to be docked. Any booked sea freight at this point would be delivered after peak season. Please have a look at our air freight options if you would like deliveries in time for the peak season.

Space: Heavily congested, pricing is still at records high but slowly coming down.

Booking: We recommend booking 4 weeks in advance.

Sea Freight - Asia- Europe

Congestion is at a record high with space becoming a big concern as we head into peak season. Any urgent deliveries that need local fulfillment in-country will need to be shipped via quicker transport methods to be delivered in time for peak season.

Space: Highly congested, with pricing remaining high.

Booking: Our recommendation is to book 4-5 weeks in advance.

Sea Freight - Asia - Australia

Pricing remains relatively high.Orders that need local fulfilment in-country will need to be shipped via faster transport methods to be delivered in time for the peak season. 

In terms of air freight, space is available but pricing is extremely high.

Space: Space is becoming slightly more manageable, prices remain high but are steadily decreasing.

Booking: We recommend booking 4 weeks in advance

Direct injection

B360 has its own Direct Injection network that runs from Sydney to the US, Hong Kong to Europe, Hong Kong to Australia and Hong Kong to the US. These channels are still very reliable, with transit times on average being 4-8 days, we see no changes as per the SLAs at this time.

To learn more about any of our updates or to make carrier changes, please reach out to us today.