IIFA

22nd June 2025

Trade pact between ports of Shannon Estuary and Great Lakes

Shannon Foynes Port and Cleveland Port authorities sign agreement to unlock transatlantic trade potential Strategic MOU aims to strengthen trade between Great Lakes region and to Europe Move welcomed by Minster for Transport Darragh Oâ€™Brien, T.D.

20th June 2025

CLECAT Calls for Renewed Focus on Maritime Supply Chain Resilience

In recent months, Europeâ€™s maritime logistics system has come under increasing strain, with congestion becoming a widespread and persistent challenge across major European ports. CLECAT has been alerted by its members of the severe operational disruptions affecting the fluidity of container flows, despite an absence of major global crises. This raises urgent concerns about the preparedness for future disruptions and points to systemic vulnerabilities that must be addressed.

20th June 2025

Cybersecurity: Why Cyber Resilience Is Crucial for Freight Forwarders

Cyber resilience has become a critical priority for freight forwarders as the industry undergoes rapid digital transformation. Technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Thing (IoT), and electronic transport documents have enabled freight companies to modernise operations, improving automation, data sharing, and overall efficiency. However, this shift has also made the sector more vulnerable to cyber threats such as ransomware attacks, data breaches, and supply chain disruptions

18th June 2025

Commission welcomes political agreement to simplify and strengthen the carbon border adjustment mechanism

The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Councilâ€¯today on the Commission proposal to simplify and strengthen the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM).

17th June 2025

TCB Group Enhances LCL Network with Direct Consol From Sri Lanka

TCB Group has further strengthened its position as a leading neutral provider of LCL services with the launch of a new consol service from Colombo, Sri Lanka directly into Dublin. This latest addition underlines the companyâ€™s ongoing commitment to delivering value-added, neutral shipping solutions tailored to the needs of Irish shipping agents.

13th June 2025

2025 FIATA World Congress: Green and Resilient Logistics

FIATA is pleased to announce that the 2025 FIATA World Congress (FWC) will take place from 6â€“10 October 2025 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Organised in partnership with the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), this flagship annual event will be held at the National Convention Centre and will gather leading professionals, experts, and innovators from across the logistics, transport, and freight forwarding sectors.

13th June 2025

Safety and Security: ICS2 Compliance for Rail and Road Freight

The European Union's (EU) Import Control System 2 (ICS2) aims to improve the safety and security of goods entering the EU by introducing a standardised pre-arrival customs process for all transportation modes, including road and rail, in addition to the existing air, maritime, and inland waterway requirements. Starting from 1 September 2025, the Economic Operators (EOs) involved in the entry of goods by rail and road into the EU will be required to provide data on goods prior to their arrival in

11th June 2025

EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes: EU-funded scanner boosts throughput at Polish-Ukrainian border

A new EU-funded mobile cargo scanner inaugurated today will increase the capacity for transporting goods through the border crossing point in Krakovets-Korczowa at the Polish-Ukrainian border. Valued at approximately â‚¬2.5 million, the donation is part of the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, an initiative to establish new and improved transport routes in response to Russiaâ€™s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

10th June 2025

WCO Report on Smart Security Devices finds significant benefits for trade operators and enforcement authorities if technical and regulatory hurdles are overcome

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has today published a major report into the rising impact of Smart Security Devices (SSDs) on logistics and Customs procedures. The Report explores the growing role of connected devices, such as smart locks, track-and-trace sensors, and smart containers, in modernizing the supervision of cross-border cargo. Although new technologies contribute to trade facilitation, supply chain security and integrity, the WCOâ€™s Report identifies several critical challenge

10th June 2025

First-ever heavy-duty electric freight truck crosses the Channel from Dover to Calais by ferry

Kuehne+Nagel has successfully transported freight from the UK to France in a Renault Trucks E-Tech T via ferry. The full electric truck completed the journey aboard a P&O Ferries hybrid vessel, marking a major step forward in the decarbonisation of freight transport.

6th June 2025

â‚¬9 million investment in rail freight yard at North Wall

Dublin Port, working with Irish Rail, has completed a â‚¬9 million investment in the freight yard at North Wall. The facility will manage all rail freight operations during upcoming works on Alexandra Road, and creates additional capacity for potential future rail freight volumes, subject to market demand.

5th June 2025

Import Control System 2 deployment continues

The roll-out of the EU safety and security advance filing requirement ICS2 has seemed never-ending but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Channel tunnel, of course. What started with PLACI (Pre-Loading Air Cargo Information) filings from express carriers and designated postal operators back in March 2021, had general air cargo and message combination complexity added in 2023, gradually brought maritime and inland waterway carriers and house-level filers on board during 2024. Finally, 2025

5th June 2025

New import surveillance tool to help EU prevent harmful trade diversion

The European Commission has set up a new surveillance tool to help protect the EU against sudden and potentially disruptive surges in imports. This system aims to prevent harmful trade diversion, which occurs when a significant amount of goods that cannot enter other markets due to high tariffs and other restrictions are redirected into the EU. By providing fact-based information building on customs data, the surveillance tool will enable the Commission to swiftly identify any such import surges

2nd June 2025

GEODIS Launches GEODIS AirSmart: A Smarter, sustainable Air Freight Solution

GEODIS is proud to announce the launch of GEODIS AirSmart, a new low carbon solution designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to air freight by leveraging performance. The launch takes place today at transport logistic trade fair in Munich, one of the industryâ€™s leading events.

2nd June 2025

How global tariff strategies could impact operational risk through the supply chain

Recent developments related to global tariff strategies have disrupted normal trading patterns that will inevitably increase operational risk in the global supply chain. The current position is fluid but has already led to huge turbulence in the global transport and logistics sector as traders rush to stockpile, reroute, delay, or cancel cargoes to protect their commercial positions.

30th May 2025

CLECAT Welcomes EU Initiative to Address E-Commerce Challenges

The European Commission has signalled a renewed effort to address the customs-related challenges of the fast-growing e-commerce sector. Speaking before the European Parliament last week, Trade Commissioner MaroÅ¡ Å efÄoviÄ floated the idea of introducing an EU-wide e-commerce handling fee. Under the suggested scheme, a â‚¬2 levy could be applied to direct-to-consumer deliveries from outside the EU, while consignments routed through transhipment hubs would incur a lower fee of â‚¬0.50.

28th May 2025

David Macken presented with trophy as 2025 Young Irish Freight Forwarder of the Year

David Macken, representing IIFA Full Trading Member Hawthorn Logistics Ltd, was presented with his trophy and was awarded the title of IIFA Young Irish Freight Forwarder of the Year for 2025. This competition is designed with two goals: to shine a spotlight on the good work of young professionals of the Irish Freight Forwarding industry and to act as a national competition to select a candidate to represent Ireland with the annual FIATA Young Logistics Professional competition.

28th May 2025

New EU strategy for secure, prosperous and resilient Black Sea region

Today the EU is putting forward a new strategy for a stable and secure Black Sea region. This Strategy aims to boost connections and growth, by linking Europe with the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and beyond. Amidst Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the strategy will also reinforce the EU's geopolitical role as a reliable actor in the Black Sea region.

28th May 2025

Port Leaders from 10 Nations Graduate from UN Port Leadership Programme in Dublin

TrainForTrade programme offers candidates insight and expertise in sustainable port development

28th May 2025

Vincent Brennan presented with Honorary Fellowship of Irish International Freight Association

At the 2025 IIFA Annual General Meeting, Irish International Freight Association had the honour of inducting Vincent Brennan as an Honorary Fellow of the Association; a category of IIFA membership which recognises the contribution of individuals to this Association or the Irish Freight Forwarding and Customs Brokerage Industry.

27th May 2025

Significant progress made at Irelandâ€™s largest Marine Construction Project â€“ MP2 Update

Dublin Port Companyâ€™s Masterplan 2040 Project 2 (MP2) is progressing at pace. The project includes the construction of a new quay wall at Berth 52 East and a significant new roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) facility at Berth 53 to support growing freight and ferry traffic and introducing new technology for the safer berthing of ever larger vessels.

27th May 2025

Irish Customs seize over 4000 illegally imported e-bikes in OLAF-led crackdown

On 20 May 2025 and over the following days, Irish customs authorities seized over 4000 electric bikes and a number of e-scooters worth â‚¬4,5 million illegally imported into the European Union during targeted searches at two warehouses. The operation followed coordinated efforts by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to identify and disrupt fraudulent import schemes involving e-commerce warehouses across the EU.

23rd May 2025

Conex revolutionises customs management with ZEN, a collaborative platform powered by AI

Conex is unveiling the most advanced version of its international collaboration platform, marking a real breakthrough in the sector. Incorporating an enhanced version of artificial intelligence, ZEN redefines automatic document processing with the power of intelligent understanding.

15th May 2025

New approach to VAT for e-commerce imports to simplify trade and compliance

EU finance ministers yesterday reached a significant agreement on a new approach to the Value Added Tax (VAT) focusing on e-commerce imports and the taxation of distance sales of imported goods.