B&Q plc’s decision to switch most of its container imports from southern ports to Humberside will be used as a case study in a major campaign to drastically reduce the number of container lorries on motorways in the south of England.
The Humber Trade Zone will hold a conference at the KC Stadium in Hull on June 24, bringing together leading decision makers to review global logistics challenges and build the business case for the Humber. Among the delegates will be Finnforest UK and large retailers.
B&Q claims the move to Humber last year, for imports including finished wooden products such as garden furniture, has improved efficiency, with cheaper storage of containers and more reliable delivery times.
About 80% of the UK’s deep sea container traffic lands at southern ports, 65% of which is bound for the Midlands, the north, Scotland and Ireland. By switching this business to the north, the Humber Trade Zone believes four million road miles a year could be saved and air quality improved.
