Peak season bringing new challenges for retailers sourcing goods internationally, says Welsh freight forwarder

Peak season is bringing increased challenges for retailers sourcing goods internationally this year, according to a Welsh freight forwarder.

North Wales logistics specialist Delsol International has highlighted the growing logistics and supply chain complexities faced by UK businesses as they enter the busy Black Friday and Christmas trading periods and begin planning for 2027.

Trade tariffs, rules of origin requirements and volatile shipping routes are all having a knock-on impact on ecommerce and bricks-and-mortar retailers, making the 2026 peak season and beyond a challenging trading period.

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows almost half (48 per cent) of businesses are concerned about at least one factor affecting their supply chains over the next year; international conflict (32 per cent) and shipping disruption (21 per cent) being the biggest concerns.

Dylan Walker, business development manager at Delsol International, said: “Many independent UK businesses are finding the current supply chain landscape to be difficult to navigate.

“It’s why we’re advising them to diversify their international supply chains to reduce supply chain issues, rather than sourcing from a single country that could be impacted by geopolitical issues and routing diversions.

“This lowest-risk model brings fresh challenges, with it the need for multi-country logistics management and agile international freight forwarders who can respond to the changing needs of UK businesses.”

Delsol International will be attending the White & Private Label Expo at ExCeL London on November 11-12 to provide delegates with advice on navigating the unpredictable nature of international supply chains.

As an independent firm, Delsol International has demonstrated its capabilities as a responsive and experienced freight forwarding partner.

“Being an independent firm ourselves means we instinctively understand other independent businesses’ challenges – and the need to find experienced and knowledgeable partners to support them through the minefield of international sourcing and logistics,” added Dylan.

“It’s a challenging trading period and we know business owners need support with building more resilient supply chains and logistics solutions.

“Margins become even tighter and international trade flows less smoothly when we are facing the challenges we have dealt with seemingly on a daily basis in 2026.

“Despite this, many organisations are still underprepared for the challenge of getting goods across borders and to their destinations.

“Businesses which primarily manage these challenges on a reactive basis are putting themselves at risk.

“For businesses who want to source internationally and thrive, a proactive approach is now vital in the current geopolitical context, where instability and uncertainty are daily realities.”

Delsol International, formerly part of Delivery Solutions (Delsol) Ltd, became a separate business in 2024 to reflect the growing demand for efficient, reliable international logistics solutions.