More than five years after Brexit, the consequences are still being felt in the transport and logistics sector. The biggest problems arose from prolonged uncertainty after the 2016 referendum and from the chaos in British ports after the actual departure in 2020.
Although most companies have now found their footing, the phytosanitary and veterinary inspections that have been mandatory since 2024 remain a persistent bottleneck. Products such as flowers, plants, meat, and foodstuffs — important Dutch export — are facing long waiting times, higher costs, and sometimes damage due to careless inspections. In addition, the UK is imposing strict measures to combat illegal immigration, including high fines for drivers, which further increases the pressure on transporters.
At the same time, there are clear winners. Freight forwarders are benefiting from the increased complexity of customs procedures, and some logistics service providers have specialised entirely in post-Brexit trade flows. The ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp have also benefited: due to additional customs formalities, shipping companies are increasingly opting for direct calls at Rotterdam, at the expense of British ports such as Southampton and Felixstowe. Brexit has also accelerated the digitisation of document flows. The EU has attracted many foreign companies seeking to maintain access to the EU. These are often smaller operations, although there are also larger examples.
On balance, however, the British economy and consumers appear to be the biggest losers: higher prices, empty shelves, and a structural decline in trade with the EU — estimated at 10 to 25 percent. According to experts, Brexit fits into a broader trend of deglobalisation, which is prompting companies to make their supply chains more regional and less dependent on distant markets.