1/ Quick thread. At the end of the third week of Brexit being "done", I can only say that I'm exhausted.
Immediate pressures on companies who have been trading goods have been on grappling with all of the new customs and regulatory requirements.
2/ It's clear that agrifood businesses have been the hardest hit due to the SPS checks and other requirements.
But for others, the shift from a distributor model to importer/exporter has been a challenge. This hasn't been helped by certain IT system not working as planned.
3/ So are these "teething problems"? Companies are grappling with the new systems & formalities.
Some are, but many others aren't.
Worth noting that freight volumes are still below average. But stockpiles are running low, coming weeks are going to be interesting.
4/ Two issues that are immediately facing many businesses that won't be addressed by sorting this teething period.
First, many businesses are facing the largest shift in their cost base in a generation.
5/ This comes from the cost of dealing with the customs procedures, upgrading IT systems to manage the new requirements, setting up European operating centres to comply with regulatory requirements, new immigration costs, the list goes on.