Logistics UK urges Welsh Senedd to publish freight strategy after budget omission

Logistics UK has called on the Welsh Senedd to urgently publish its long-awaited freight and logistics strategy after the sector was omitted from the latest Welsh budget.

Business group Logistics UK has urged the Welsh Senedd to publish its long-awaited freight and logistics strategy as a matter of urgency, following the omission of the sector from the latest Welsh budget.

The organisation said the absence of any explicit provision for freight and logistics overlooks the scale and importance of the sector to the Welsh economy and risks creating uncertainty that could inhibit future investment.

Josh Fenton, policy manager at Logistics UK, said: “No explicit provision for freight and logistics in the final Welsh budget fails to recognise one of the country’s largest and most critical economic sectors, and risks inhibiting investment by creating uncertainty in the industry that moves all the goods Wales relies on, every day.”

Fenton said the sector employs thousands of businesses and more than 90,000 people, representing 6.7% of the Welsh workforce, and contributes £3.3bn to the Welsh economy.

He added: “Previously, the Welsh government has made several commitments to produce a Welsh freight and logistics strategy, but nothing has been forthcoming: the document needs to be published as a matter of urgency so it can be delivered before the Senedd elections.”

Logistics UK said recent disruption has underlined the need for a coordinated, national approach to freight. Fenton pointed to the closure of Holyhead Port following storm damage as an example of why a clear strategy is required to support economic resilience and growth.

He said: “The closure of Holyhead Port following storm damage is just one recent incident that highlights the acute need for such an overarching logistics strategy to support the nation’s economic growth plans, and it remains Logistics UK’s top priority for the next Welsh government.”