France is closing its border with the UK for the next 48 hours, which has caused miles-long queues on the M20 motorway to the port of Dover and the Folkestone Eurotunnel terminal. It is so far unclear if the closure will impact on automotive production and distribution, but it adds considerable supply chain challenges at a time when manufacturers are already struggling with container capacity issues and stockpiling ahead of the Brexit transition period deadline December 31.

Unaccompanied freight continues as normal. While truck traffic from the mainland to the UK is still permitted, many truck drivers are turning back for fear of being stranded in the UK.

In response, UK authorities deployed Operation Stack, which separates lorries into two queues on either side of the coastbound carriageway, one for tunnel traffic and one for port traffic, keeping the middle lane clear.