Even if customs clearance is reinstated following Brexit, leaving the EU remains the best thing for the UK, according to Europa Worldwide Group MD Andrew Baxter.

Dartford-based Europa has a 45/55% split in its European/UK freight volume and plans to increase exports to the continent.

“It would be much better if customs clearance was not reinstated. But Brexit is the right thing for the UK even if it means it is,” he said.

He added that the prime minister had been right not to trigger article 50, which starts the formal exit of the UK from the EU immediately.

“If it is triggered by next March it is perfectly OK. Although the sooner we get clarity about what is happening the better,” he said.

Its most recently filed accounts for Europa Worldwide Logistics (the group’s transport and distribution operations) revealed turnover increased to £83.4m (2014: £79.8m) in the year to 31 December 2015.

The period encompassed the final work to remodel the business, which has seen it scale back from 12 locations to three larger sites instead since Baxter bought the business in 2013.

Europa’s pre-tax loss in the period increased from £202,935 in 2014 to £2.2m. It now has a 86,510ft2 hub in Dartford, which is supported by regional hubs in Minworth and Northamptonshire.

Baxter said Europa Worldwide Group is trading ahead of budget and should exceed the £100m mark for the first time in the fourth quarter.

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