G LO BA L V I E W AFFILIATE PEAK SEASON SNAPSHOT Over the next few issues, we will be asking Affiliates worldwide about the biggest positives and challenges for the industry from their country. Here, we feature perspectives from Australia, the Netherlands, Russia and South Africa RUSSIA THE NETHERLANDS CHALLENGE: l Capacity issues, combined with fast-rising moving costs and keeping customers happy while transit times are much longer POSITIVE: l Volume is back to pre-COVID levels and there is a lot of industry partner and staff camaraderie CHALLENGE: l All shipments must travel to European ports by truck no shipping available. But trucks eligible to cross Russia/ Europe borders are limited and air freight limited to a few providers. Overall costs are rising steeply POSITIVE: l Bookings volume at a similar level to 2017 (a very good year) Source: Victoria Chub, MD of IWM Ltd, Russia Source: FIDI Netherlands President, Wiebe van Bockel SOUTH AFRICA CHALLENGE: l Shipping line problems, port congestion issues, demurrage charges and general rate increases including fuel price hikes POSITIVE: l Increased shipping demand and volume (both private and corporate) and a hybrid working model has helped cut carbon footprint including a switch to paperless Source: FIDI South Africa President, Morne Rudolph AUSTRALIA CHALLENGE: l High levels of employment, making it hard to source staff POSITIVE: l Government support for moving businesses during the COVID-19 related lockdowns Source: anonymous, FIDI Global Business Cycle Barometer, Q3 2022 62 FF307 September-November 22 pp62-63 Country round up.indd 62 WW W. F I D I FOC U S . OR G 06/09/2022 07:48