IND U STRY N E W S US migration shows signicant drop The number of people moving in the US in 2022 fell by 20 per cent compared with the previous two years, according to a new report by Allied Van Lines. The Allied Magnet States Report said higher rents and interest rates, ination, and falling wages were all factors in the drop. It added that the most popular destination for people who moved was the Sun Belt region, which includes Arizona, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, for better economic prospects and lower cost of living compared with the west coast or the north-east. Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California and New Jersey saw the biggest outward migration, while large metropolitan areas showed limited population growth as more Americans moved to suburban areas, driven by affordability and greater exibility for home working. For more information see allied.com/migration-map FIDI issues support for intimidation report FIDI has responded to a report on behaviour and intimidation of women at industry conferences, published in The Mover magazine earlier this month. The report by the magazines Editor, Steve Jordan featured anonymous accounts of unwanted sexual attention at industry events, mainly (but not exclusively) against women. In a recorded video, FIDI Secretary General Jesse van Sas said: There is a small minority of attendees who misbehave during our conference and such unethical behaviour does not only happen at our events; it occurs in every industry at every mass event. He said FIDI will ensure its conference code of conduct is rigorously enforced and increase its communication and education on the issue. Read Magali Horberts article on pages 20-21. Canal restrictions lengthen International movers using the Panama Canal can expect restrictions to continue for almost a year because prolonged drought conditions in Central America have lowered water levels. According to news agency Reuters, the Panama Canal Authority has said it will continue to impose restrictions on daily vessel transit and maximum ship draft until at least June 2024. The restrictions which are designed to conserve water before the next rainy season have caused a backlog of vessels and forced owners to lighten cargoes or use alternative transit routes. Deputy Administrator for the canal Ilya Espino de Marotta said: We are currently seeing an increase in arrivals. It is peak season as December is approaching, so merchandise for Christmas is moving quickly. She recommended vessel owners reserve slots in advance to avoid delays and said container ships will have priority to pass through the waterway. Australian movers face increased inspection costs Australias Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has announced an increase in its fees, including multiples charges related to the inspection process for personal effects. According to the Australian International Movers Association (AIMA), the increase will be effective from 1 July 2023, and will result in fees charged to movers handling personal items rising by approximately 25 per cent. The association also said DAFF has changed how it charges for time for on-site personal effects inspections, which could see significantly higher charges. It added that the full impact of the changes will only become clear after 1 July. AIMA expects transitional difficulties to occur in situations where items are being held for biosecurity reasons. Currently, when an item is held aside for treatment, the rest of the consignment can be delivered. In the new process, nothing will be able to be delivered until such time as the treatment has been completed. This could cause significant delays, it said, adding that it had only recently been advised of the changes. Please discuss with your Australian industry partner to see what impact this might have on the cost of quarantine inspections. Leading specialist insurance for the global moving industry. With a dedicated marine portal, our tailored insurance solutions are designed specially for the needs of international move operators. As dedicated insurance people our clients have come to expect extra from us. Discover how people who think beyond the boundaries could help your business today. +44 (0)1273 739 961 | info@reason-global.com Reason Global Insurance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 15 FF311 Sept-Nov 23 pp12-19 News.indd 15 14/09/2023 15:47