Singapore is the top performer among the 155 economies included in the Logistics Performance Indicators (LPI), which are part of the Connecting to Compete 2012: Trade Logistics in the Global Economy report. Countries like Chile, China, India, Morocco, South Africa, Turkey, and the U.S. all improved their previous performance, according to the study, which is based on a comprehensive world survey of international freight forwarders and express carriers.
“Trade logistics is key to economic competitiveness, growth, and poverty reduction,” said Otaviano Canuto, World Bank Vice President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM). “Unfortunately, the logistics gap between rich and poor countries continues and the convergence trend experienced between 2007 and 2010 has stalled as events like the global recession, and the European debt crisis shifted attention away from logistics reform.”
According to the LPI, high income economies dominate the top logistics rankings, while the economies with the worst performance are least developed countries that are also often landlocked, small islands, or post-conflict states. Nevertheless, logistics performance is not simply determined by the level of per capita income, as many countries across different income groups have done better than their peers.
In the upper-middle income country category, top performers include South Africa, China and Turkey. In the lower middle income category, India, Morocco and the Philippines have above average performance improvements. And among low-income countries, outperformers included Benin, Malawi and Madagascar.
“Infrastructure stands out as the chief driver of progress in top performers, followed by improvements in logistics services, and customs and border management,” said Mona Haddad, Sector Manager of the World Bank’s International Trade Department. “All top performers show strong cooperation between the public and private sectors, and a comprehensive approach in the development of services, infrastructure and efficient logistics.”
The survey shows while logistics services have improved compared to past surveys, rail services dissatisfied more than 90 percent of respondents. On the border management side, customs agencies got better ratings than all other agencies involved in the process, with those responsible for sanitary and phytosanitary regulations lagging behind.
Better logistics needed to reduce food prices and carbon footprint
At a time where food prices are at historic highs, the survey also found that logistics is important for food security. Transport and logistics directly affect the price and local availability of food through the performance and resilience of food chains, especially in African and Middle Eastern countries that depend heavily on food imports.
In developing countries, particularly in landlocked and poor ones, transport and logistics account for 20-60 percent of delivered food prices. For instance, they make up 48 percent of the cost of U.S. corn imported by Nicaragua.
The survey, which for the first time included environmental indicators, also found that green logistics is quickly gaining prominence in high-income and emerging economies –a positive development since logistics and freight-related activities may account for up to 15 percent of human carbon dioxide emissions. Large logistics providers like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and TNT, all now have global initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint, shift to more efficient vehicles, make facilities more efficient, and help clients become more green-friendly
The way forward
The 2012 LPI shows preconditions for efficient logistics. All top performers have developed and maintained a strong public-private partnership and dialogue; good cooperation between policymakers, practioners, administrators and academics; and a comprehensive approach in the development of transport services, infrastructure and efficient logistics.
Only by fostering cooperation between the public and private sectors, and by considering the impact of all agencies on the supply chain can a country create sustainable improvements in its logistical capabilities, the study says.
To access the report, please visit: www.worldbank.org/lpi or ttp://go.worldbank.org/7TEVSUEAR0
