23 January 2010

BEIRUT: The World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) for 2010 ranked Lebanon in 33rd place among 155 nations worldwide and third among 17 Arab countries. Lebanon came in 98th place globally and 13th regionally in the 2007 survey, as reported by Lebanon This Week, the economic publication of the Byblos Bank Group.

Lebanon also ranked in fourth place among 34 upper-middle income countries (UMICs), up from 21st place in 2008. The LPI provides an in-depth cross-country assessment of the logistics gap among countries and reflects perceptions of the logistics environment of trading partner countries. It is based on a survey of operators on the ground worldwide who provided feedback on the logistics “friendliness” of the countries in which they operate and those with which they trade.

The LPI is a composite of six sub-indices of supply chain performance covering customs procedures, logistics costs, infrastructure quality, the ability to track and trace shipments, and timeliness in deliveries.

The survey assigned scores to the main index and its sub-categories that range from one to five points, with one being the worst performance.

Globally, Lebanon came ahead of Portugal, Thailand and Latvia, and ranked behind Israel, Poland and South Africa. It ranked ahead of Latvia and Turkey and behind Poland and Malaysia among UMICs, while it ranked ahead of Kuwait and behind Bahrain and the UAE among Arab countries.

Lebanon received a score of 3.34 points, up 41 percent from 2.37 points in 2007, and higher than the global average of 2.87 points as well as the UMICs average of 2.82 points and the Arab average of 2.80 points.

Lebanon ranked in 29th place globally, came in third place in the Arab region and in first place among UMICs on the Customs sub-index. It came in 107th place globally, came in 13th place in the Arab region and in 22nd place among UMICs in 2007.

This category reflects the efficiency and effectiveness of Customs and other border procedures. Globally, Lebanon came ahead of Iceland and ranked behind Portugal. Regionally, it ranked ahead of Kuwait and came behind Oman. Lebanon’s score was 3.27 points in this category, up from 2.17 points in 2007, and above the global average of 2.6 points, the UMICs average of 2.49 points and the Arab average of 2.56 points.

Lebanon ranked in 41st place worldwide, sixth in the Arab world and fifth among UMICs on the Infrastructure sub-index. It came in 102nd place worldwide, in 12th place in the Arab region, and last among UMICs in 2007.

This category measures the quality of Transport and IT infrastructure for logistics. Globally, Lebanon ranked ahead of the Slovak Republic and came behind Turkey. Regionally, it ranked ahead of Qatar and behind Oman.

Lebanon received 3.05 points on this category, relative to 2.14 points in 2007, above the global average of 2.64 points, the UMICs average of 2.54 points and Arab average of 2.65 points.

Lebanon ranked in 69th place globally, came in 17th place in the Arab region and in 16th place among UMICs on the International Shipments sub-index.

It came in 88th place globally, in 12th place in the Arab region and in 20th place among UMICs in 2007.

The category measures the ease and affordability of arranging shipments. Globally, Lebanon ranked ahead of Ecuador, tied with Paraguay and Panama, and came behind Rwanda. Regionally, it ranked ahead of Saudi Arabia, tied with Syria, and came behind Qatar. Lebanon’s score was 2.87 points on this category, above the global average of 2.85 points, the Arab average of 2.73 points and the UMICs average of 2.86 points.

Lebanon ranked 19th globally, came in first place in the Arab region and among UMICs on the Logistics Competence sub-index. It ranked 93rd globally, 11th in the Arab region and 20th among UMICs in the 2007 survey.

This category reflects the skills available in the local logistics industry like transport operators and customs brokers. Globally, Lebanon ranked ahead of Austria and came behind Italy. Lebanon scored 3.73 points on this category, relative to 2.40 points in 2007, higher than the global average of 2.76 points, the Arab average of 2.68 points and the UMICs’ average of 2.71 points.

Lebanon ranked in 49th place globally, came in fifth place in the Arab world and in 10th place among UMICs on the Tracking & Tracing sub-index. It ranked in 101st place globally, came in 12th place in the Arab world and in 21st place among UMICs in 2007. This category measures the ability to track and trace shipments. Globally, Lebanon ranked ahead of Argentina, tied with Slovenia and came behind the Dominican Republic. Regionally, it ranked ahead of Qatar and behind Saudi Arabia. Lebanon received a score of 3.16 points on this category, up from 2.33 in 2008, and above the global average of 2.92 points, the Arab average of 2.69 points and the UMICs average of 2.89.

Lebanon ranked in 29th place globally, came in first place regionally and in second place among UMICs on the Timeliness sub-index. It ranked in 115th place globally, came in 15th place regionally and in 22nd place among UMICs in 2007. This category assesses the timeliness of shipments in reaching their destination. Globally, Lebanon ranked ahead of Taiwan, tied with South Korea and came behind the Republic of Congo. Lebanon received a score of 3.97 points, up from 2.67 points in 2007, and above the global average of 3.41 points, the Arab average of 3.44 points and the UMICs average of 3.36 points. – The Daily Star

Copyright The Daily Star 2010.