PR94432

DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Executives are upbeat about 2022 despite pandemic-driven disruption, record

freight rates  

Most logistics industry executives see moderate-to-strong economic growth and

little or no chance of recession in 2022, even without immediate relief from

the snarled supply chains and sky-high ocean and air freight rates triggered by

the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Roughly two-thirds of the 756 industry professionals surveyed for the 2022

Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index [ http://www.agility.com/2022index ]

believe shippers will see cargo rates come down by the end of the year.

Eighty-percent see port bottlenecks, air capacity shortages and trucking issues

easing by year end.

"The industry's optimism reflects the fact that emerging economies are getting

more resilient and figuring out ways to weather supply chain disruption," said

Agility [ https://www.agility.com/en/ ] CEO Tarek Sultan. "If emerging markets

can get better access to vaccines and give small business a boost, they can

help power a broad, dynamic global recovery."

The survey is part of the 2022 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, the

company's 13th annual snapshot of industry sentiment and ranking of the world's

50 leading emerging markets. The Index ranks countries for overall

competitiveness based on their logistics strengths, business climates and, for

the first time, their digital readiness -- factors that make them attractive to

logistics providers, freight forwarders, air and ocean carriers, distributors

and investors.

China and India, the world's two largest countries, held their spots at No. 1

and 2 in the overall rankings. UAE, Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar,

Thailand, Mexico and Turkey rounded out the top 10. Vietnam, No. 8 in 2021,

fell to 11th, switching places with Thailand. South Africa ranked No. 24,

highest among countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Arabian Gulf economies again boasted the most business-friendly conditions,

grabbing five of the six top spots. The top 10 for business fundamentals: UAE,

Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Chile, China, Morocco, Jordan.

Another Gulf state, Kuwait, was No. 12.

Powerhouse exporters China, India and Mexico topped the rankings for

international logistics. China, India and Indonesia ranked highest for domestic

logistics.

For the first time, the Index scored countries for digital readiness: digital

skills, training, Internet access, e-commerce growth, investment climate, and

ability to nurture startups, as well as sustainability factors such as

renewable energy mix, lower emissions intensity and green initiatives.

Tops in digital readiness: UAE, Malaysia, China, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand,

Qatar, Indonesia, Chile and Philippines. Most digitally ready in Sub-Saharan

Africa: Kenya at No. 17.

"The connection between a country's digital capabilities and growth prospects

is undeniable," Sultan said. "The competitiveness of emerging markets countries

will be determined by their ability to develop digitally skilled businesses and

talent pools, and find the resolve to lower their emissions in ways that spur

growth rather than sacrificing it."

The importance of digital readiness was apparent in the survey. Logistics

executives identified adoption of technology as the leading driver of economic

and business growth for emerging markets. The top focus areas for their

companies: technology and sustainability.

2022 Index Highlights:

-        In the Middle East and North Africa, overall rankings were: UAE (3), Saudi

Arabia (6), Qatar (7), Turkey (10), Oman (14), Bahrain (15), Kuwait (17),

Jordan (19), Morocco (20), Egypt (21), Iran (30), Lebanon (35), Tunisia (36),

Algeria (37), Libya (50).

-        Rankings in Asia: China (1), India (2), Malaysia (4), Indonesia (5), Thailand

(8), Vietnam (11), Philippines (18), Kazakhstan (22), Pakistan (27), Sri Lanka

(33), Bangladesh (39), Cambodia (40), Myanmar (49).

-        Overall Index rankings for Latin America: Mexico (9), Chile (12), Brazil

(16), Uruguay (23), Colombia (25), Peru (26), Argentina, (31), Ecuador (38),

Paraguay (41), Bolivia (44), Venezuela (48).

-        Index rankings for Sub-Saharan Africa: South Africa (24), Kenya (28), Ghana

(32), Nigeria (34), Tanzania (42), Uganda (43), Ethiopia (45), Mozambique (46),

Angola (47).

Transport Intelligence (Ti) [ https://www.ti-insight.com/ ], a leading analysis

and research firm for the logistics industry, compiled the Index.

John Manners-Bell, Chief Executive of Ti, said: "How quickly emerging markets

recover from the crisis of the last two years is heavily reliant on the speed

of the vaccine rollout, not least from the perspective of social, economic and

political cohesion. At the same time, the links connecting these economies with

western markets need to be reinstated if shippers are to be integrated back

into the global trading system. COVID has meant that shipping has become even

more costly, complicated and slower, especially for small and medium-sized

businesses. Digitization will play an important role in facilitating

frictionless cross-border movements, but in the long run the benefits of

globalization will only be shared with emerging markets if supply chains and

logistics can be made more resilient in the face of future crises."

2022 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index: www.agility.com/2022index

About Agility

Agility is a global supply chain company, and a leader and investor in

technology to enhance supply chain efficiency and sustainability. It is a

pioneer in emerging markets and one of the largest private owners and

developers of warehousing and light industrial parks in the Middle East, Africa

and Asia. Agility's subsidiary companies offer airport services, e-commerce

enablement and digital logistics, customs digitization, remote infrastructure

services, fuel logistics, and commercial real estate and facilities

management.  

For more information about Agility, visit www.agility.com

Twitter: twitter.com/agility

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/agility

YouTube: youtube.com/user/agilitycorp

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SOURCE: Agility