Bahrain ranked 15th in logistics among emerging markets

TDT | Manama

The Kingdom has been ranked 15th in an index, which tracks the logistics industry among emerging markets.     

The Kingdom has been included in the top 20 countries among 50 emerging markets in the 2020 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, which ranks countries by factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, freight forwarders, shipping lines, air cargo carriers and distributors. 

China was ranked first. After China, others at the top of the 11th annual Index are India, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Mexico, Thailand and Turkey.

China, India and Indonesia rank highest for domestic logistics; China, India and Mexico are top for international logistics; and UAE, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia have the best business fundamentals. China ranks eighth in business fundamentals, down one spot from 2019.

"The strongest clusters of emerging markets are in the Arabian Gulf and Southeast Asia, thanks to business-friendly conditions and core strengths – the Gulf's energy wealth and Southeast Asian manufacturing power – that draw logistics activity.

"In the Gulf, the UAE (3), Saudi Arabia (6), Qatar (7), Oman (14), Bahrain (15) and Kuwait (19) rank strongly. Among ASEAN countries, Indonesia (4), Malaysia (5), Thailand (9), and Vietnam (11) are strong," the survey report stated.

Survey respondents see India as the market with greatest potential over China, their second choice. In rankings of best business conditions, several countries are making big moves: Egypt climbed 10 spots to 17; Ukraine jumped 10 spots to 27; Ghana dropped 13 spots to 32; and Iran tumbled 12 spots to 38.