Advanced economies remain the global leaders in trade logistics, finds “Connecting to Compete,” a new World Bank Group report.

Across the board, most countries have pursued logistics-related reforms and investments to build infrastructure, facilitate transportation and trade, or develop modern services. Despite this progress, the sixth edition of the report reveals a mixed picture. High-income countries score, on average, 48 percent higher than low-income countries when it comes to logistics performance.

“Logistics services are the backbone of international trade,” said Caroline Freund, director of the macroeconomics, trade & investment global practice at the World Bank Group. “Good logistics reduce trade costs, but supply chains are only as strong as their weakest link. For developing countries, getting logistics right means improving their infrastructure, customs, skills and regulations.”

“Connecting to Compete,” which contains the Logistics Performance Index (LPI), is a bi-annual report that scores 168 countries on how efficiently supply chains connect firms to domestic and international opportunities. The 2018 LPI highlights emerging concerns with the resilience of supply chains, their environmental footprint, and the need for qualified workers.

A logistics labor shortage poses a challenge for both developed and developing countries alike. Developing countries seek more managerial-level workers, while developed countries face a shortage of blue-collar workers, such as truck drivers. High-income countries are more likely than low-income countries to seek logistics services that are environmentally friendly. This is important because CO2 emissions from transport are a significant contributor to pollution. High-income countries are more likely than low-income countries to be increasing their preparedness to cyber threats.

Germany has the highest aggregate score over the past four LPI editions. High-income countries that are dominant players in the supply chain have ranked highest in logistics performance. Countries that rank lowest tend to be those that are low-income, isolated, fragile, or facing conflict or unrest. Among the lower-middle income group countries, large economies such as India and Indonesia and emerging economies such as Vietnam and Cote d’Ivoire stand out as top performers.

“With international trade becoming more dispersed through global value chains, good logistics are more important than ever,” said Christina Wiederer, a World Bank Group economist and report co-author. “Small disruptions to a supply chain can spread rapidly to other countries and regions. Connecting to Compete and its Logistics Performance Index help governments understand the link between logistics, trade, and growth, and what policies are necessary for success.”

The report and its Logistics Performance Index are tools created to help governments benchmark their progress on trade logistics across key criteria, including the quality of trade-related infrastructure, the price of international shipments, logistics competence and quality, and the frequency with which shipments reach their destination on time. Published biennially since 2007, the report uses both qualitative and quantitative measures to compare logistics friendliness across more than 160 countries.