Nearly 62 percent of global logistics professionals say their companies are planning additional or first-time investments in Africa, according to a closely watched yearly industry survey.
The survey of 830 logistics executives is part of the 15th annual Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, a 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 digital readiness – factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, freight forwarders, air and ocean carriers, distributors and investors.
In the 2024 Index, the rankings of most African economies changed little from a year earlier, but businesses indicate they are looking ahead at massive population growth and trade expansion spurred by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“This is the most optimism we’ve seen about Africa in the 15 years of the Index,” says Agility Vice Chairman Tarek Sultan.
“Africa’s population will double by 2050 when one in four people on the planet will be African. International businesses realize that the time is now for Africa — they need to invest, establish their brands, and develop the next generation of African talent if they’re going to ride the coming wave of growth,” he added.
China and India were 1 and 2 in the 50-country Index rankings.
In Africa, Egypt (20), Morocco (22), South Africa (24) and Kenya (25) were the top performers, followed by Ghana (31), Nigeria (36), Tunisia (37), Tanzania (41), Algeria (42), Uganda (43), Ethiopia (45), Mozambique (46), Angola (47), Libya (50).
Egypt has Africa’s highest-ranked domestic logistics opportunities — 13th in that category; South Africa (15) was tops in Africa for international logistics; Morocco (12) has Africa’s best business fundamentals; Kenya (9) is Africa’s most digitally ready – and the continent’s highest-ranked country in any category.
More than 63 percent of survey respondents say their companies continue overhauling supply chains by spreading production to multiple locations or relocating it to home markets and nearby countries.
China, the world’s leading producer, stands to be most affected: 37.4 per cent of industry professionals say they plan to move production/sourcing out of China or reduce investment there.
Shipping and logistics costs that soared during the COVID pandemic and its aftermath are still climbing but at a slower rate, the survey found. One way shippers expect to cope is by increasing the use of digital freight forwarding from 37.8 per cent today to 52 per cent in five years.
Transport Intelligence, a leading analysis and research firm for the logistics industry, has compiled the Index since it was launched in 2009.
John Manners-Bell, Chief Executive of Ti, said, “Supply chain managers are still coming to terms with the political and economic instability characterising the post-COVID global economy. Geopolitical relationships are changing rapidly, and this is having a major impact on international trade and risk profiles.
“Businesses need to be alive to the opportunities and threats that exist in emerging markets and use data, such as the Agility Emerging Market Logistics Index, to inform agile decision-making.”
