Movin' on up
Mexico rang in at number 50 out of 155 countries included in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) for 2009, released last month. OK so we’ve got some work to do, but the 2009 ranking does represent progress since coming in at number 56 on the 2007 Index. Unfortunately, we’re not even number one in Latin America, which went to Brazil at 41, and we were also edged out by Argentina and Chile, ranked 48 and 49, respectively. The Index awards each country points for the quality of their logistics industries in categories such as Customs, infrastructure, competence, tracking and timeliness. Among the various categories considered, Mexico scored lowest on “Customs,” which is summarized as evaluating the “Efficiency of the clearance process (i.e. speed, simplicity and predictability of formalities) by border control agencies, including Customs.” This comes as no surprise to those of us who have struggled with jarring arbitrariness and explanations of shipment detentions that are eyebrow-arching at best. For what it’s worth, Mexico scored best on “Timeliness,” which either means we are embracing the service standards set by the wealthy economies, or we really have to work on those other categories. In any case, at least we are climbing rather than dropping on the LPI.
To review the LPI in detail, go here: World Bank LPI
