Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index 2015

China continues to be the world’s dominant emerging market and was again No. 1 in the Index.

Even so, its raw Index score has decreased since 2012, suggesting that other emerging markets are closing the gap with the perennial favorite.

One such market is Saudi Arabia, which has achieved dramatic gains over the past five years.

The Kingdom, No. 9 in the 2010 Index, is No. 2 in the 2015 Index.

Strategic economic planning, combined with growing domestic demand, has made the difference. Saudi Arabia has also been able to build large foreign reserves over the past years as a result of fiscal policy while also reducing public debt to nearly zero. Declining global oil prices are not expected to adversely affect the country’s economy or diminish its attractiveness to logistics providers.

Brazil slipped to No. 3. Its slowing economy has forced it to spend on initiatives aimed at reviving domestic consumption and on investments that will enable it to meet fiscal targets in 2015. Home to a large middle class and a youthful population, Brazil continues to be plagued by poor infrastructure and bureaucracy. However, as host to the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016, it has launched projects to improve infrastructure, including the privatization of airports.