Middle East Transport & Logistics Market Report 2007
The Middle East’s position as an important trading region has been boosted by the
region’s continuing infrastructural development and diversification into non-oil
products and services. This growing import/export trade is not only within Middle
Eastern countries, but also on a global level.
While China, India and Eastern Europe are still widely predicted to be the largest
growth markets of the next decade or two, the Middle East is considered an
important region for expansion in the transport and logistics industry. An
eyefortransport survey of North American third party logistics operators (3PLs) earlier
this year identified the Middle East as one of the regions where trade links will
increase in number and significance. A similar survey among European 3PLs in 2006
indicated that the Middle East has more growth potential for logistics and transport
than either North or South America.
And in this 2007 survey of the Middle East, between 20pct and 30pct of all
respondents indicated that their business expansion strategies would include
development of their Middle East trade routes and infrastructure.
Straddling the crossroads of the major Asia-to-Europe and Asia-to-Africa trade
routes, the Middle East has historically been a strategic hub for east-west
intercontinental trade – not merely for transshipments, but it is also a huge trading
region in its own right for both merchandise and commercial services.
According to the World Trade Organization, total global exports of merchandise from
the Middle East amounted to USD 538 billion in 2005, a year-on-year increase of
35 pct. Just over half of these exports (USD 281 billion) were destined for Asia. Europe,
absorbing 16.1pct of exports (worth USD 87 billion) and North America (12.3pct, worth
USD 66 billion) were the next two most important export trading regions for the
Middle East.
Total global imports of merchandise into the Middle East amounted to US$322 billion
in 2005, a year-on-year increase of 17pct, with the Middle East’s major trading
regions being Europe (38pct) and Asia (27.7pct).
eyefortransport conducted the Middle East Transport & Logistics Market
Survey in June 2007 to measure the depth of the transport and logistics focus on
the Middle East, and areas of crucial strategic planning by operators in this sector.
This report compares the results of the 2007 survey with a similar survey conducted
last year. Much of the data gathered in the survey will be discussed and debated at
eyefortransport’s 2nd Middle East Summit, which takes place on November 27–
28 in Dubai. The Summit will deliver many invaluable insights.
