In its 'Supplychainforesight 2012', Barloworld estimates that Nigeria is the most likely to become the leading economy and gateway to Africa, where South Africa has for so long been seen as the continent's trading and logistics gateway. The research showed clearly a shift in global economic power towards emerging market economies. This shift should present South African businesses with a significant opportunity to capture market share.
"[South Africa's] position is now under threat from other African countries like Nigeria, Egypt and other Southern African trade corridors such as the Maputo corridor," Barloworld Logistics marketing executive Kate Stubbs said. "The research highlighted that South African companies need to understand the threats and opportunities present for industry and the national supply chain in other African markets." Stubbs told Engineering News that business stakeholders cited making better use of the supply chain to gain competitive advantage and expansion into emerging markets as critically important strategic objectives, while singling out the cost of transport as a major constraint to doing business in the country - especially considering the fact that South Africa's economic hub, Gauteng, is located about 600 km from the closest port, making it a transport-intensive economy.
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View Barloworld Supplychainforesight Archive.
