According to Ti’s Global Logistics Business Confidence Index (GLBCI), the overall results of the survey show that confi dence in the present state of the logistics market has fallen slightly over the past month. The index dipped from +6.36 to +1.04. Any result above 0 is positive, with a maximum of +100 and a minimum of -100.
The monthly survey comprises respondents from around the world representing all sectors, segments and geographic regions. According to Ti, the survey is designed to provide an indication of the strength of the industry and a tool in assessing when the industry will come out of recession.
Confidence in the state of the market in 12 months’ time was still negative at -20.02, but never-the-less a slight improvement over February’s -26.46.
The survey revealed that confidence in China has slumped, shifting from being the most confident country in February (+34.38), the index fell sharply into negative territory -13.33. Chinese logistics executives are even less confident about the prospects for the industry in twelve months’ time. The index fell to -43.33, the lowest of all regions/countries analysed.
On the positive side, although confidence amongst US respondents in the present state of the market also fell from February to March (-4.29 to -6.82), there is much more confi dence in the state of market over the longer term. The index improves to -4.55 compared with February’s 12 month outlook of -17.14 which although still negative is at least moving in the right direction.
The consumer/retail sector showed a worrying weakness in March, according to Ti’s analysis. Confidence amongst logistics managers in the sector dropped from positive to negative in the period. “Unsurprisingly given the worries over the viability of many automotive manufacturers, the automotive sector is the least confident about its long term prospects,†the survey said.
As far as individual logistics segments are concerned, executives in the Express Parcels industry were the most confident in its present state (+14.71) and were least negative about its prospects for the next twelve months (-7.35). Once again shipping executives were the most gloomy,the sector reporting an index of -46.15.