Assessing the logistics market performance of developing countries by SWARA-CRITIC based CoCoSo methods

Background: The logistics market performance of developing countries has been measured by the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index [AEMLI] report since 2014. The main objective of this study is to propose a new model to assess the logistics market performance of developing countries and rank them based on this performance. Correspondingly, the AEMLI indicators were selected as the main criteria for assessing the logistics market performance of developing countries in this study. Methods: In the current study, the AEMLI indicators, which are domestic logistics opportunities [DLO], international logistics opportunities [ILO], business fundamentals [BF] and digital readiness [DR], were used as criteria to assess the logistics market performances of developing countries. First, the weights of the criteria were computed by a combination of subjective [SWARA] and objective [CRITIC] methods. Then, the CoCoSo method was used to rank developing countries according to their logistics market performance. Results: The findings indicate that BF is the most significant criterion, followed by ILO, DR and DLO. Based on the results of the proposed model, China, India, the United Arab Emirates [UAE], Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia had the best logistics market performance in 2022, while Angola, Myanmar, Mozambique, Venezuela, and Libya had the worst logistics market performance in 2022. Additionally, some differences in the ranking of developing countries according to logistics market performance can be observed in the proposed model compared to the AEMLI 2023 report. Conclusion: To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to examine logistics market performance through the combination of two weighting methods (both subjective and objective). The current study also contributes to the existing literature by providing insight into logistics market performance for carriers, shippers, distributors, policy makers, and others who focus on the world’s emerging markets.