New Report: Bulgaria and Romania Set to Fuel Eastern Europe Logistics and Express Markets

UK based logistics research organisation, Transport Intelligence
(Ti), has launched a major new report, Central & Eastern Europe
Logistics 2007, to coincide with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania
to the EU in January 2007. According to David Bagshaw, a Senior
Analyst at Ti and the report's author, the boom which the countries in
the region have enjoyed over the past few years is set to continue. A
combination of growing consumer demand as standards of living rise,
plus the increase of 'near-sourcing' by multinational manufacturers
has combined to fuel logistics market growth rates of about 20% a
year.

'The removal of customs barriers and the extension of the single
European market to the region has had a transforming effect on the
logistics market. Express and contract logistics markets have invested
heavily in facilities, either piggybacking with existing multinational
clients, or speculatively developing operations themselves.'

The new accession countries will contine this trend, he asserts.
'Although relatively small markets, the accession of Bulgaria and
Romania is an important step forward. Many manufacturers, especially
automotive and textile, have already been attracted to these low-cost
countries, and they will now more easily be assimilated into European
supply chains. Europe's centre of logistics gravity will move once
again eastwards.'

However there are problems which will have to be overcome, he
warns. 'Security and risk will be increasingly important issues for
logistics suppliers. Not only do these countries themselves have a
recent turbulent past, they border nations which are highly insecure.
Organised crime, especially as it effects the movement and storage of
goods, can not be underestimated.'

About Central & Eastern Europe Logistics 2007

CEE Logistics 2007 is a major new report from Transport
Intelligence, providing invaluable in-sight into a fast growing
market. The report includes analysis of major trends, both economic
and logistics; a country-by-country overview of the region examining
transport infrastructure, logistics and warehousing markets and the
major 3PLs; profiles of the operations of the major logistics and
express providers across the region. Countries covered include:
Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Estonia as well as Bulgaria and Romania.