Helga Pavlić Skender

The paper presents the main features of Incoterms® 2020, i.e., the International Chamber of Commerce rules for the use of domestic and international trade terms, which came into force on January 1, 2020. The International Chamber of Commerce revise...

The aim of this paper is to assess the role of hard and soft infrastructure in trade, distinguishing between traditional trade and supply-chain trade. Using factor analysis, we construct four aggregate trade facilitation indicators where we measure hard infrastructure as physical and ICT infrastructure, while soft infrastructure accounts for border efficiency and institutional efficiency. For traditional trade, we use bilateral trade data from UN Comtrade. Supply-chain trade is measured in terms of domestic value-added (DVAFX) embodied in foreign gross exports and foreign value-added (FVA) embodied in domestic gross exports obtained from Eora MRIO database. We use panel data regression analysis with an empirical model specification based on a gravity model and covering the 2000–2019 period. We estimate model with the Poisson Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood Estimator (PPML). To control multilateral trade-resistance terms (MRT), we included reporter and partner fixed effects along with country pair fixed effects. The results confirm a statistically significant relationship between hard and soft infrastructure and trade. ICT and border efficiency have the strongest impact on both types of trade. Supply-chain trade responds most intensely to improvements in institutional efficiency. Results imply that ICT infrastructure and border efficiency might hold even greater importance for CEMS’s traditional and supply-chain trade.

Logistics has become one of the most important economic sectors. It significantly affects the transport infrastructure and many other sectors that are crucial for the country’s development. It is the factor that also influences trade efficiency. However, the question arises if logistics performance is significant for the trade of critical goods which are energy raw products. The aim of the paper is primarily to investigate the EU energy trade flows in general and to estimate the effect of logistics performance on the international trade of energy raw products. The energy raw products are grouped into solid, liquid, and gaseous products, and separate estimates are made for their export and import. The analysis also differentiates between the trade flows, that is export and import within the EU and trade flows between EU member states and third countries. The empirical model is based on the theory of gravity model extended to include the six subcomponents of the Logistics Performance Index (LPI). The results present that: (1) the standard gravity model variables, such as GDPs of reporter and partner countries and contiguity, are successful in explaining the trade flows of solid and liquid raw energy but in case of gas products, are insignificant; (2) the results indicate that all logistics’ performance subcomponents are highly significant and show positive effects on the export of liquid energy products, while for the solid and gas products, it seems to be insignificant when the energy commodities are more complex and costly to transport and store, and therefore, contiguity, i.e., when countries share a common border, positively affects energy trade; (3) the EU imports most liquid energy products, but is generally very dependent on energy imports. EU policymakers should strive to either make more use of domestic resources or switch more to renewable energy sources.

This paper provides an overview of the modern technologies used in selected global seaports, and their possible impact on future development of seaports. The research problem stems from inefficience of customs procedures, dispute information flow, unneeded container manipulation in port area, and time lost due to bureucracy procedures. Methods used in this paper are the descriptive method, method of analysis, classification method, and compilation method. Since the majority of leading global seaports are placed in China, the authors decided to analyze the most successful seaport from each country, in order to achieve heterogeneity and global insight into used modern technologies. In total, eleven seaports placed on Lloyd’s list Top 100 Ports have been analyzed. Key findings in this paper are: (1) different level of development of a particular country affects different levels of implementation of new technical and technological achievements, resulting in different levels of development of each seaport; (2) future development of modern technologies in seaports leans towards autonomous technologies such as autonomous drones, and self-driving trucks. Modern technologies may improve the safety and efficiency of operations in and outside seaports.

Even though trade tariffs have generally fallen since the GATT agreement, non-tariff trade barriers still exist and show an upward trend. An important type of non-tariff trade barrier is logistics service related to the transport of goods to foreign markets. Efficient logistics is of great importance for small and open economies such as the Central and Eastern European EU member countries that became EU members in 2004 or later and are in the process of economic convergence with the old EU member countries, mostly through trade. On the other hand, logistics is important for old EU member countries because it influences competitiveness in global supply chains. The aim of this paper is to examine the homogeneity of the two blocks of EU countries in terms of logistics performance, i.e. to examine the impact of logistics performance on the international bilateral trade of the EU15 and CEMS with the rest of the world in the period 2010–2018. We develop and estimate a structural gravity model with Poisson pseudo-maximum probability estimator, using the LPI and its sub-indices as the main independent variables of interest. Our results show that differences in LPI values have heterogenous impact on bilateral trade, especially when considering trade in different classes of goods and different groups of country pairs.

Logistics accounts for 14% of total GDP in the European Union countries, which shows the importance of the logistics service and performance of the European Union countries. Logistics market of EU-15 countries is well developed while most of EU-13 countries need to address poor railway infrastructure and other political issues related to corruption and lack of competitiveness. However, EU-13 economies are growing fast and can benefit even more from the improvements in logistics market. Therefor this paper aims to analyze logistics performance in the European Union, distinguishing between EU-15 and EU-13 countries. For our analysis we use Worlds Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) which is a tool that measures the quality, velocity, accuracy and simplicity of the logistics processes. The analysis covers the period from 2010 to 2018. The results of our analysis show that some EU-13 countries are lagging behind EU-15 countries in terms of logistics performance, while countries like Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary are the best logistics performers among all EU-13 countries. Results also shows us correlation between logistics performance and economic growth which imply that EU-13 countries must take step forward in their logistics performance in order to integrate in regional and global supply chain and thus enhance their economic position and competitiveness.

The emergence of logistics distribution centers has in the past few decades become a mass phenomenon that has emerged as a result of global economic processes. As part of logistics networks, logistics distribution centers are the key link between production and the market, i.e. end users, and function as nodes that facilitate international business activities. For this reason, the aim of this paper is to analyze the characteristics of logistics distribution centers on the example of logistics distribution centers of the selected Western and Central European Union countries and examine the prospects for the development of logistics distribution centers in Croatia. The research results indicate that the Republic of Croatia is less competitive in comparison with Western and Central European countries, although it has a number of logistics distribution centers due to insufficient utilization and renewal of transport infrastructure. Logistics distribution centers are an important center of logistics networks, and the countries will have to devote more attention to their development to attract foreign investment and achieve economic development, because their significance will continue to grow in the future.

Modern transportation technologies emerged in the mid-20th century and their appearance changed the current course of the transportation of goods. The use of modern transportation technologies in transport processes results in faster, more efficient and safer transport of goods from the sender/consignor, the manufacturer, to the receiver/consignee, consumer or customer. Container, i.e. containerization is one of the most important transportation technologies with significant impact on the development of international trade and globalization from the 1960s until present time. The aim of this paper is to review the role of containerization, as the most significant transportation technology. The results show an ever growing yet slower trend of containerization during past years that is likely to continue in the upcoming period . In the future, challenges can be expected in the container business especially in the field of digitalization and automation. This paper contributes to the valorization of containerization and points to the important role of infrastructure as a support to the realization of the potential of containerization in future.

Globalization, offshoring and the notable growth of containerization have changed the maritime transport and logistics chains. Ports became integral part of complex supply chains and serve as a logistics centres, add value, link flows and influence the supply chain patterns and processes. The port competitiveness is determined by its in-house strengths such as efficient freight handling and hinterland connections and by its position and links in the global supply chains. The aim of this paper is to investigate the importance of port integration in the supply chains overall and to analyse how North Adriatic Ports are integrated into the supply chains. The analysis is based on the sample of 939 firms aggregated by ports regions and classes level within Section H (Nace Rev.2). The assumption is that if the business cycle of all firms (classes) included in the port supply chain is correlated, it can indicate that the port is integrated in the supply chain. The results of our analysis are ambiguous, where the correlation is rather negative than positive. This paper provides the conceptual framework and outline the significance of this investigation for port operators, shipping lines, forwarders and other stakeholders.