Original Research

Macro-logistics trends: Indications for a more sustainable economy

Jan H. Havenga, Zane P. Simpson, Anneke de Bod
Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management | Vol 7, No 1 | a108 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v7i1.108 | © 2013 Jan H. Havenga, Zane P. Simpson, Anneke de Bod | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 27 June 2013 | Published: 24 October 2013

About the author(s)

Jan H. Havenga, Department of Logistics, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Zane P. Simpson, Department of Logistics, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Anneke de Bod, Department of Logistics, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa

Abstract

The North American and South African logistics cost calculation-time series are the two longest-running statistical series available worldwide. These calculations indicate that transportation’s contribution to logistics costs is rising, as the key cost driver (oil price) is increasing exponentially. This is exacerbated by volatile oil prices and the inclusion of externality charges to reduce the logistics environmental footprint. Therefore, it is necessary to consider a new paradigm where material logistics requirements are reduced through localisation and consumption reduction. This, in turn, implies the consideration of new indicators for the future measurement of logistics costs. Because this article asks questions about the suitability of GDP as the primary (and often only) measurement of economic output, new measurements are required. If this position changes, the comparison of logistics costs with GDP alone will become questionable.

Keywords

Logistics costs; Logistics trends; sustainability

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Crossref Citations

1. South Africa’s rising logistics costs: An uncertain future
Jan H. Havenga, Zane P. Simpson, Anneke De Bod, Nadia M. Viljoen
Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management  vol: 8  issue: 1  year: 2014  
doi: 10.4102/jtscm.v8i1.155