Yemen

According to the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) (2014), which measures countries’ trade logistics efficiency, Yemen was ranked 151st out of 160 countries in the year of 2014. The performance of Yemen is below the average of comparable region and income level with respect to general indicator and sub-indicators. This is in line with the outcome of the World Bank’s Doing Business Report (2013) which ranked Yemen’s ease in trading across borders below the regional average. Exporting one standard container of goods requires 6 documents, 29 days, and USD 995 while importing the same container requires 9 documents, 25 days and USD 1,490. Compared to the average of Middle East and North Africa region, Yemen asks for more documents, time, and costs except in the number of export documents. The main obstacle to facilitate the trade lies in the country’s customs and infrastructures, most of which are operated by the state and heavily influenced by corruption. Considering that reforms have scarcely taken place in the past three years, the country’ willingness to reform is of real concern.