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Tool Box
By William ARMBRUSTER
A new tool for shippers "Doing Business" report a useful addition to the toolbox
Shippers looking for a better handle on their total landed costs might want to add another tool to their toolbox. The tool is the annual Doing Business report compiled by the World Bank and its
sister organization, the International Finance Corp. The report, which provides a wealth of detailed information on 183 economies, is available for free at www.doingbusiness.org. It's best known for its rankings on the ease of doing business. The rankings are based on each country's performance in nine different categories. The most important category for shippers is called trading across borders. The rankings in this category are based on four metrics: the average cost for the
inland portion of shipping a container, the time it takes to clear the border, and the number of documents required.
The cost and time totals are based on four elements in the export and import process: documents preparation; customs clearance and technical control; ports and terminal handling; and inland transportation and handling. The report assumes that the goods are dry cargo, shipped in a 20-foot, full container load, and that the cargo weighs 10 tons and is valued at $20,000. Other assumptions include that the cargo is not hazardous and that it is
September 2011 www.cargobusinessnews.com
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