The World Bank has a low opinion of the logistical infrastructure of Israel's ports. A report comparing the situation in 160 countries placed Israel between 30th and 40th place from the perspective of logistical operations. Israel's ports are weak even in comparison with its neighbors around the Mediterranean.
The report found the time it takes to export a container in Israel, from the company's doorstep to the port premises, is the longest in the entire Middle East at 5.3 days.
The average for Mediterranean seaports in general was 3.7 days, and the average for the countries belonging to the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) was 2.4 days.
The time for importing a container was even more protracted: 8.7 days in Israel's ports, compared with 6.0 in the Middle East and 3.2 days in the OECD nations.
Regarding logistical operations, Israel ranked just 33rd in the world, and regarding port infrastructure, it only made 37th place.
The cost of exporting a 40-foot container is $1,000 in Israel, well above the average price in the Mediterranean sphere. The import price is $2,000 per container, compared with $663 in the OECD countries and an average of $609 in other Middle Eastern nations.
The World Bank report was presented earlier this week at a shippers' conference, by Zvi Plada, the chairman of the Manufacturers Association's Sea and Air Transportation Committee.
A panel headed by the Transport Ministry director-general Gideon Siterman decided that the ports will shortly try to transfer some of their logistical operations to night-time.
The report found the time it takes to export a container in Israel, from the company's doorstep to the port premises, is the longest in the entire Middle East at 5.3 days.
The average for Mediterranean seaports in general was 3.7 days, and the average for the countries belonging to the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) was 2.4 days.
The time for importing a container was even more protracted: 8.7 days in Israel's ports, compared with 6.0 in the Middle East and 3.2 days in the OECD nations.
Regarding logistical operations, Israel ranked just 33rd in the world, and regarding port infrastructure, it only made 37th place.
The cost of exporting a 40-foot container is $1,000 in Israel, well above the average price in the Mediterranean sphere. The import price is $2,000 per container, compared with $663 in the OECD countries and an average of $609 in other Middle Eastern nations.
The World Bank report was presented earlier this week at a shippers' conference, by Zvi Plada, the chairman of the Manufacturers Association's Sea and Air Transportation Committee.
A panel headed by the Transport Ministry director-general Gideon Siterman decided that the ports will shortly try to transfer some of their logistical operations to night-time.