The UK has been ranked eighth in the world for logistics in World Bank’s annual Logistics Performance Index (LPI).

Based on survey data from more than 1,200 logistics professionals worldwide, the report ranks the quality and performance of freight in 160 individual countries.

Germany topped the list for the third time with an LPI score of 4.23, narrowly beating Luxembourg and Sweden (4.22 and 4.20 respectively).

Netherlands was next in fourth with (4.19), followed by Singapore (4,14), Belgium (4.11), Austria (4.10) then finally the UK (4.07). The US ranked tenth (3.99) with Ireland in 18th (3.79).

Perhaps unsurprisingly, conflict-ravaged Syria ranked lowest with other troubled countries such as Haiti, Somalia and Sierra Leone also appearing in the table’s lower region.

2016’s report marked a slowdown in logistics progress for the world’s least developed countries for the first since 2007, World Bank claimed.

Anabel Gonzalez, senior director for the World Bank Group’s Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice, said that logistics performance was vital to a country’s economic growth and competitiveness.

“Efficient logistics connects people and firms to markets and opportunities, and helps achieve higher levels of productivity and welfare,” she commented.

“Unfortunately, the logistics performance gap between rich and poor countries continues and the convergence trend experienced between 2007 and 2014 has reversed for the least performing countries.”

See the full list here.