Background: Logistics will play a vital role in the process of boosting intra-regional trade among member states. Despite logistics integrating role in trade between countries, generally, African countries had faced with formidable challenges in logistics infrastructures development, and customs and border clearance. Objectives: The main objective of this article was to analyse the effect of trade logistics performance on the intra-regional trade of Africa. African countries’ logistics performance in international trade was measured using the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and its components. The article emphasized examining the relevance of trade logistics for the implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area of Africa. Method: Descriptive analysis was undertaken to analyse African countries’ trade logistics performance, based on 2010–2018 LPI measures. The gravity model of international trade with Heckman maximum likelihood regression was used to explore the effect of trade logistics performance on the intra-regional trade of Africa. Results: African countries experience lowest average LPI score relative to its trading partner regions, particularly in terms of quality of trade- and transport-related infrastructures, customs, and border clearance, and competency and quality of logistics services. The study on gravity model estimates shows that improvement in any of LPI components, that is, infrastructures development, customs clearance, competence and logistics service quality, international shipments, tracking and tracing, and timeliness, can lead to significant growth on the trade between African countries. However, being geographically landlocked has a statistically significant negative effect on bilateral trade flow. Conclusion: Successful improvement in African countries’ trade logistics performance including logistics infrastructure, customs clearance, and logistics service quality will enhance trade between African countries. This, in turn, will have a paramount contribution to the effective implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area of Africa.

中文翻译：

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区域贸易协调物流对非洲区域自由贸易区的实施的意义

背景：物流将在促进成员国之间的区域内贸易的过程中发挥至关重要的作用。尽管物流在国家间贸易中发挥了整合作用，但总体而言，非洲国家在物流基础设施发展，海关和边境通关方面面临着巨大挑战。目标：本文的主要目的是分析贸易物流绩效对非洲区域内贸易的影响。非洲国家在国际贸易中的物流绩效是使用世界银行物流绩效指数（LPI）及其组成部分进行衡量的。文章强调了检查贸易物流与非洲大陆自由贸易区的实施的相关性。方法：进行描述性分析，以分析非洲国家的贸易物流绩效，基于2010–2018 LPI指标。利用Heckman最大似然回归的国际贸易引力模型来探讨贸易物流绩效对非洲区域内贸易的影响。结果：相对于其贸易伙伴地区，非洲国家的LPI平均得分最低，尤其是在与贸易和运输相关的基础设施质量，海关和边境通关以及物流服务的能力和质量方面。对重力模型估计的研究表明，LPI组成部分的任何改善，即基础设施发展，清关，能力和物流服务质量，国际运输，跟踪和追踪以及及时性，都可以导致非洲之间的贸易显着增长。国家。然而，在地理上处于内陆状态，对双边贸易流量具有统计学上的显着负面影响。结论：非洲国家贸易物流绩效的成功改善，包括物流基础设施，清关和物流服务质量，将增强非洲国家之间的贸易。反过来，这将对有效实施非洲大陆自由贸易区具有至关重要的作用。