Introduction: One of the most important indicators for assessing energy consumption efficiency and comparing energy productivity across different countries is the energy intensity index. This indicator, defined as the ratio of energy consumption to gross domestic product (GDP), represents the amount of energy consumed per unit of economic activity. A reduction in energy intensity indicates a movement toward a more energy-efficient economy, which is important both from an environmental perspective and from the standpoint of energy security. Logistics activities are among the most critical factors influencing energy intensity, as transportation, warehousing, and the movement of goods account for a significant share of final energy consumption. Therefore, efficient energy use in the logistics sector is an undeniable necessity for reducing energy intensity. In this context, the aim of the present study is to investigate the impact of logistics performance on energy intensity in two selected groups of countries—OPEC member states and OECD member countries—over the period from 2008 to 2022.
Materials and Methods: The present study is applied in nature and, methodologically, is a descriptive-analytical study with an econometric approach. The required data for the research variables include the Logistics Performance Index (LPI), energy intensity, energy price, gross domestic product (GDP), economic structure, government policy, urbanization, and trade intensity. The statistical population consists of OPEC member countries (11 countries) and OECD member countries (37 countries). Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (POLS) method was used for data analysis. The research model was estimated separately for the two groups of countries.
Results: The estimation results of the model showed identical outcomes for both OPEC and OECD country groups. According to the results, the Logistics Performance Index has a negative and significant effect on energy intensity in both groups of countries, meaning that improvements in logistics performance lead to a reduction in energy intensity. Additionally, the effects of energy price and GDP on energy intensity are also negative and significant. This finding indicates that both increases in energy prices and economic growth are associated with lower energy intensity. In contrast, the variables of economic structure, government policy, and urbanization did not show a significant effect on energy intensity. Finally, the effect of trade intensity on energy intensity is positive and significant, implying that an increase in the ratio of trade to GDP leads to higher energy intensity.
Discussion: The results of this study suggest that improving logistics performance can be an effective tool for reducing energy intensity in countries with different economic structures (both OPEC and OECD). This outcome can be attributed to factors such as optimizing transport routes, reducing waiting times, increasing fuel efficiency, and utilizing modern logistics technologies. The negative effect of energy price on energy intensity is also consistent with economic theory, since higher prices provide incentives for energy conservation and efficiency improvements. The negative effect of GDP also reflects the economy's shift toward high-value-added activities with lower energy consumption. However, an important and cautionary finding is the positive effect of trade intensity, which is likely due to increased transportation of imported and exported goods. The lack of significance of variables such as government policy and urbanization may be attributed to poor data quality, a limited time period, or the presence of confounding factors. Overall, investment in green and efficient logistics is the main recommendation of this study for policymakers in both groups of countries.