The best and worst countries hosting companies' supply chains

A new report by FM Global shows which countries are best and worst at hosting companies' supply chains: Venezuela is considered to be the worst for a second straight year due to "extensive corruption, perceived low quality in local suppliers and poor infrastructure," as well as dealing with rocketing inflation and a collapse in the oil price. Three other nations joining Venezuela are: the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua. The best countries are: Switzerland and Norway. As we have been highlighting, supply chain concerns are a hot topic with reports warning that many companies are suffering significant supply chain risks, including lack of control, visibility, and management over external parties accessing their systems.

When it comes to "offshoring," some foreign shores are better than others.

Workers load packages of corn flour at a distribution center of food company 'Empresas Polar' in Maracay, Venezuela.

FM Global, a Rhode Island-based mutual insurance firm, released an annual study Tuesday outlining which countries are best — and worst — at hosting companies' supply chains, which are the links that take a product from natural resource through production and ultimately to the consumer.

The study weighs a number of factors, including a country's per-capita GDP, infrastructure and exposure to natural hazards.

Venezuela is the worst country for supply chains for a second straight year, as the Latin American nation faces "extensive corruption, perceived low quality in local suppliers and poor infrastructure," the study said. Venezuela also contends with skyrocketing inflation and a collapse the price of oil , which is the country's most important commodity.

Three other Latin American countries joined Venezuela among the worst countries for supply chains: The Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua.

