1. SECTION-B
“FORECAST ACCURACY CAN BE IMPROVED”. HOW?
PDF DOWNLOADED- SAVED AS “FORECAST ACCURACY CAN BE IMPROVED”.
WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE DEMAND FOR A PRODUCT?
The business environment is always volatile because it is affected by the supply and demand of
the marketplace. There are many factors that can contribute to the demand in the market and
this demand will likewise also affect the supply. It is important to look into each of these factors
to be able to cope up with changes. One of the most important determinants of demand is the
income of the customer. When the income of the customer falls then his ability to purchase
goods and service is affected.
Another factor that influences the demand for a product is the prices of related goods. For
example, if the price of an apple falls for one particular season then you can expect the
customers to buy more apples during that time frame even if they are used to buying banana. In
this regard, the banana industry suffers because the customers buy the apples because of the
low price.
Still another determinant of demand is the shifting taste of the market. Sometimes, there are
trends in the market the drives the demand of some products up while sometimes it would
adversely affect the demand in the market. The taste of individuals themselves can reflect on
the overall demand of the market. If some customers prefer chocolate more than coffee then
you can expect the demand of chocolate to be a lot more significant compared to coffee.
Your expectations in the future are also likely to affect the demand for a particular good or
service right now. For example, if you are expecting to earn a lot of money in the near future
then you will most likely be more inclined to spend today. On the other hand, if you expect to
encounter several financial difficulties in the near future then your demand for products and
services then you are likely to save your money right now.
Even the number of buyers in the market has will have an overall effect on the demand because
they will drive up the production of these goods. The prices of these goods will also be
dependent on the demand which is created by the number of buyers.
As you can see, there are many determinants of demand and as a business owner; you should
know each of these determinants individually and thoroughly. This is because you are in an
industry that is highly dependent on the demands of the market. Every business in the world

2. needs to follow the trends and where the demand in the market is going in order to survive. The
enumerated determinants of demands are just some of the things that will affect the demand;
there are still other factors that may affect the demand more than you though possible.
WHAT IS A DRY PORT? WHAT ARE ITS ADVANTAGE TO THE TRADE?
A dry port (sometimes inland port) is an inland intermodal terminal directly connected
by road or rail to a seaport and operating as a centre for the transshipment of sea cargo to inland
destinations
“A dry port is an inland intermodal terminal directly connected to a seaport by rail, where
customers can leave and/or collect their standardized units as if directly to the seaport”
A dry port provides services for the handling and temporary
storage of containers, general and/or bulk cargoes that enters or
leaves the dry port by any mode of transport such as road,
railways, inland waterways or airports.
The dry port concept is based on a seaport directly connected with inland intermodal terminals
Where goods in intermodal loading units can be turned in as if directly to the seaport. Between
the seaport and the inland terminals, here denoted dry ports, relatively large goods’ flows are
being concentrated, giving room for other traffic modes than road.
ADVANTAGES TO THE TRADE
Increases seaport capacity
Increases seaport productivity
Reduces congestion at seaports and in the seaport cities
Reduces risk for road accidents
Lowers environmental impact
May serve as a depot
Improves seaport’s access to areas outside its traditional hinterland
Supports regional development
THREE TYPES OF DRY PORT
A distant dry port is perceived as the most common type with the longest history. Its
advantages are that there are cost savings by making use of rail, rather than road, over
longer distances, and that the seaport’s hinterland is extended.

3. A mid-range dry port is likely to make use of road transport from the seaport and act as
a consolidation point for rail services, although high capacity flows may make dedicated
container rail services viable.
A close dry port is situated in the immediate vicinity of a seaport and provides a buffer
to the seaport by enabling greater terminal capacity and permitting larger container
ships to call at the seaport, possibly through the operation of a rail shuttle service.
“PDF DOWNLOADED- INLAND PORT”
WHAT IS THE ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS IN A PORT?