Research on the Coordinated Development of Regional Logistics and Agricultural Economy in Panzhihua City

[Objective] To address the challenge of synergistic adaptation between the regional logistics and agricultural economies under the topographical constraints of southwestern mountainous cities, and to achieve a synergistic development effect where “1+1>2” for regional logistics and agricultural economies, this study analyzes their coupling relationship. This is important for promoting synergistic development between regional logistics and agricultural economies in Panzhihua City. [Method] An evaluation framework was constructed based on three dimensions: scale, efficiency, and development potential. Using data from 2013 to 2022, the entropy method was applied to determine indicator weights and calculate composite evaluation values. A coupling coordination model was employed to quantify the synergistic development status of both systems. [Results] (1) From 2013 to 2022, both regional logistics and the agricultural economy in Panzhihua City demonstrated a significant upward trend in their comprehensive development levels. The comprehensive value of regional logistics increased from 0.197 to 0.610, representing a 2.1-fold growth over the decade. The comprehensive value of the agricultural economy surged from 0.084 to 0.932, growing 10.1 times over the decade—a growth rate significantly higher than that of regional logistics. In 2018, the agricultural economy's comprehensive value surpassed that of regional logistics for the first time, revealing an emerging imbalance in their development. (2) The level of coupled and coordinated development between the regional logistics and agricultural economy systems achieved a qualitative leap. The coupling degree consistently remained within the high range of 0.916–0.999, indicating a high degree of interconnection between the two systems. The coupling coordination degree increased from 0.359 to 0.868, a 140% growth over ten years. The level of coordinated development evolved from mild imbalance to sound coordination, with overall synergistic effects steadily strengthening. (3) Core constraints to coordinated development include dynamic imbalances in supply-demand structures, insufficient resilience in logistics responses under exceptional conditions, and inadequate industrial integration depth. Particularly prominent is the mismatch between high-end logistics service supply and the demands of high-quality agricultural economic development. [Conclusion] While the overall synergistic effects between regional logistics and the agricultural economy in Panzhihua City have steadily strengthened, significant room for improvement remains. Future efforts should prioritize sustaining coordinated development of regional industries in Panzhihua.