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Port Connectivity; Piraeus in the global sea transport network
By George Vaggelas and Thanos Pallis Τhe recent released data regarding the container throughput at the biggest Greek port, showed a decrease in the container volumes by almost 2,7% mainly due to the global economic environment. In many countries the trade has been severely impacted by the economic conditions which are characterized by increased inflation, reduction in consumption and disturbance in the supply-demand relationship. Despite the economic environment and the reduction in the container throughput, the port of Piraeus...
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Deep uncertainty and decision-making in ports and shipping
Comment by Peter de Langen. A UNCTAD, in its yearly flagship publication, the review of Maritime Transport, has flagged the considerable uncertainty facing shipping and ports. UNCTAD has developed four scenarios, based on key uncertainties in the geopolitical context and the COVID recovery. Broadly, based on these four scenarios, we could see a sustained recovery of international trade, an interrupted recovery (either due an intensifying war or due to continued effects of COVID-19 due to high infection levels and new variants) or a...
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The 2M breakup; (how) will it affect ports?
Comment by PortEconomics member Peter de Langen: The 2M breakup in 2025, announced recently, came a bit as a surprise, though especially Maersk portrays it as a logical consequence of their integrator strategy. This integrator strategy implies a focus on providing a larger bundle of services than just shipping. As a consequence, Maersk needs to control its operations to be able to offer reliability and being able to adjust to disruptions that may emerge. Maersk has been able to grow their integrator volumes substantially the last few...
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The future of alliances: impediments for liners involved
"MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and A.P. Moller - Maersk announced they have mutually agreed to discontinue the 2M alliance, set to end in January 2025. This implies that the 10-year agreement which was signed in 2015 will not be extended. In a presentation on the future of #alliances in container shipping delivered on May 10, 2022, during the FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations "Market Structure and Maritime Competition" Webinar Series, PortEconomics co-director Theo Notteboom already...
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The Analyst: Maersk Line’s clean fuel efforts; gaining competitive advantage through moving early?
By Peter de Langen Maersk is clearly an early mover when it comes to transitioning to clean fuels. It has decided to opt mainly for green methanol and has now 19 ships with dual fuel engines capable of sailing on methanol on order. In addition, Maersk is focusing on securing the supply of green methanol, and currently has 7 partnerships with clean methanol providers in various continents. However, even with these seven, Maersk is still short on methanol fuel supply; the agreements will generate over 1 million ton of methanol, but Maersk...
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GREPORT2022- report on Greek ports
GREPORT 2022, the fourth edition of the biannual report on Greek ports, is now available to download freely (in Greek). The report contains sections on: The latest developments in Greek port policyCargo throughput trendsConnectivity of Greek container ports in the global shipping networks.Passenger movementsFinancial standing of Greek portsDevelopments per major port and terminal operator. Short, medium and long-term comparisons are accompanied by analyses and indexes per port market. The report has been produced by PortEconomics...
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PortGraphic: Fleet capacity of top two liners
The container shipping fleet has seen strong growth over the past few decades to accommodate rising world trade volumes. Carriers have expanded their fleet through organic growth (such as MSC), or through a combination of organic growth and M&A activity (such as Maersk). At present, the top 20 container carriers operate a fleet capacity (owned and chartered) of about 24 million TEU. The PortGraphic, prepared by PortEconomics co-director Theo Notteboom points to some striking facts about the spectacular growth in the...
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London Gateway: the steady private development of a ‘port business ecosystem’
"DP World, the developer of London Gateway, made two recent announcements, signalling the steady development of the London Gateway port business ecosystem" - comments Peter de Langen in his "Analyst" column in Port Strategy "First, it will invest around £350 million in a fourth berth project, which will increase London Gateway’s capacity by a third. This will enable London Gateway to continue increasing volumes and continue increasing its share of the UK market. Second, DP World announced that work has begun on a new speculative...
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