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The Analyst: measuring throughput & the need for global standards
Can we compare throughput figures published by ports? What is the practice today and do we need global standards? In his viewpoint - published in his Port Strategy column ast 'the Analyst', PortEconomics co-director Peter de Langen recaps: 'According to the Port of Antwerp, throughput figures of different ports cannot be compared as ports do not use uniform definitions: some ports (most importantly Singapore) apparently use freight tons (metric tons or volume tons, whichever is higher). According to Antwerp's estimates, Singapore...
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The future of terminal concessions: the portuguese case
PortEconomics co-director Theo Notteboom gave a presentation during a high-level seminar on the 'Future perspectives for port concessions' organized by ENIDH (Escola Nautica Infante D. Henrique) in late May in Lisbon, Portugal. Theo elaborated on the increasing role of performance targets in terminal concessions, in particular through the inclusion of volume guarantees, modal split targets and environmental objectives in concession contracts. Theo's presentation was followed by a lively debate between Mr. Pedro Galvão (President of CPC),...
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LNG bunkering facilities in north-european ports
As the schedule for the application of the strict sulphur limits - enacted by IMO from 2015 - in the emission control areas (ECA) is fast approaching, ports not only find it their responsibility to quickly adapt to the upcoming emission regulations, but they also intend to rapidly respond to port users' environmental needs for obtaining competitive advantage. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is one of the attractive fuels for ships that can help ports to achieve these goals. PortEconomics co-director Theo Notteboom along with Siyang Wang,...
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Dry bulk cargo in ukrainian ports
The Black Sea region accounts for only 2.5 percent of global seaborne trade. While its significance is quite limited on a global scale (eg. seaborne trade in the North Sea region accounts for 17 percent of the world total), the Black Sea is an important area of development due to its geographical size and resource base. Ukraine and Russia are two major powers in the Black Sea port sector. In an article, published in Port Technolgy International , PortEconomics co-director Theo Notteboom, joined by Kateryna Grushevska (Phd at...
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Understanding the economic geography of commodity trade
It is often argued that the competitiveness of ports depends on their ability to insert themselves in global supply chains. However, the influential role of commodity traders in managing these global supply chains is not well understood by port planners. The case for commodity trade is compelling. It is linked with the financial sector on the one hand and with production, storage and distribution on the other. And these activities do not necessarily need to be in each other's proximity. Another compelling reason to look at commodity trade is...
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The port system in northern China
Only 20 years ago the Chinese port system was still in its infancy stage. Hong Kong acted as the only container gateway to China. Since the second half of the 1990s, throughput at Chinese mainland ports started to accelerate. In recent years, shipping lines have been dedicating higher capacities and deploying larger vessels to cope with the increasing Chinese imports and exports. Chinese port activity is mainly concentrated in three regions: the Pearl River Delta (PRD), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and the Bohai Sea Economic Rim (BER). The...
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Port industry performance management
PortEconomics member Michael Dooms presents an overview of port industry performance management in a article published in Port Technolgy International , Port performance management has been a heated topic both in the industry and academia for the past 20 years, albeit on different levels and in a rather scattered way across performance levels – from the individual terminal operational efficiency, to country level data on maritime connectivity, as well as performance areas (operations, socio-economic,environmental,...
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The waves of containerisation: shifts in global maritime transportation
PortEconomics member Jean-Paul Rodrigue provides evidence of the cyclic behavior of containerization through an analysis of long, medium and short waves of container ports. His guest lecture at the USC Price Sol Prize School of Public Policy has been recorded and provides valuable information about the box. The container, like any technical innovation, has a functional (within transport chains) and geographical diffusion potential where a phase of maturity is eventually reached. Evidence from the global container port system suggests five...
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