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PortEconomics
  • October 5th, 2025
PortEconomics
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    Geopolitical risks and port-related carbon emissions: evidence and policy implications

    Geopolitical risks and port-related carbon emissions: evidence and policy implications

    Investments and financing challenges of the EU’s port managing bodies; findings from a comprehensive survey

    Investments and financing challenges of the EU’s port managing bodies; findings from a comprehensive survey

    Evaluating customer satisfaction with clearing and forwarding agents:  Kuwait Shuwaikh Port

    Evaluating customer satisfaction with clearing and forwarding agents: Kuwait Shuwaikh Port

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    Digital technologies for efficient and resilient sea-land logistics

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    Stakeholders’ attitudes toward container terminal automation

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    Port reform: World Bank publishes the third edition of its port reform toolkit

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    When will we admit that maritime transport will not be decarbonised by 2050?

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    Digital technologies for efficient and resilient sea-land logistics

    The World Ports Tracker in TOC Europe

    The World Ports Tracker in TOC Europe

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    Newly-upgraded IAPH World Ports Tracker identifies major sustainability and market trends

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    Portgraphic: Top-15 EU container ports in H1 2025

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    PhD posts in the area of ports and energy transition

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    PortEconomics members among best-performing scholars globally

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    Accessibility or connectivity: why is it correct to say that in the Caribbean the main logistics problem is connectivity?

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    Cruise Port-City Compass

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    Portgraphic: Top-15 EU container ports in H1 2025

    Portgraphic: Top-15 EU container ports in H1 2025

    Portgraphic: fleet capacity (owned/chartered) of container shipping lines

    Portgraphic: fleet capacity (owned/chartered) of container shipping lines

    In a tight spot: American ports in global supply chains

    In a tight spot: American ports in global supply chains

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    Cruise industry in 2025 at a glance

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    The box that makes the world go around: container terminals and global trade

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Investments and financing challenges of the EU’s port managing bodies; findings from a comprehensive surveyEuropean Port Policy

Investments and financing challenges of the EU’s port managing bodies; findings from a comprehensive survey

September 12th, 2025 European Port Policy, Featured, PortStudies

READ ALSO

Port reform: World Bank publishes the third edition of its port reform toolkit
Port reform: World Bank publishes the third edition of its port reform toolkit
Investments and financing challenges of the EU’s port managing bodies; findings from a comprehensive survey
Investments and financing challenges of the EU’s port managing bodies; findings from a comprehensive survey
PortEconomics members among best-performing scholars globally
PortEconomics members among best-performing scholars globally
Geopolitical risks and port-related carbon emissions: evidence and policy implications
Geopolitical risks and port-related carbon emissions: evidence and policy implications

The ‘port managing body (PMB)’ plays a central role in the development of the port. Public funding for investment projects of the port managing bodies is common in the EU as well as most other countries.

PortEconomics co-director Peter de Langen’s latest portstudy adds to the body of knowledge on port investments and financing challenges with an analysis of data from two surveys that were carried out in 2018 and 2023. His analysis yields the following conclusions.

First, the PMBs in the EU have shifted their investments in response to changing investment drivers. The increasing relevance of the transition to a net-zero economy leads to a shift towards investments in projects that reduce environmental effects and/or allow private investments in new green activities such as the production of zero-emission fuels.

Second, financial bottlenecks are the most important bottlenecks for the execution of the projects of PMBs.

Third, the PMBs have high aspirations with regard to public funding, both on the EU and national level.

Fourth, there is a difference between the two types of PMBs: state-owned commercial port development companies and public sector embedded port authorities. The latter execute fewer projects without public funding and are more oriented towards national public funding than EU funding.

Finally, the societal value creation from PMB investments is used to justify public funding aspirations. The PMBs indicate that the majority of their investments create societal value, often by enabling emission reductions and by reducing local negative externalities.

Peter’s portstudy published in the European Transport Studies journal and can be downloaded here.

 

 

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