Chapter 2 Strategic Challenges to Container Ports in a Changing Market Environment

The global market place, with powerful and relatively footloose players, extensive business networks and complex logistics systems creates a high degree of uncertainty in the port industry and leaves port managers with the question of how to respond effectively to market dynamics. The focus of port competition is gradually changing and so are the roles of the various stakeholders involved. This chapter provides a bird's eye view on the economic and logistics market developments affecting (container) ports. It identifies key market developments in trade and logistics and analyses how the economic and logistics trends affect seaport authorities.