Dry Port Development in China: Current Status and Future Strategic Directions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Li, Y.; Dong, Q., and Sun, S., 2015. Dry port development in China: current status and future strategic directions. Dry ports have become integral to the trade facilitation in China in the last decade. They are playing important roles in facilitating transportation for international trade and further stimulating economic development in China's central and western inland areas. However, without a clear strategic direction, the institutional and regulatory framework for dry port development is shown to be at an immature and disordered state. This paper summarizes the current status of dry port development in China. Based on this, the study proposes a new dry port development strategic layout. We conclude that the dry port development strategy in China should be shifted from the pursuit of scale to efficiency. We also point out that, in order to avoid repetitive or blind construction, the dry ports' construction plan should be integrated into the layout of the port construction planning and comprehe...