Port choice in Brazil: a qualitative research related to in-depth interviews

Felipe Lobo Umbelino De Souza,Cira Souza Pitombo,Dong Yang

doi:10.1186/s41072-021-00094-2

Felipe Lobo Umbelino De Souza, Cira Souza Pitombo + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-021-00094-2

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Abstract

The choice of port is one of the topics that most interest researchers. Port selection behaviour may vary depending on port user perspectives. Prior studies have attempted to determine user preferences for certain port choice factors, but there are only few studies in developing countries, such as Brazil, where there is a lack of studies on this topic. The objectives of this article are to analyse the port selection factors in Brazil for different port users, to discuss the implications for competitiveness among ports and to assist port service providers to formulate strategies. Identifying factors will help port service providers to develop strategies in the Brazilian market. The paper explores the case of the Southeast region port market in Brazil, based on data from the port sector and in-depth interviews with a representative selection of port users and specialists in the port sector. The results suggest that Brazilian Port Administrations need to adopt strategies aimed at increasing connections with the interior of Brazil, but they also need to adopt a highly market-based approach, communicating and synchronizing strategies with different public and private stakeholders.

Highlights

Many container ports have been developed around the world
The study identified factors related to taxation and cargo theft that are characteristics presented in the Brazilian market and not highlighted by the international literature
Part of the identified factors is outside the port administration, which makes the position of the port more complex, and requires greater communication between public and private stakeholders and the port sector to identify strategies to increase competitiveness

Summary

Introduction

Many container ports have been developed around the world. Port competitiveness has been a fundamental issue in the container transport industry (Cho 2014). There are four main topics related to port competition analysis: (1) Port productivity and efficiency; (2) Port performance; (3) Port choice; and (4) Port competitiveness (Lagoudis et al 2017). The port choice analysis is one of the topics that has attracted the most interest from researchers (Mennis et al 2008). Selecting a port is a difficult task. Port Authorities (PAs) are under constant fear of losing their customers due to changing requirements and priorities (Mittal and McClung 2016). In order to maintain a competitive advantage, PAs must understand the factors that affect the port users’ choices (Tiwari et al 2003)

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