Port integration in China: Temporal pathways, spatial patterns and dynamics

Chengjin Wang,César Ducruet,Wei Wang

doi:10.1007/s11769-015-0752-3

Abstract

Over the past two decades, numerous ports located in China have participated in port integration strategies, thus influencing the entire port system. The current research is initiated in order to examine the nature of port integration in China, including associated temporal pathways, spatial patterns and dynamics. Results indicate that port integration in China has been characterized by a significant increase at the turn of the 21st century, comprising thirteen distinguishable pathways typified by differing dynamics, particularly between the northern and southern ports. Pathways were found to include 44 seaports and river ports, chiefly concentrated in the Bohai Rim, Yangtze (Changjiang) River Delta, Beibu Gulf and the southeastern Fujian, thus representing significant spatial regions. Categorically larger seaports have become the primary beneficiaries of port integration. Integration cases were divided into four categories based upon quantified dynamic magnitude including the government-driven mode, market-driven mode, government/market-driven mode and strategic alliance, and into five further categories based upon spatial extent including port internal integration, jurisdictional port integration, port integration across neighbor region, regional port integration and hub-feeder port integration. Results suggest that several factors have effectively driven port integration in China, including legislative tools and spatial planning, optimization of shoreline resources and port functionality, and port competition with the same hinterland.

Highlights

Port development has been influenced by myriad drivers over the past half century, resulting in significant dynamic modifications within the market environment (Rodrigue, 2003)
Chinese Geographical Science 2015 Vol 25 No 5 ers and investments, the current paper focuses exclusively on the nature of port integration in China, with a specific emphasis on integration character, mode and regularity by drawing the timeline and temporal path, highlighting the specific dynamic mechanisms involved
In concurrence with the deregulation of port control and rapid expansion of terminal infrastructure in China during the late 1990s, many seaports and a small number of river ports began port integration procedures, with an integration peak occurring during the period of 2005–2006

Summary

Introduction

Port development has been influenced by myriad drivers over the past half century, resulting in significant dynamic modifications within the market environment (Rodrigue, 2003) Of these aforementioned drivers, port integration strategies represent one of the primary catalysts of change. WANG Chengjin et al Port Integration in China: Temporal Pathways, Spatial Patterns and Dynamics influenced by increased competitive pressures (Rodrigue, 2003), with the industry seen to undergo a process of horizontal and vertical integration (Notteboom, 2002; Slack and Fremont, 2005). Inter-port networking strategies comprise terminal locations, inland ports, overseas ports and neighboring ports (Notteboom and Winkelmans, 2001); an appropriately operational logistics chain requires high-level port integration (Junior et al, 2003) Both Notteboom and Rodrigue (2008) and Song and Panayides (2008) have focused previous work on the assessment and influence of port integration strategies in the logistics chain. Chinese Geographical Science 2015 Vol 25 No 5 ers and investments, the current paper focuses exclusively on the nature of port integration in China, with a specific emphasis on integration character, mode and regularity by drawing the timeline and temporal path, highlighting the specific dynamic mechanisms involved

Spatio-temporal Pathways of Port Integration in China

Modes of Port Integration in China

Dynamics of Port Integration in China

Findings

Discussion and Conclusions