Port Integration in the Yangtze River Delta Area: Practice and Policy Analysis

Abstract

Port integration in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) is studied in the paper from the practice and policy analysis in the case when port supply surpasses shipping demand. Firstly, combined with literature analysis method and comparative approach, the port integration practice in YRD is investigated from a holistic view of YRD, especially the provincial port integration in YRD -- larger-scale port integration is discussed, detailed analysis and comparison of each mode of port integration in YRD are made from the aspects of dominant power, territorial scope, realization path, and focus of integration, the result shows that the integration degree of Shanghai port is the highest but hard to be duplicated. Then, the current existing problems in the process of the port integration are collated and examined with qualitative methods, such as fragmented governance and lack of a strong regulatory structure, lack of long-term cooperation mechanism, insufficient implementation strength on port division of labor and positioning, weak soft power of the port cluster, abnormal development of collection and distribution system, low international cargo transshipment ratio restricts the development of Shanghai International Shipping Center (SISC), etc. Aiming to the problems, reasonable and feasible suggestions are proposed from the policy level for the reference of decision-makers, for instance, breaking the administrative barriers by establishing joint port authority, improving the mechanism for port cooperation, strengthening the rigor of planning, accelerating the SISC construction by adjusting cargo structure and enhancing soft power, improving the collection and distribution logistics network, improving FTZs and aligning national strategies to raise the international cargo transshipment ratio, etc.