The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on connectivity, operational efficiency, and resilience of major container ports in Southeast Asia

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has had significant impacts on the connectivity and performance of container ports in Southeast Asia. The application of social network analysis (SNA) in conjunction with key indicators, such as container throughput, total capacity of ships, number of ship calls, and berth duration, provides a comprehensive understanding of the development of the regional port system. While major ports in the region, namely Singapore, Port Kelang, Manila, and Laem Chabang, have exhibited signs of recovery owing to the expeditious and timely implementation of targeted policies to mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic, smaller ports in the region, such as Bangkok, Penang, Tanjung Priok, and Tanjung Perak, are grappling with enduring repercussions and encountering challenges in resilience. These challenges stem from inadequate infrastructure, limited accommodation capacity, low loading/unloading productivity, and other significant risk events associated with the pandemic, all of which have weakened their competitiveness. In contrast, ports in Vietnam, including Cai Mep, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh, as well as Malaysia's Tanjung Pelepas, have demonstrated that they are less impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This can be attributed to the sustained growth of their respective economies and the continued surge in domestic production to meet the unabated demand for exports. Based on these findings, several policy recommendations can be suggested for port authorities to effectively manage and mitigate the impact of risky events, such as pandemics, in the future while also enhancing the competitiveness of ports.