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Levels of internationalization in the container shipping industry: an assessment of the port networks of the large container shipping companies

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  • Gadhia, Hitesh K.
  • Kotzab, Herbert
  • Prockl, Günter

Abstract

This paper examines the internationalization level of the world’s largest container shipping companies by examining their port networks. The results of our analysis show that only three of the nineteen companies could be considered as being truly ‘International’ and service the ‘lion’s share’ of the major and minor ports distributed across the globe. The port networks of the other companies in our survey, whilst having individualized features, shared common characteristics. Guided by the ‘Uppsala Model of Incremental Internationalization’ (Johanson and Vahlne, 1977), we were able to identify four internationalization levels of a container shipping company that are indicated by their port network.

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  • Gadhia, Hitesh K. & Kotzab, Herbert & Prockl, Günter, 2011. "Levels of internationalization in the container shipping industry: an assessment of the port networks of the large container shipping companies," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(6), pages 1431-1442.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:19:y:2011:i:6:p:1431-1442
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2011.07.016
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    Cited by:

    1. Koi Yu Adolf Ng & César Ducruet, 2014. "The changing tides of port geography (1950–2012)," Post-Print halshs-01359160, HAL.
    2. E. Gutiérrez & S. Lozano & B. Adenso-Díaz & P. González-Torre, 2015. "Efficiency assessment of container operations of shipping agents in Spanish ports," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(6), pages 591-607, August.
    3. Hjortnaes, T. & Wiegmans, B. & Negenborn, R.R. & Zuidwijk, R.A. & Klijnhout, R., 2017. "Minimizing cost of empty container repositioning in port hinterlands, while taking repair operations into account," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 209-219.
    4. Achilleas Tsantis & John Mangan & Agustina Calatayud & Roberto Palacin, 2023. "Container shipping: a systematic literature review of themes and factors that influence the establishment of direct connections between countries," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 25(4), pages 667-697, December.
    5. Peng, Wenhao & Bai, Xiwen, 2022. "Prospects for improving shipping companies’ profit margins by quantifying operational strategies and market focus approach through AIS data," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 138-152.
    6. César Ducruet, 2020. "The geography of maritime networks: A critical review," Post-Print halshs-02922543, HAL.
    7. Nicanor García Álvarez & Belarmino Adenso-Díaz & Laura Calzada-Infante, 2021. "Maritime Traffic as a Complex Network: a Systematic Review," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 387-417, June.
    8. Ducruet, César, 2020. "The geography of maritime networks: A critical review," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).

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