IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/marecl/v26y2024i2d10.1057_s41278-023-00273-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An evolution of the Global Container Shipping Network: port connectivity and trading community structure (2011–2017)

Author

Listed:
  • Pisit Jarumaneeroj

    (Chulalongkorn University
    Chulalongkorn University)

  • Jorge Barnett Lawton

    (Georgia Tech Panama Logistics Innovation & Research Center)

  • Morten Svindland

    (Molde University College)

Abstract

Port connectivity and trading community structure are two fundamental network characteristics that complement one another in explaining the evolution of maritime transport networks. Although port connectivity has been widely studied in the literature, the investigations on trading community structures are rather limited. To better fill this gap, this paper aims to provide a more complete picture of the Global Container Shipping Network (GCSN)’s evolution, based on our earlier works in MEL. In doing so, the GCSN, representing a snapshot of trade at the end of each quarter, from Q3/2011 to Q3/2017, is first constructed. The connectivity of ports and their respective trading communities are then extracted by the Container Port Connectivity Index and the Louvain algorithm, respectively. With our proposed framework, related players would be able to understand the growth of GCSN, as well as the impacts of maritime occurrences on the network of container shipping. Our computational results indicate that port connectivity and trading community structure gradually evolve according to the economic conditions that change over time and the evolution of GCSN could be well explained by these two explanatory variables. In this regard, ports in East Asia consistently dominate others in terms of both inbound and outbound connectivity, led by Shanghai and other major ports of mainland China. Furthermore, the formation of trading communities largely depends on trading patterns—rather than geographical locations—which is evident from the insolvency and mergers of communities in the North American region right after the expansion of the Panama Canal in 2016.

Suggested Citation

  • Pisit Jarumaneeroj & Jorge Barnett Lawton & Morten Svindland, 2024. "An evolution of the Global Container Shipping Network: port connectivity and trading community structure (2011–2017)," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 26(2), pages 283-306, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:marecl:v:26:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1057_s41278-023-00273-x
    DOI: 10.1057/s41278-023-00273-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41278-023-00273-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41278-023-00273-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. César Ducruet & Sung-Woo Lee & Adolf K.Y. Ng, 2010. "Centrality and vulnerability in liner shipping networks: revisiting the Northeast Asian port hierarchy," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 17-36, January.
    2. Martínez-Moya, Julián & Feo-Valero, María, 2020. "Measuring foreland container port connectivity disaggregated by destination markets: An index for Short Sea Shipping services in Spanish ports," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    3. Ducruet, César, 2020. "The geography of maritime networks: A critical review," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. Xu, Mengqiao & Li, Zhenfu & Shi, Yanlei & Zhang, Xiaoling & Jiang, Shufei, 2015. "Evolution of regional inequality in the global shipping network," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 1-12.
    5. Pisit Jarumaneeroj & Amar Ramudhin & Jorge Barnett Lawton, 2023. "A connectivity-based approach to evaluating port importance in the global container shipping network," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 25(3), pages 602-622, September.
    6. César Ducruet, 2020. "The geography of maritime networks : a critical review," Post-Print hal-03246890, HAL.
    7. Shan Li & Hercules Haralambides & Qingcheng Zeng, 2022. "Economic forces shaping the evolution of integrated port systems - The case of the container port system of China's Pearl River Delta," Post-Print hal-04046240, HAL.
    8. A. Kölzsch & B. Blasius, 2011. "Indications of marine bioinvasion from network theory," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 84(4), pages 601-612, December.
    9. Cats, Oded, 2017. "Topological evolution of a metropolitan rail transport network: The case of Stockholm," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 172-183.
    10. Zuzanna Kosowska-Stamirowska, 2020. "Network effects govern the evolution of maritime trade," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117(23), pages 12719-12728, June.
    11. John J Bartholdi & Pisit Jarumaneeroj & Amar Ramudhin, 2016. "A new connectivity index for container ports," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 18(3), pages 231-249, September.
    12. Loon Tang & Joyce Low & Shao Lam, 2011. "Understanding Port Choice Behavior—A Network Perspective," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 65-82, March.
    13. Su-Han Woo & Sun-Nam Kim & Dong-Wook Kwak & Stephen Pettit & Anthony Beresford, 2018. "Multimodal route choice in maritime transportation: the case of Korean auto-parts exporters," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(1), pages 19-33, January.
    14. Song, Dong-Wook & Seo, Young-Joon & Kwak, Dong-Wook, 2019. "Learning from Hanjin Shipping’s failure: A holistic interpretation on its causes and reasons," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 77-87.
    15. Shan Li & Hercules Haralambides & Qingcheng Zeng, 2022. "Economic forces shaping the evolution of integrated port systems - The case of the container port system of China's Pearl River Delta," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-04046240, HAL.
    16. Chi-Wei Su & Kai-Hua Wang & Qi Shao & Ran Tao, 2019. "Are there bubbles in the shipping freight market?," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(7), pages 818-830, October.
    17. Amir Gharehgozli & Joan P. Mileski & Okan Duru, 2017. "Heuristic estimation of container stacking and reshuffling operations under the containership delay factor and mega-ship challenge," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(3), pages 373-391, April.
    18. Calatayud, Agustina & Mangan, John & Palacin, Roberto, 2017. "Connectivity to international markets: A multi-layered network approach," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 61-71.
    19. 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.
    20. Di Wu & Nuo Wang & Anqi Yu & Nuan Wu, 2019. "Vulnerability analysis of global container shipping liner network based on main channel disruption," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(4), pages 394-409, May.
    21. Changkeun Park & Harry W. Richardson & Jiyoung Park, 2020. "Widening the Panama Canal and U.S. ports: historical and economic impact analyses," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(3), pages 419-433, April.
    22. Zihua Liu & Dong Yang & Y. N. Eppie Ng, 2020. "A competitive analysis of port of Hong Kong: from external to internal," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-17, December.
    23. César Ducruet, 2020. "The geography of maritime networks: A critical review," Post-Print halshs-02922543, HAL.
    24. Marco Fugazza & Jan Hoffmann, 2017. "Liner shipping connectivity as determinant of trade," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 1-18, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pisit Jarumaneeroj & Amar Ramudhin & Jorge Barnett Lawton, 2023. "A connectivity-based approach to evaluating port importance in the global container shipping network," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 25(3), pages 602-622, September.
    2. 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.
    3. Tocchi, Daniela & Sys, Christa & Papola, Andrea & Tinessa, Fiore & Simonelli, Fulvio & Marzano, Vittorio, 2022. "Hypergraph-based centrality metrics for maritime container service networks: A worldwide application," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    4. 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.
    5. Julián Martinez-Moya & Amparo Mestre-Alcover & Ramon Sala-Garrido, 2024. "Connectivity and competitiveness of the major Mediterranean container ports using ‘Benefit-of-the-Doubt’ and ‘Common Sets of Weights’ methods in Data Envelopment Analysis," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 26(2), pages 261-282, June.
    6. Ducruet, César, 2020. "The geography of maritime networks: A critical review," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    7. César Ducruet, 2020. "The geography of maritime networks: A critical review," Post-Print halshs-02922543, HAL.
    8. Ge, Jiawei & fu, Qiang & Zhang, Qiang & Wan, Zheng, 2022. "Regional operating patterns of world container shipping network: A perspective from motif identification," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 607(C).
    9. Tovar, Beatriz & Wall, Alan, 2022. "The relationship between port-level maritime connectivity and efficiency," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    10. Dirzka, Christopher & Acciaro, Michele, 2022. "Global shipping network dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic's initial phases," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    11. Wu, Jiaxin & Lu, Jing & Zhang, Lingye & Fan, Hanwen, 2024. "Spatial heterogeneity among different-sized port communities in directed-weighted global liner shipping network," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    12. Yap, Wei Yim & Hsieh, Cheng-Hsien & Lee, Paul Tae-Woo, 2023. "Shipping connectivity data analytics: Implications for maritime policy," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 112-127.
    13. Guo, Jianke & Wang, Ziqi & Yu, Xuhui, 2022. "Accessibility measurement of China's coastal ports from a land-sea coordination perspective - An empirical study," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    14. Martínez-Moya, Julián & Feo-Valero, María, 2020. "Measuring foreland container port connectivity disaggregated by destination markets: An index for Short Sea Shipping services in Spanish ports," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    15. Marc-Antoine Faure & Bárbara Polo Martin & Fabio Cremaschini & César Ducruet, 2024. "Shipping Trade and Geopolitical Turmoils: The Case of the Ukrainian Maritime Network," EconomiX Working Papers 2024-24, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    16. Chuanxu Wang & Xiaohan Dou & Hercules Haralambides, 2022. "Port centrality and the Composite Connectivity Index: Introducing a new concept in assessing the attractiveness of hub ports," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 24(1), pages 67-91, March.
    17. César Ducruet & In Joo Yoon, 2022. "Maritime trade and economic development in North Korea," EconomiX Working Papers 2022-12, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    18. Oliveira, Gabriel Figueiredo de & Schaffar, Alexandra & Cariou, Pierre & Monios, Jason, 2021. "Convergence and growth traps in container ports," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 170-180.
    19. Sugimura, Yoshihisa & Akakura, Yasuhiro & Yotsushima, Tatsuki & Kawasaki, Tomoya, 2023. "Evaluation of Japanese port policies through network analysis," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 59-70.
    20. repec:hal:journl:hal-04689246 is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Guerrero, David & Letrouit, Lucie & Pais-Montes, Carlos, 2022. "The container transport system during Covid-19: An analysis through the prism of complex networks," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 113-125.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:marecl:v:26:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1057_s41278-023-00273-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.