Functional Differentiation and Sustainability: A New Stage of Development in the Chinese Container Port System

Liehui Wang, Theo Notteboom, Yui-yip Lau and Adolf K. Y. Ng
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Liehui Wang: Center for Modern Chinese City Studies, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
Theo Notteboom: China Institute of FTZ Supply Chain, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
Yui-yip Lau: Division of Business, Hong Kong Community College, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Adolf K. Y. Ng: Transport Institute, Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V4, Canada

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Adjacent ports played a significant role in the evolution of the port system. In our study, we selected five pairs (i.e., Dalian–Yingkou, Qingdao–Yantai, Shanghai–Ningbo, Xiamen–Quanzhou, and Shenzhen–Guangzhou) of the most important adjacent ports in China to reveal the recent trend of China unique port system development; how and why will port system development be de-concentrated; and integrate the conceptual modal into in-depth analysis. The major findings are as follows: (1) There is functional differentiation in adjacent ports. To some big ports’ sustainability, they focus on foreign trade while other small ports, in order to achieve sustainable development, they focus on domestic trade; (2) First-mover advantage and dislocation competition is a mechanism of China ports functional differentiation; (3) Shanghai and Ningbo are unique in that both ports are similarly focused on foreign trade because they both have deep-water harbors, excellent geographical location, export-oriented hinterland economy, and close foreign investment relationships.

Keywords: port system; adjacent port; functional differentiation; sustainability; mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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