Port Business

Chapter 2

Driver of Port Business

Before going into the details of port business, it is helpful to describe the framework of factors that are influencing global trade, shipping, and maritime business. Ultimately, we are trying to answer, “What is driving the port business?” This question differs from statements often heard at maritime conferences or workshops, along the lines of, “Ports are driving economic development.” This argument stresses the fact that ports are not only facilitators of trade, but also important economic institutions in and of themselves. They directly employ hundreds or in bigger ports thousands of people, they are important taxpayers for the municipalities, and via multiplier effects they are important for local economies. ...