TRANSFORMATION OF THE GLOBAL CONTAINER TERMINAL OPERATORS MARKET IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONALIZATION, REGIONALIZATION AND DIGITAL ADAPTATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35546/kntu2078-4481.2025.2.1.12Keywords:
maritime transport, transport infrastructure, seaport, port services market, terminal operators, container shipping, container terminals, competitiveness, internationalization, regionalization, automation, adaptation strategies.Abstract
Between 2019 and 2024, the global container industry experienced significant disruption due to extreme events – the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and natural disasters – which fundamentally altered the dynamics of container shipping and triggered a structural transformation of the global terminal operator market.These challenges underscored the need to revise internationalization strategies, models of regulatory adaptation, and approaches to the digital transformation of Global Terminal Operators (GTOs). Purpose. The purpose of this article is to analyze the impact of global extreme events (COVID-19, geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions) on the dynamics of container shipping during 2019–24, and to assess the role of internationalization, consolidation, regionalization, and digital adaptation in transforming the structure of the global market of port terminal operators (Global Terminal Operators – GTOs), taking into account current strategies of mergers, acquisitions, concessions, and the formation of strategic alliances. Results. A structural analysis was conducted to examine the effects of extreme events on global container flows and port infrastructure. Key GTO adaptation strategies were identified, including localization, the development of public-private partnerships, digitalization, and responses to institutional barriers. Two alternative methodological approaches to evaluating GTO technological maturity are proposed: a basic approach (based on arithmetic mean scoring), and an advanced methodology involving the application of weighted coefficients for four digital maturity criteria – TOS (Terminal Operating Systems), equipment automation, customer and partner integration (CPI), and digital technologies & analytics (DTA). Rankings of GTOs were developed according to each approach.It was found that PSA International and APM Terminals demonstrate the highest levels of technological maturity, whereas COSCO Shipping Ports and China Merchants Ports show technological parity but exhibit lower levels of innovation agility. Conclusions. Applying a weighted methodological approach to assess technological maturity enables a more accurate evaluation of the strategic effectiveness of GTOs, offering a practical analytical tool for benchmarking and digital positioning. The proposed methodology can serve as a foundation for developing port terminal digital transformation policies, assessing investment attractiveness, and formulating strategies for adaptation to geo-economic challenges.
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