written by
VICTOR SHIEH

IAPH launches first survey-based World Ports Tracker report to improve resilience

IAPH World Ports Tracker Risk and Resilience 3 min read

IAPH sources data from ninety-six ports from eight regions of the world, producing first dashboard and report for members

The first IAPH World Ports Tracker Dashboard

The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has produced the first edition of its quarterly dashboard and detailed report for its members, aiming to track critical aspects on the evolving changes in the global port industry. It is the first report of its kind to report on trends of all cargo types being handled at world ports and has also incorporated global trends in cruise and passenger vessel activities.

With the ongoing global supply chain crunch and the resurgence of the cruise industry impacting many of the world’s ports, the report also delves into hinterland connectivity, warehouse utilization and regional analyses of the data collected from small and large seaports and river ports alike as well as obtaining forecasts from respondents on how they see vessel call, cargo and passenger volumes in the upcoming twelve months.

IAPH managing director Patrick Verhoeven commented: “ports are being impacted by constant geopolitical upheaval, climate change, shifts in trading patterns, and local disruptions at berth and on the land side. It fully justifies our efforts to establish continuity with this World Ports Tracker in order to keep our membership informed on the current situation as seen by ports and how they see the months ahead. We call upon members to respond to join those 96 ports receiving the full report by responding to the next survey in mid-October.”

The co-authors are Professor Theo Notteboom and Professor Thanos Pallis, who also wrote the regular IAPH-WPSP COVID19 Port Economic Barometer report during the main first waves of the global pandemic and who will now produce this quarterly report for IAPH members.

Co-author Theo Notteboom commented : “It is exciting to see so many world ports contributing to this survey-based exercise. The wide geographical distribution of the responses enabled us to present meaningful regional comparisons on key developments in cargo and passenger ports. We hope that the findings will inspire even more ports to embark on the IAPH World Ports Tracker journey”

Thanos Pallis added : “Giving space to every merchant cargo segment, the IAPH World Ports Tracker separately details the dynamics in the container, bulk, tanker and gas, and other carriers’ markets. The full report, that is available to participating ports, reveals some notable regional variations of trends in cargo and passenger ports, enabling them to apply informed practices and advance the best strategies forward.”

The September-October edition of the IAPH members’ magazine Ports & Harbors will feature a summary of this first detailed survey-based report. It will also be combined with a summary of second quarter container port statistics from 2022 based on S&P Global Port Performance Program data which offers aggregated vessel call numbers, vessel size analyses, the evolution of call size (number of TEUs handled per call), and port moves per hour, aggregated per region.

Following the end of the third quarter, the next survey questionnaire will go out in mid- October, with any participating ports receiving the full report incorporating S&P and the global survey data by mid-November. A summary of this full report will appear in the first edition of Ports & Harbors in the New Year.

Contact for the release: Victor Shieh, IAPH Communications Director

Email : victor.shieh@iaphworldports.org

Tel : +32 473 980 855

About IAPH

Founded in 1955, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has developed into a global alliance of 166 port authorities, including many of the world’s largest port operators as well as 130 port-related businesses. Comprised of 87 different nationalities across the world’s continents, member ports handle approximately one third of the world’s sea-borne trade and well over 60% of the world container traffic. With its NGO consultative status recognized by the IMO, ECOSOC, ILO, UNCTAD, UNEP, and WCO, IAPH leads global port industry initiatives on decarbonization and energy transition, risk and resilience management, and accelerating digitalization in the maritime transport chain. Its World Ports Sustainability Program has grown into the reference database of best practices of ports applying the UN Sustainable Development Goals and integrating them into their businesses.

World Ports Tracker #IAPH2023