The world\u2019s most rapidly declining major container port is braced for further huge throughput drops in the coming couple of years.<\/p>\n
Hong Kong, which 20 years ago was the largest container port in the world, is increasingly being shunned by global liners.<\/p>\n
The major alliances, Gemini Cooperation, THE Alliance and Ocean Alliance, have all unveiled their network changes for this year and next with Hong Kong deselected for many routes. For Gemini \u2013 the new alliance between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd \u2013 the southern Chinese city does not feature as a direct port at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis does not bode well for the Port of Hong Kong, but should also be seen as a sign that an element of network consolidation is afoot, especially related to transhipment hubs,\u201d stated a new report from Danish consultancy Sea-Intelligence.<\/p>\n
Analysis of network design and network efficiency shows that fewer, but larger, hubs are economically more efficient, according to Sea-Intelligence.<\/p>\n