Gupea 2077 44886 3
Gupea 2077 44886 3
Gupea 2077 44886 3
Master Thesis, 30 hp
________________________________________________________________________
Key words
Scandinavia, warehousing, supply chain, maritime, port, port performance, port-centric, e-
commerce, e-buyers.
Pag. I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This master thesis has been advanced during the spring term of 2016 with the continuous
support of my tutors Kevin Cullinane and Claes Sundmark.
Thank you Kevin for the time you spent assisting me in this research. Many thanks for your
dedication, inspiration and all the good advices that you gave me during this process.
I also thank Claes who gave me the opportunity to learn more about ports characteristics,
voyages, berths, shipping companies voyage preferences and costs; certainly our
conversations inspired me to write this extensive research.
A profound thank is for Hannah G. for proofreading during the nights this extensive
research in a field totally unknown.
And finally, a particular thank is dedicated to Marcus Lange, from Gothenburg University,
for the last two years of patience dealing with me.
Pag. II
To My mother Emilia,
my brother Fabrizio,
Pag. III
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract I
Acknowledgement II
List of Images VIII
List of Figures IX
List of Tables XI
Abbreviations XIV
Definitions XV
1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Problem Discussion 3
1.3 Purpose of the Study 4
1.3.1 Study Steps 7
1.4 Comparison of the Port’s Competitors 8
1.5 Scope and Limitation - Problems Related to the Research 9
1.6 Expected Results 10
2. BACKGROUND - SUPPLY CHAIN 11
2.1 Supply Chain 11
2.1.1 Supply Chain Network 13
2.2 Logistics Strategy 14
2.3 Logistics Costs Breakdown 16
2.4 Transport Strategy and Network 16
3. BACKGROUND - WAREHOUSING 20
3.1 Warehousing 20
3.2 Warehouse Facility Location Background 22
3.3 Facility Location Strategy 23
3.4 Strategic Issues Affecting Warehousing 27
3.5 Warehouse Vs DC 29
3.6 The Warehouse of the Future 30
4. BACKGROUND - MARITIME 31
4.1 Ports as a Valuable Step in the Logistics Chain 31
Pag. IV
4.2 Port as a Logistics Centre 33
4.3 Port-centric Logistics 34
4.3.1 Examples from the United Kingdom 37
4.4 Port Hinterland 39
4.5 Logistics HUB 39
4.6 Port Services 40
4.7 Port Choice and Shipping Lines 41
4.8 Port Competition and Measurements 41
4.8.1 Interport Competition 42
4.8.2 Port Competitiveness 43
4.8.3 Indicator Port Performance 43
4.8.4 Port Efficiency 44
4.9 Freeport Zone 45
5. BACKGROUND E-COMMERCE 47
5.1 E-Commerce Overview 47
5.2 E-Retailers Market Evolution 49
5.3 Online Retailers 50
5.4 Online Purchase and Distribution 51
6. BACKGROUND - E-BUYERS 55
6.1 E-Buyer Evolution 55
6.2 E-buyer Characteristics 56
6.3 The Components of Customer Service 58
6.4 The Importance of Customer Service 59
6.5 Online Environmental Impact 61
7. METHODOLOGY 62
7.1 Classifying Research 62
7.2 Paradigm 63
7.3 Literature Collection 64
7.4 Data Collection 66
7.5 Modeling 66
8. ANALYSIS - TRADE 68
8.1 Total Import-Export by the Selected Countries 69
Pag. V
8.2 Denmark Trade 72
8.3 Finland Trade 74
8.4 Norway Trade 76
8.5 Sweden Trade 78
8.6 Comparing the Average Value 80
8.7 Comments 80
9. ANALYSIS - MARITIME 82
9.1 Maritime Freight by Country 82
9.1.1 Denmark 82
9.1.2 Norway 83
9.1.3 Sweden 84
9.1.4 Comparing the Freight Results 84
9.2 Ports Overview 85
9.3 Container Traffic for Selected European Ports 88
9.4 Ports’ Traffic Data 90
9.5 Ports Characteristics Overview 91
9.5.1 Berth descriptions 95
9.6 Ports’ Characteristics Analysis 102
9.7 Port’s Latest Developments 106
9.7.1 Port of Copenhagen-Malmo (CMP) 106
9.7.2 Port of Oslo 106
9.7.3 Port of Stockholm 107
9.7.4 Port of Gothenburg 107
9.8 Voyage Calculation 110
9.9 Comments 111
10. ANALYSIS - POPULATION - E-BUYERS 113
10.1 Country’s Economy and Population Overview 113
10.2 Denmark 117
10.3 Finland 117
10.4 Norway 118
10.5 Sweden 119
10.6 E-buyers Characteristics and Retailing 120
Pag. VI
10.7 Comments 124
11. ANALYSIS - WAREHOUSE LOCATION 125
11.1 Scandinavian Centre of Gravity 125
11.2 Centre of Gravity and City’s Distance 128
12.3 Time range 132
11.4 Road-Rail and Emissions calculation 135
11.5 Investment Considerations 139
12.4 Comments 141
12. CONCLUSIONS 144
12.1 Future Research 147
REFERENCES 148
Appendix “A” - HS Codes 163
Appendix “B” - Overview Trade Countries 166
Appendix “C” - Detail trade Denmark 168
Appendix “D” - Detail trade Finland 174
Appendix “E” - Detail trade Norway 180
Appendix “F” - Detail trade Sweden 186
Appendix “G” - Ports Characteristics 192
G.1 Port description 196
G.1.1 General Overview 196
Appendix “H” - containerships by Port 200
Appendix “I” - Voyage Costs 206
Appendix “L” - Population details 210
Pag. VII
LIST OF IMAGES
Pag. VIII
LIST OF FIGURES
Pag. IX
Figure F.1 Sweden Import Data 2015 by HS category 178
Figure F.2 Sweden Export Data 2015 by HS category 180
Pag. X
LIST OF TABLES
Pag. XIII
ABBREVIATIONS
Pag. XIV
DEFINITIONS
Cross-dock warehouse, referred to the meeting place for products to move from
inbound trucks to outbound trucks.
D time, ‘Demand and delivery time’ that the customer experiences between placing
the order and getting the goods. See also P time.
Feeder, a node that is linked to a hub. It organizes the direction of flows along a
corridor and can be considered as a consolidation and distribution point.
Flow, the amount of traffic that circulates on a link between two nodes and the
amount of traffic going through a node.
Gateway, a node that is connecting two different systems of circulation that are
usually separate networks and that acts as compulsory passage for various flows.
An intermodal function is performed so that passengers or freight are transferred
from one network to the other.
Green Logistics, “Supply chain management practices and strategies that reduce
the environmental and energy footprint of freight distribution. It focuses on material
handling, waste management, packaging and transport.” It is characterised by
Reduction of costs; Integrated supply chains (JIT and DTD); Increasing system-
wide efficiency of the distribution system through network changes (Hub-and-spoke
structure); Reliable and on-time distribution of freight and passengers; Increased
business opportunities and diversification of the supply chains (Rodrigue, 2016c).
Hub, a node that is handling a substantial amount of traffic and connects elements
of the same transport network, or different scales of the network (e.g. regional and
international).
Pag. XV
customers. The other warehouses in the network are typically called spokes or
regional warehouses.
Link, Physical transport infrastructures that enable connection between two nodes.
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index captures how well countries are connected to
global shipping networks (UNCTAD) (see appendix “H” for details).
Logistical distance includes physical flows, but also a set of activities necessary
for the management of these flows. For freight movements, among the most
significant tasks are order processing, packing, sorting and inventory management.
Geographical distance units are less relevant in this assessment, but the factors of
costs and time are very significant (Ballou, 1999).
P Time, ’Procurement and Production’ time is the real time that it takes to produce
a customer order. In general, this is much greater than the D time that the customer
experiences. The higher the P:D ratio, the more stock will there be in the system
and the more will be the reliance on the forecast.
Pag. XVII
1. INTRODUCTION
This section starts with a presentation of the background of the study, and it conducts the
reader through the general idea of the research. The investigation concerns the analysis of
the global supply chain, and in particular from the maritime point of view. Ports, in a
modern era, play a key role in transport due to the higher number of TEUs managed and
transported by intermodal transport.
1.1 Background
The traditional concept of ports, effectively refers to a border crossing for international
carriers. Cargo and ships coming to and crossing the border are assessed charges for
their use of port facilities and services. The port logistics chain consists of a variety of
nodes through which the ship and cargo move. The chain starts at the entrance to the
harbour and usually ends as the cargo passes through the port gate after it is nationalised
and claimed by the consignee.
Ports have been playing an increasingly important role in our trading system. Trade
liberalization and the development of land infrastructure have abolished national
(economic) borders and captive hinterlands, obliging ports to compete fiercely for custom,
particularly transshipment cargo transported in containers through marine terminals.
Greater carrier choice in routing cargo and parallel advances in logistics and supply chain
management have thus changed competition from one between ports to one between
supply chains (Cullinane, 2011, p. 363).
The new expectations of ports are today clearly felt by port administrations who realize,
often painfully, that the benefits of fine-tuning supply chains can be easily withered away
by bottlenecks in inefficient ports (Haralambides et al, 2002). This realization has led to a
global restructuring of the port industry.
Ports, in order to be competitive in the global maritime supply chain, have started
improving the core business elements and, furthermore, identifying new business
opportunities to achieve better economical performances. To deal with these requirements,
shipping companies have integrated horizontally through mergers, acquisitions and
strategic alliances, and vertically through operating dedicated terminals and by providing
integrated logistics and intermodal services (Notteboom, 2004). Additionally, shipping
companies have rearranged service networks with the dual aim of global coverage and
diversification. The reactions of shipping companies ultimately affect every facet of the
maritime industry, especially port operations (Slack et al, 2001).
The main challenges ports face from this structural change is that their main customers,
the shipping lines, are becoming more powerful with stronger bargaining power, and that
competition between ports is getting more intense both at inter-port and intra-port levels.
Pag. 1
Many studies suggest that ports have had to evolve across the range of their activities to
cope with the challenges (Notteboom and Winkelmans, 2001; Robinson, 2002; Carbone
and De Martino, 2003).
From the external perspective of the performance model “Service”, particular attention is
focused on the relationship with customers; Notteboom and Winkelmans (2001) confirm
that the seaports likely to succeed in the twenty-first century are those that are customer-
led, which understand customer needs, and which can offer best-in-class performance.
With this focus on adopting a customer-oriented philosophy, ports are expected to provide
a high quality service at the lowest cost possible, satisfying customers’ increasingly
complicated requirements (Marlow and Paixao Casaca, 2003).
Offering lower service price is one of the inevitable strategies used to attract lines that are
themselves under huge pressure to reduce total shipping costs. In reality, many port
authorities and individual terminals attempt to secure footloose transshipment cargo by
lowering port charges for container lines using their terminals as load centres. However,
sustainable competitive advantage cannot be achieved by becoming the lowest-cost
service provider (Notteboom and Winkelmans, 2001). Delivering service quality and
customer-oriented practices, such as flexible and responsive service provision, is essential
for success and survival in today’s competitive port industry.
Logistical performance models deal with issues of vertical and horizontal integration of
ports along supply chain and transport channels. Several researchers demonstrate that
ports compete not simply on the basis of operational efficiency or location, but on the basis
that they are embedded in chains that offer shippers greater value (Robinson, 2002).
Additionally the seamless, door-to-door philosophy has transformed terminal operators into
logistics organizations (Notteboom and Winkelmans, 2001). It is also suggested that port
networking with overseas and neighbouring ports improves a port’s functioning in the
global transport system through the exchange of knowledge and ideas and helps prevent
port authorities from wasting scarce resources on inter-port competition.
It has been demonstrated that manufacturing companies have realized the necessity of
managing supply chains effectively in response to the globalization of the economy and
intensifying competition, and therefore adopted new strategies such as supply chain
management (SCM), global sourcing and outsourcing of certain functions, for example
logistics (Lambert and Cooper, 2000; Cho and Kang, 2001; Rabinovich et al, 1999). Such
new strategies require transportation companies both to cover a wider geographical area
and to provide a wider range of services to meet increasingly diversified demand patterns
with lower price and higher quality than before (Heaver, 2001; Slack et al, 1996).
The focus of this thesis is the discussion of the role of ports, and the (changing) role of
ports in supply chains, a role which can vary from that of simple transshipment hub to
important logistics node, and which in turn is heavily dependent upon the supply chain
strategies of those who use these ports. A better supply chain integration can be achieved
Pag. 2
through greater collaboration and coordination of functions across supply chains. This
means partnerships, alliances and networks that are created within and between
organizations. This research focuses on e-retailers’ use of port infrastructures and the role
that warehouse location can play in satisfying customer demand through shorter lead
times, with positive consequences for e-consumers.
E-retailers’ warehouse location strategy is one of the main focal points of this research.
Retailers and online retailers manage a global supply chain, because they are searching
for low-cost production, ability to distribute products effectively from far-spread points of
production to multiple locations for purchase and then consumption. Retailers now refer to
global supply rather than global production and they are aware of the need to manage
business globally; in some cases this means repatriating some production to meet the
consumer ‘speed’ challenge. (Fernie and Sparks 2015, p. 28)
The world of e-commerce is booming. China’s primary online marketplace, Taobao, sells
more today than the top five brick-and-mortar retailers in the country combined.
The marketplace now offers some 800 million different products online. Significant
increases in online sales are expected in most parts of the world, but especially in
developed countries and emerging countries. The forecast for Europe is an 85 per cent
increase in the next few years. Global supply chain will feel the pressure to be part of the
value-added solution to the market (Hult, Closs, and Frayer, 2014, p. 41).
Consumers are increasingly demanding the best at a good price. Global SCs are a major
part of the solution. Specifically, companies need to have a well-working global supply
chain infrastructure available to them to distribute their products to a larger number of
potential customers than ever before. Customers want new products with more features
and better quality - all costly propositions. Using global supply chains helps offset these
costs through potentially larger market coverage involving more customers (Hult, Closs,
and Frayer, 2014, p. 48).
Watson (2013, p. 64-65) refers to supply chain service design, where he considers the
relevance of minimising the average transport distance, and maximising the percentage of
customers within a certain distance.
The best way to think about network design is that it gives you the opportunity to meet
your service promises.
Mallard et al (2008, p. 38-39), specify that when analysing the demand for a certain
product there are several determinants to take into consideration:
- the price, availability and quality of substitute products;
- the price, availability and quality of complementary products;
Pag. 3
- income changes; population changes; popularity effects; speed; reliability; bureaucracy
and security.
The problem the author is trying to solve is the reduction of lead time for e-buyers in the
Scandinavian market, through locating warehouses in the port area (port-centric activities
benefits). Several distribution centres across Europe (e.g. Germany and the Netherlands)
dispatch products to Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, causing long delivery time.
The consequences of DCs being located outside Scandinavia are higher costs,
inefficiencies, customer dissatisfaction, higher greenhouse emissions due to transport and
congestion, with consequences across the entire supply chain (even in reverse flow).
The purpose of this study is to analyse the factors influencing e-retailers in their choice of
warehouse (or DC) location, potentially within ports, with the ultimate goal of better
satisfying demand within a specific geographic area or market.
Locating the warehouse within the port itself has certain benefits, such as influencing lead
time and operations of the players involved in the supply chain.
In this study, the author aims to determine the best-possible location of warehouse to
satisfy the Scandinavian market, for a specific client. With this in mind, the investigation
starts with supply chain characteristics, warehouse location strategies (from the investor’s
point of view), the maritime sector, e-commerce and e-buyers/population. Container ships
will prefer to call at a specific port when it has a certain level of efficiency and
competitiveness.
By selecting several research themes that stem from the literature review and are patterns
across the data analysis, this study helps us to construct an extensive investigation across
multiple topics in order to answer the central research question.
The study the author intends to carry out is the analysis of port-centric logistics
(warehouses) in Gothenburg. This investigation concerns the satisfaction, in primis, of the
final warehouse users (online retailers), and the relative attractiveness of the PoG
compared to its competitors.
The research question is this: assuming that all four ports included in the research provide
warehouses to e-retailers, which location has the most convenient distribution (e.g. short
lead time and large e-buyer customer base)? How can the Port of Gothenburg (PoG)
Pag. 4
contribute to the success of online retailers? Which factors create a competitive advantage
for e-retailers? Which factors influence the choice of location for a warehouse/DC?
The project was jointly developed with the PoG, who selected the main ports.
Image 1.2 shows a map of trans-european core ports and corridors, including the key
ports in this research.
Stockholm
Oslo
Gothenburg
CMP
How can the Port of Gothenburg (PoG) contribute to the success of online retailers? This
study focuses on the possibility of the PoG satisfying the growing demand for dedicated
warehouses and particularly for e-commerce businesses.
The Port of Gothenburg, geographically located in the west of Sweden, represents one of
the access points to the Scandinavian market. It is the largest port in the Nordic countries.
The port’s proximity to the market and its physical conditions contribute to its penetration
of Scandinavia and the Baltic Region (with considerable potential for growth); and the rail
shuttles and the inland terminals in Sweden and Norway are a major strength. The port
has the infrastructure and traffic to move goods quickly and conveniently to and from the
Pag. 5
port by rail. Also, there are large areas of space that can be used, both for quays and other
terminal operations, to support the port’s growth.
The PoG owns approximately 60 hectares of land, strategically located nearby the
highway and the railway line (Image 1.3 Warehouses Location, point B). The area is 1km
(ca.) from the container terminal (Image 1.3, point A). In this case the containers are able
to move rapidly and directly to the warehouse/DC with positive consequences across the
SC.
The project the PoG intends to realise is the construction of new warehouses (ca. 30
hectare), located nearby the port, with proper connections to the railway network, highway
and Scandinavian hinterland. The warehouses have different dimensions (from 15 to 35
metres high), in order to satisfy different customers’ demands; several international
investors are co-financing the project, already. The total investment in the project to date is
SEK 4 billion = $490 million US = 430,1 million Euros, including SEK 1 Billion from PoG).
These investors are NCC Property Development, Prologis Nordic, Eklandia Fastighets,
and Bockasjo. (Sea-web.com, 2015b)
Pag. 6
The PoG identified large online retailers as the final users of the warehouses, those with
large throughput and adequate market share. Large online retailers that trade in apparel,
fashion, electronics, sports equipment, household goods and books (for example), with
high value products may be interested in the infrastructure; such retailers as Amazon,
Alibaba, Zalando, Decathlon, XXL, Zara, H&M, Intersport and Team Sportia.
Those companies, according to their business strategies, will consider the possibility of
investing in a new warehouse or distribution centre (DC) in Gothenburg, in order to
penetrate the Scandinavian market, satisfying customer’s demands.
Image 1.0 (Research Steps) shows the main steps undertaken in this research. The
starting point is E-business Distribution Centre in Scandinavia & Port Competitiveness,
followed by a review of the relevant literature to support the research, the methodology
applied to the research, an analysis in line with the literature review and conclusions,
where the author’s findings in relation to the research questions are summarised.
In order to have an appropriate method of study and research, several sections have been
identified and merged in main categories.
The research topic is the E-business distribution centre in Scandinavia & Port
competitiveness; the literature review include the section no. 2-3-4-5-6; the
methodology in section 7; the analysis in sections 8-9-10-11; and the conclusions and
in section 13.
Pag. 7
In order for the reader to have an understanding of supply chain and the entire research,
some important assumptions must be introduced, to better view the big picture about the
warehouses/DC located in a port’s logistics park, and the benefits for the entire SC and its
network. Image 1.1 shows the main idea, the literature background (main topics)
considered for this investigation and the key areas (specific topics) relating to the main
idea.
The empirical analysis compares the characteristics of the following Scandinavian ports:
Oslo, Gothenburg, Copenhagen-Malmo and Stockholm.
The study includes a shipping cost analysis (from Asia to Europe; voyage, port charges,
etc.), port performances, to better identify the more efficient port.
Afterwards a port’s warehouse simulation location is conducted to “compare” the
Scandinavian distribution system.
Pag. 8
The main purpose of the study is to conduct an independent analysis about the attraction
of big online retailers in Gothenburg, and using the new warehouses to satisfy online
retailing markets in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.
The author’s goal is to guide the reader through the general concepts of supply chain,
maritime infrastructure, warehousing, e-retailers and e-buyer characteristics.
The analysis is quite extensive and due to restriction in length (by the University) the
author tried to summarise all data in the main section; the supporting analysis is presented
in the Appendix.
The most recent data was selected, dating from 2015 where available. Due to data
availability, some data is from 2014 and 2013.
Regarding trade flow, the following elements are not considered: the grocery market, fresh
food, frozen food, flowers and all products not part of the online retailing business;
appendix “A” identifies the selected categories (categories chosen in accordance with the
PoG).
Regarding the maritime sector, port characteristics are taken into consideration, as are the
ports’ locations. It was necessary to combine information from multiple sources to carry out
a comprehensive analysis. This thesis will not to take global port operators (GPOs) into
consideration.
Regarding e-buyers and Scandinavian population characteristics, one limitation was the
availability of data across all ports, such as the income by age group, income by
educational level and number of children per adult.
Regarding warehouse location analysis, the investigation does not cover the type of
infrastructure to build, nor the dimensions or internal facility layout, nor traffic flow from/to
the warehouse to the customer; only the location. Centralised and decentralised
warehouses are not part of this investigation.
The identification of the retailers and their market shares was not considered.
Pag. 9
The study will not take into consideration the reverse flow analysis (reverse logistics);
transportation costs are not analysed either.
Considering that there are many aspects to take into consideration, from the most general
to the most specific, this research focuses only on what is presented in the previous
paragraphs (in Section1) and in the methodology section; all the rest that wasn’t
mentioned is part of future research (see last section).
The result of the study is to understand the most appropriate location where set-up a new
warehouse for online retailers, when investing in the Scandinavian market, in order to
satisfy the higher number of e-customer in the shortest range time/distance. Another
expected result is the show the ports and countries’ performances (economics, population,
income, etc.) and supporting the investment “localisation” in the most appropriate country/
city.
The aim is to set up a ranking, among the ports, for the considered parameters.
Considering the transport system, the positive effects on the environment are also
considered, in order to build a more sustainable world and sustainable e-shopping system.
The facility location is influenced by the trade flows and population characteristics (e.g.
income), and the final ranking will sum up the results.
Pag. 10
2. BACKGROUND - SUPPLY CHAIN
This section presents the supply chain theoretical framework, which begins with describing
the general characteristics and the network planning, and different definitions are provided.
The section continues with the logistics strategy, and logistics factors related to the
performance. Image 2.1 shows the sub topics investigated in this section.
According to Ballou (1999) there are different activities that make up business logistics
(SCM). These vary from firm to firm, depending on a firm’s particular organisational
structure, management’s honest differences of opinion about what constitutes logistics,
and the importance of individual activities to its operations.
Consider also the following definition provided by “The Council of Supply Chain
Management Professional” (2016): logistics management is part of supply chain
management that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and
reverses flow and storage of goods, services and related information between the point of
origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers' requirements.”
Ballou (1999) suggests the typical steps for a general supply chain of an Individual Firm
(Image 2.2).
Pag. 11
Image 2.2 Immediate SC for an Individual Firm
Note Image 2.2: source Ballou (1999) image 1.1, and adapted)
According to Ballou (1999), logistics costs increase in proportion to the level of customer
service provided, such that setting the standards for service also affects the logistics costs
to support that level of service. Setting very high service requirements can force logistics
costs to exceedingly high levels. For instance transportation and inventories are the
primary cost-absorbing logistics activities. Experience has shown that each will represent
one-half to two-thirds of total logistics costs. It is transportation that adds place value to
product and services, whereas inventories add time value.
Transportation is essential because no modern firm can operate without providing for the
movement of its raw materials and/or finished products.
Ballou (1999), mention the importance of logistics and it is about creating value - value for
customers and suppliers of the firm, and value for the firm’s stakeholders. Value in logistics
Pag. 12
is expressed in terms of time and place. Products and services have no value unless they
are in the possession of the customers when (time) and where (place) they wish to
consume them. Logistics add significant value to customer value; by moving the product
toward the customer or making an inventory available in a timely manner value has been
created for the customer that was not there previously.
Logistics is important to the company’s strategy because most firms invest time in finding
new ways to differentiate their products from their competitors, but when management
recognise that logistics impacts on a significant portion of a firm’s costs and that the result
of decisions made about the supply chain yields different levels of customer service, it is in
a position to use this effectively to penetrate new markets, to increase market share, and
to generate profits. (Ballou, 1999, 13)
According to Fernie and Sparks (2015, p. 2), the stock itself contains value and might not
sell or could become obsolete. Warehouses and distribution centres (DCs) are generally
expensive to build, operate and maintain. Vehicles to transport goods between
warehouses and shops are not cheap, both in terms of capital and, increasingly, running
costs. There is thus a cost imperative to make sure that logistics is carried out effectively
and efficiently, through the most appropriate allocation of resources along the supply
chain.
Retailers are one part of the supply system; they are involved in selling goods and
services to the consumer. For this they draw upon manufacturers to provide the necessary
products. They may outsource certain functions, e.g. transport, warehousing, to specialist
logistics services providers. Retailers therefore have a direct interest in the logistics
systems of their suppliers and other intermediaries. (Fernie and Sparks 2015)
Sparks (1998, 2010), refers to the concept of logistics mix as an integrated part in retailer
supply chain, because these are the essential elements of logistics management.
Being aware of consumer demands and requirements is vital for all players involved in the
system. By contrast, if company “X” is highly focused on consumer demands and the
provision of excessively high service levels, this will cause cost problems for retailers. If
the system is too responsive at any price, then the operation is likely to be unsustainable.
The transformation in retail supply chains is thus about appropriate balances and activities
and the right approach to supply and demand.
According to Watson et al (2013) supply chain network design should consider the
geography and business strategy of the company; several elements influence the SC
network planning and require the player to make trade-offs:
- Transportation costs: because the company is interested in moving product from its
original source to the final destination; by contrast, the location of the facilities
Pag. 13
determines access to transport infrastructure such as highways, ports, airports,
railheads; and different locations may have different transportation rates.
- Service Level: the location of the company infrastructure affects the customer’s delivery
time
- Local Labor: Skills, Materials and Utilities: the location of facilities is influenced by the
labor sector, ability to find required skills, cost of local material, and cost of utilities
- Taxes: facilities can be taxed directly according to their location and to the operations
performed. Taxes have to be considered when shipping a product to and from the
company’s locations
- Carbon Emissions: the location of facilities in certain areas, minimise distance traveled
and/or transportation costs, with reduced CO2 emissions; on the other hand if the facility
requires a high level of electricity, the appropriate location is near low-emission power
plants - with reduction in emissions.
According to Hult, Closs, and Frayer (2014, p. 42), the infrastructure for global supply
chain is becoming much better, with numerous options for global and regional channels in
most parts of the world. Shipping routes are being reconfigured, leverage points in the
world are being reformulated, and value is being added to global supply chains.The
forecast is that the infrastructure for global supply chains will improve by 11 per cent in the
next five years.
Global firms are experiencing several issues, such as global sourcing, including sourcing
from foreign markets. Firms now source globally to achieve the best combination of quality,
cost, and ultimately value. (Hult, Closs, and Frayer (2014, p. 41)
The primary goal of logistics is to “minimize" firms’ costs and maximise customer
satisfaction by coordinating flow of materials and information in the most efficient way, and
by providing a service to customers in a timely fashion and at a reasonable price (Coyle et
al, 2009; OLeary-Kelly and Flores, 2002).
Retailing and logistics are concerned with product availability. Many have described this as
‘getting the right products to the right place at the right time’. Unfortunately, however, that
description does not do justice to the amount of effort that has to go into a logistics supply
system and the multitude of ways that supply systems can go wrong.
Retailers must be concerned with the flows of product and information both within the
business and in the wider supply chain. In order to make products available retailers have
to manage their logistics in terms of product movement and demand management. They
need to know what is selling in (and through) their stores and their websites and both
anticipate and react quickly to changes in this demand. At the same time they need to be
able to move less demand-volatile products in an efficient and cost-effective manner
(Fernie and Sparks 2015, p. 3). The real management ‘trick’ is in making product
availability look easy.
Pag. 14
Innovative approaches to logistics strategy can give competitive advantages; It has been
suggested that a logistics strategy has three objectives 1) cost reduction, 2) capital
reduction and, 3) service improvement.
1. Cost reduction is a strategy directed towards minimising the variable costs associated
with movement and storage. The best strategy is usually formulated by evaluating
alternative courses on auction, such as choosing among different warehouses
locations or selecting among alternative transport modes. Certainly a profit
maximisation is the primary goal to achieve.
2. Capital reduction, is the strategy directed toward minimising the level of investment in
the logistics system. Maximising the return on investment is the motivation for this
strategy. Shipping direct to customers to avoid warehousing, choosing public
warehouses over privately owned warehouses, selecting just in time supply approach
rather than stocking to inventory, or using third party providers of logistics services are
examples.
3. Service improvement strategies usually recognise that revenues depend on the level of
logistics service provided. Although costs increase rapidly with increased levels of
logistics customer service, the increased revenues may more than offset the higher
costs. To be effective, the service strategy is developed in contrast with that provided
by competition.
A proactive logistics strategy often begins with business goals and customer service
requirements. These have been referred to as ”attack strategies” to meet competition
(Ballou, 1999).
As mentioned earlier, “time” plays a key role in the entire supply chain, and particularly in
efficient distribution. According to Christopher and Peck (2003) there are three dimensions
to keep to consider if an organization is interested in being responsive to market changes
(time-based competition):
1. Time to market: the speed of bringing a business opportunity to market;
2. Time to serve: the speed of meeting a customer’s order; and
3. Time to react: the speed of adjusting output to volatile responses in demand.
According to Christopher and Peck (2003), the three time-based competition elements are
used to develop strategies for lead time management.
Refer to Christopher and Peck (2003) for more information.
Fernie and Sparks (2015, p. 28-29) are concerned with availability, supply chain
competition, and relationship matters. Availability is meeting the customers’ demand, and
retailers are concerned about availability of products in store and online.
Supply chain compete: in the past competition was mainly between retailers, at the
horizontal level only. In the modern era, competition pass by the supply chains, between
production and consumption. The retail store and website are the recipients of both
changing demand and supply. Nowadays retailers are competing not only horizontally but
Pag. 15
also vertically, in terms of the efficiency and effectiveness of their supply systems; retailers
need to expand their customer’s penetration, delivering products in customer’s hands.
Relationship matter: in order to focus mainly on their core business (companies), they
have utilized logistics services providers to carry out many logistics activities (coordination,
management and control). The number of direct partners and activities have in many
cases been reduced considerably.
According to Rodrigue (2016a), total logistic costs reveal much about the locational
dynamics of logistics activities, particularly distribution centers, since they indicate the
weight of most important factors. Transportation costs remain the dominant consideration
as they account for about half of the logistic costs (50.3 per cent). Inventory carrying costs
are also significant with a share of about one fifth of total costs (21.8 per cent). They
include the costs of holding goods in inventory (capital costs, warehousing, depreciation,
insurance, taxation, and obsolescence) and are commonly expressed as a share of the
inventory value. Labor costs involve the physical handling of goods, including tasks such
as packaging and labeling (9.5 per cent). Customer service encompasses receiving and
processing orders from customers (7.8 per cent). Rent location account for 4.3 per cent (of
logistics costs), administration for 2.7 per cent, and supplies represent 2.2 per cent of
logistics costs.
Under such circumstances, distributors are willing to pay higher rents to take advantage
of a logistics site that offers co-location with an intermodal terminal since this strategy
enables them to reduce transportation costs, such as drayage, as well to improve their
time responsiveness (lead time). Therefore, while transportation costs remains the most
important element of logistics costs, non-spatial components such as inventory carrying
and labor costs, are significant components that will influence locational choice
depending on the supply chain.
Transport decisions can involve mode selection, shipment size, and routing and
scheduling. These decisions are influenced by the proximity of warehouses to customers
and plants, which, in turn, influence warehouse location. Inventory levels also respond to
transport decision through shipment size (Ballou, 1999, p.35).
From a customer service point of view, several elements must be considered in order to
offer a proper service such as inventory availability, speed of delivery, and order-filling
speed and accuracy. The costs associated with these factors increase as the level of
customer service level is raised. Therefore, distribution costs will be quite sensitive to the
level of customer service provided, especially if it is already at the high level. Customer
service levels such as facility location, inventory and transportation are major planning
Pag. 16
areas because of the impact that decisions in these areas have profitability, cash flow, and
the firm’s return on investment, as aforementioned. Each aspect of the decision is
interrelated and should not be planned without at least some consideration of the trade-off
effect (Ballou, 1999, p.35-37).
Ballou (1999) mentioned that another way to look at the logistics planning problem is to
view it in the abstract as a network of links and nodes. Logistics planning is a design
problem. The network is to be constructed as a configuration of warehouses, retail outlets
factories, deployed inventories, transportation services, and information processing
systems that will achieve an optimum balance between the revenues resulting from the
level of customer service established by the network design and the costs associated with
the creation and operation of the network.
The term network refers to the framework of routes within a system of locations, identified
as nodes. A route is a single link between two nodes that are part of a larger network. It
can refer to tangible routes such as roads and rails, or less tangible routes such as air and
sea corridors (Rodrigue, 2016b).
In transport geography, it is common to identify several types of transport structures that
are linked with transportation networks with key elements such as nodes, links, flows, hubs
or corridors (see “definitions” section). Network structure ranges from centripetal to
centrifugal in terms of the accessibility they provide to locations (Image 2.3). A centripetal
network favors a limited number of locations while a centrifugal network tends not convey
any specific locational advantages (Rodrigue, 2016a).
According to Rodrigue (2016b), the recent decades have seen the emergence of transport
hubs, a strongly centripetal form, as a privileged network structure for many types of
transport services. Evidence underlines that the emergence of hub-and-spoke networks is
a transitional form of network development rationalizing limited volumes through a limited
number of routes. When traffic becomes sufficient, direct point-to-point services tend to be
established as they better reflect the preference of users.
Pag. 17
Image 2.3 Centripetal and Centrifugal Structure (Rodrigue, 2016a)
Rodrigue (2016c) points out that hubs, as a network structure, allow a greater flexibility
within the transport system, through a concentration of flows. For instance, as illustrated in
image 2.4, a point-to-point network involves 16 independent connections, each to be
serviced by vehicles and infrastructures. By using a hub-and-spoke structure, only 8
connections are required. The main advantages of hubs are:
Economies of scale on connections by offering a high frequency of services. For
instance, instead of one service per day between any two pairs in a point-to-point network,
four services per day could be possible.
Economies of scale at the hubs, enabling the potential development of an efficient
distribution system since the hubs handle larger quantities of traffic.
Economies of scope in the use of shared transshipment facilities. This can take several
dimensions such as lower costs for the users as well as higher quality infrastructures.
Pag. 18
Rodriguez (2016c), (Image 2.5), specifies the difference between centralized,
decentralised and distributed networks, according to their level of service which is related
to their structure.
Centralised is referred to one centre has privileged accessibility and thus represents the
dominant element of the network and the spatial structure it supports.
Decentralized refers to a network where the centre is still the point of highest accessibility,
but the network is structured so that sub-centers also have significant levels of
accessibility.
Distributed, No centre has a level of accessibility significantly different from the others.
Christopher et al (2006) suggest that ports can have various different roles in the context
of different supply chain strategies and, building upon the work of Fisher (1997) and
others, have put forward a taxonomy for selecting global supply chain strategies, where
two main elements are considered: predictability of demand for products and
replenishment lead times. It also incorporates lean and agile philosophies as appropriate
(Mangan, Lalwani, and Fynes, 2008) (table 2.1).
Lean Leagile
Long Lead Time
(Plan and Execute) (Postponement)
Lean Agile
Short Lead Time
(Continuous Replenishment) (Quick Response)
Pag. 19
3. BACKGROUND - WAREHOUSING
From the author’s point of view, a deeper investigation of warehouses is required, to better
clarify several elements influencing the choice of this infrastructure adoption, and
appropriate location. The reader will understand the elements affecting facility location
strategy and elements (or factors) to consider, the difference between a warehouse and
DC; another consideration is the flexibility and agility required of modern warehouses, over
and above their role as simple storage facilities.
Warehousing is an integral part of every logistics system. It plays a vital role in providing
the desired level of customer service at the lowest possible total cost. Warehousing activity
is the link between the producer and the customer. Warehousing is defined by Lamber and
Stock (1993) as that part of a firm’s logistics system that stores products (raw materials,
parts, goods-in-process, finished goods) between point-of-origin and point-of-consumption,
and provides information to management on the status, condition, and disposition of items
being stored. The term distribution centre is also used. However, warehouse is the more
the generic term. The Transportation-Logistics Dictionary defines a distribution centre as “a
warehouse of finished goods; also applied to facility from which wholesale and retailer
orders may be filled; a material warehouse would also be distribution centre for the buyers
of its stock.” (Lamber and Stock, 1993, p.263).
3.1 Warehousing
Pag. 20
maintain a source of supply, to support the firm’s customer policies, to meet changing
market conditions (e.g. seasonality, demand fluctuations, competition), to overcome the
time and space differentials that exist between producers and consumers, to accomplish
least total logistics commensurate with a desired level of customer service.
Ballou (1999) specifies that companies use storage spaces for four basic reasons: 1) to
reduce transportation-production costs, 2) to coordinate supply and demand, 3) to assist in
the production process, and 4) to assist in the marketing process
From a marketing perspective, companies are frequently concerned about the availability
of products in the marketplace; it means that warehousing is used to put value into a
product. Where warehousing is adopted to provide the product as close as possible to
customers, delivery time can often be reduced or supply made readily available. This
improved customer service through faster delivery can increase sales (Ballou, 1999).
Another change is the demand for reduction in lead times, shorter product lives, and
increased inventory turnover, which are linked to such management philosophies as Quick
Response (QR) and Just in Time (JIT) (Tompkins and Smith 1998, 6-7).
Ports can add value to supply chains by 1) sharing information with upstream and
downstream supply chain partners, 2) undertaking long-term planning with supply chain
partners, e.g. shipping lines, inland transportation carrier, and shippers, 3) providing the
flexibility to accommodate changes in the needs of port users, e.g., to launch new
tailored services, and 4) planning and organising activities beyond their boundaries that
improve the performance of the supply chain as a whole (Panayides and Song, 2006).
As mentioned in the aims of the project, the author is interested in identifying the best
location for a warehouse/DC for online retailers. Several models have been identified, with
pros and cons. A short summary is presented:
The site selection decision can be approached from a macro and micro perspectives. The
macro perspective examines the issue of where to locate warehouses geographically (in a
general area) to improve the sourcing of materials and the firm’s market offering (improve
service and/or reduce cost). The micro perspective examines factors that pinpoint specific
locations within the larger geographical areas.
In his macro approach, Edgar Hoover identified three types of location strategies:
1) market positioned: it locates warehouses nearest to the final customer
2) production positioned : it locates warehouses in close proximity to source of supply or
production facilities
3) intermediately positioned: it locates warehouses at a midpoint between the final
customer and the producer.
Pag. 22
Weber also developed a model of facility location based on cost minimisation; the optimal
site was the location that minimised “total transportation costs - the costs of transferring
raw materials to the plant and finished goods to the market” (Weber, 1929).
Other geographers included the factors of demand and profitability in the location decision.
Hoover examined both cost and demand elements of location analysis. His approach
stressed cost minimisation in determining an optimal location. Additionally, he identified
that transportation rates and distance were not linearly related; that is, rates increased with
distance but at a decreasing rate.
Greenhut (1956) expanded the work of his predecessors by including factors specific to
the company (e.g., environment, security) and profitability elements in the location choice.
According to Greenhut, the optimal facility location was the one that maximised profits.
(Lambert and Stock, 1993)
Network models, are similar to planar models, with one important exception: possible
locations are constrained in that they must be on or near a transport network. While planar
models identify optimal facility locations anywhere in the plane, network models only locate
facilities on various transport networks such as roads, shipping lines, rail lines, and air
corridors. Therefore, the number of potential sites is more limited, although the sites
determined by the model are more realistic (Lambert and Stock, 1993).
Facility location background represents the base for analysing in detail the potential
warehouse/DC; several elements will be investigated and analysed.
According to Richards (2014), the selection of a warehouse location requires multiple
criteria to be assessed, including both quantitative and qualitative data.
Richards (2014) states that “Locating a warehouse strategically and in the most cost-
effective geographic location is one of the most important decisions a company will make.”
The geographic placement of the stocking points and their sourcing points create an
outline for the logistics plan. Fixing the number, location, and size of the facilities and
assigning market demand to them determines the paths through which products are
directed to the marketplace. The proper scope for the facility location problem is to include
all product movement and associated costs as they take place from plant, vendor, or port
location through the intermediate stocking points and on to customer locations. Assigning
customer demand to be served direct from plants, vendors, or ports, or directing it through
selected stocking points, affects total distribution costs. Finding lowest-cost assignments,
Pag. 23
or alternatively the maximum profits assignments is the essence of facility location strategy
Ballou (1999, p. 34).
For instance, in the case of the Inland Empire, Los Angeles port, the location decision for
distribution centres depends on the availability of relatively low-cost land as well as skilled
and relatively low-cost labor; easy access to transportation in terms of delivery, so that
proximity to the ports is a consideration; good means of transportation (roads, railroads,
airports) from the DCs to the destinations for delivery; and proximity to population centres
where large proportions of the goods are to be delivered. (Bonacich and Wilson, 2008,
135).
Mulcahy (1994) specifies that here are three basic types of site selection project:
1) International
2) Macro (national, state region or major city)
3) Micro (within a state, region, or major city)
Pag. 24
Five major economic factors are considered when selecting the international site:
transportation, labor, energy and utilities costs, taxes and incentives.
On the other hand, the international site selection factors are 1) Value of the U.S. dollar
and the host country’s currency, 2) Stability of the host (foreign) government, 3) Stability of
the host (foreign) currency, 4) Ability to take profits out the host country and availability of
barter agreements, 5) Population attitude toward a foreign company, 6) Government
attitude toward a foreign company, 7) Import and export regulations, 8) Availability of
required materials handling equipment, 9) Free trade or most-favoured-nation status, 10)
Culture and customs of the host country.
Macro site
The Macro (national, state, regional, or major city) site selection project reviews the quality
of the factors for a region of the country or a particular state or city. The followings are
considered: 1) Transportation costs: in a particular state or major city site selection project,
identify the various metropolitan cities of interest to the company; 2) Census information;
3) Local government and business development agencies; 4) Professional associations
and business in the area; 5) Labor availability and cost; 6) Taxes and Incentives; 7)
Availability and costs of energy and utilities; 8) Building and land requirement costs.
Micro Site
Mulcahy (1994) suggests that if a company is in the retail business distribution, it must
focus on a site selection process that includes a micro site selection project. In this case
the company will identify the site that best serves all retail customers within a small
geographic area. Several factors must be considered, such as store delivery transportation
cost and time and land costs. Other site selection factors are considered fixed because the
potential sites are within the same geographic area. These are labor, taxes, and utility and
energy. The site selection project covers a 150-200 miles (241-321km) radius of a major
city. Exact land size, building size, and the geographic location for the new operation are
considered.
Mulcahy (1994) suggests several micro site selection methods, in order to determine the
exact delivery time to all customers: 1) Serve a cluster of customers method, 2) Centre of
gravity (demand pull or weighted average) method. Explained briefly the different methods:
- Serve-a-cluster-of-customer method: the project team choose a site that is reasonably
close to most of the company’s customers (delivery) locations. Ideally, the site is chosen
is in the centre of the store (customer) cluster. This location rude the delivery trucks
traveling time and miles from the distribution centre to various customer locations within
the cluster.
- Centre-of-gravity (demand pull or weighted average) method: it is a systematic and
detailed site selection method. This site location is at the centre of gravity and is ideal
for the distribution centre.
Pag. 25
According to Watson et al (2013), in order to estimate the distance in miles between any
two latitude and longitude points the following equation is considered:
F 3.1)
Dist(mile)ab is the distance from point a to point b. Longa, Lata, Longb, and Latb are the
longitudes and latitudes expressed as decimal numbers of point a and point b,
respectively. (to calculate in km, simply change 69 to 111) (Watson et al, 2013, p. 26).
Instead the mathematical formula for physics centre of gravity (or the weighted average
location) are the followings F3.2 and F3.3.
F3.2)
F3.3)
Here Lon represents a city’s longitude, Lat represents its latitude, and P represents a city’s
population (Watson et al, 2013, p.27). In the analysis section the population is used as the
weighting factor (also suggested by Watson et al, 2013) because in network problems,
customer demand is the most common. In other cases, the authors suggest that the many
different weighting factors can be used.
It is confirmed by Watson et al (2013, p.31) that the alternative centre of gravity (COG) is
the point that minimise the average distance traveled, among the selected points. The
choice of selecting alternative centres of gravity is due to the fact that the first one might
be located in shark-infested waters offshore from a mountainous and desert region
(probably not practical). (Watson et al, 2013)
Reinforcing the elements mentioned by Mulcahy (1994), Richards (2014) confirms, first of
all, that many companies look at the location and size of customers; then the environment
will also play a part in the decision-making process. The decision making process about
warehouse location is influenced by the following factors:
- goods traffic flows
- travel minimisation
- cost of land, rent and rates
Pag. 26
- access to transport networks
- proximity to ports and airports
- availability and cost of utilities
- labor availability, availability of affordable skilled labor
- the potential neighbours (e.g. proximity to oil storage depots can be a negative factor).
A report by DTZ (2013) stated that the global top five least expensive markets for
warehousing are dominated by the Chinese Tier II cities of Wuhan, Shenyang and
Chengdu, with Atlanta and Marseille completing the top five. Meanwhile, London Heathrow
remains the most expensive area globally – at US $313 per square metre per annum,
followed by Hong Kong, Zurich, Singapore and Oslo.
According to Savills (2013) survey, the top nine requirements for e-retailing operations in
terms of location were as follows:
- land/rent/lease costs
- access to affordable labor
- expansion space available
- close proximity to parcel hub
- close to motorway network
- central location
- close proximity to consumers
- government incentive
- close proximity to higher skilled labor.
NCFRP (2013) highlights that Freight facilities will only consider locations that fulfill the
primary objective of moving goods in the most efficient manner from point of origin to
destination.
Companies and carriers rarely base location decisions on personal relationships,
government incentives, or regional promotions. These factors are only a consideration
after a location meets the required criteria for the business to be successful.
Local officials can make their communities more attractive to freight facilities by providing a
hospitable climate through appropriate zoning, compatible land use, transportation
infrastructure, and community support.
When companies evaluate sites, some criteria are far more important than others. The
ability to access key markets, availability of efficient transportation, sufficient qualified
labor, and total costs are considered key criteria.
Proximity and/or access to markets is the most important driving factor that determines the
region or community in which a freight facility will locate.
Freight location decisions rarely respond to a “build it and they will come” approach by the
public sector, yet it is also true that having the necessary support infrastructure in place
can be a great incentive if the location is a good one and other factors are positive.
Pag. 27
Companies will first examine their current and future needs internally and then develop a
planning framework to determine how best to address these needs externally.
Site selection decisions typically involve at least the following four steps:
- Defining the company’s business strategy and the success parameters for the new (or
relocated) facility.
- Developing the site selection criteria, usually phased in such a way as to allow a
progressive evaluation from broad to specific, region to community.
- Examining the communities and sites directly through on-site visits.
- Involving three to four sites and communities in detailed discussions and negotiations.
As noted above, location planning is methodical and iterative. Factors will vary in
importance throughout the process. For example, access to specific markets, costs, and
population trends may drive the early stages.
A secondary screening may involve examining highway and rail networks to determine
areas with service advantages.
The location selection process for any freight facility begins with the identification of a
need. This need may arise from the desire to serve a new market, to merge facilities
acquired from another company, or to respond to a change in market conditions.
Furthermore, proximity and/ or access to markets, especially supply chain networks, is the
single most important factor in determining the location of a freight facility. Most of the
other site selection factors are used to refine the site selection process to specific,
sometimes competing, sites.
Access is expected to accomplish two things: 1) delivery service with speed, predictability,
and precision that matches or exceeds the competitive standards in the market and 2)
costs that are as low as possible.
Retail companies often establish their distribution networks on a concept of overlapping
circles, each with a radius of approximately 500 miles. Beginning with the factory, this
builds a supply chain that allows for a one-day drive to the regional distribution centre,
then the local distribution centre, and finally to stores located in major consumption areas.
The ability to service a particular customer within a one-day drive is a common service
expectation and location consideration. This requires both physical proximity to the
customer and a location within the transportation network, which permits ready movement
to the customer’s facilities. For a city terminal being operated for pickup and delivery by a
truck fleet, customer proximity is substantially shorter and the density of customers in the
region greater. These facilities are situated to minimize total miles within a few-hour
service radius and require an investment in trucks as well as terminals.
Depending on the facility type and the markets to be served, access to more than one
mode of transportation may be required. Communities that successfully attract freight
facilities are able to efficiently connect points of production or ports of entry to consumers.
Freight facilities are located near key transportation channels such as:
- Areas or sites on major highways.
- Areas where multiple interstate highways converge.
- Railroad terminals at the edges of their network or at key consumption markets.
Pag. 28
- Major sea and airports.
Distribution centres usually need to operate on a 24-hour basis, yet a community may
have regulations that restrict hours of operation or prohibit truck traffic on a strategically
located route. Decisions about what mode to use for goods movement are unique to each
shipper, receiver, and carrier but generally reflect direct transportation costs, reliability, and
travel time. These factors can vary greatly by mode and region depending on
transportation infrastructure, available freight carriers, size of the market, and quality of
freight service.
Third-Party Shippers
Instead of co-locating or locating near specific freight infrastructure, some freight
businesses will rely upon and perhaps locate near third-party shippers or third-party
logistics (3PL) companies. For example, large retailers who ship most of their own
merchandise through their distribution centers may also rely upon commercial carriers
such as FedEx or UPS to ship small packages, such as jewelry, directly from central
distribution to their stores.
3.5 Warehouse Vs DC
Rodrigue (2016f), specifies the Distribution Centre as the facility or a group of facilities
that perform consolidation, warehousing, packaging, decomposition and other functions
linked with handling freight. The main purpose is to provide value-added services to
freight, which is stored for relatively shorts periods of time (days or weeks). DCs are often
in proximity to major transport routes or terminals. They can also perform light
manufacturing activities such as assembly and labeling. A warehouse on the other hand is
a facility designed to store goods for longer periods of time. Therefore, a distribution centre
tends to focus on demand while a warehouse is more driven by supply.
From a locational standpoint, distribution centers mainly rely on trucking, implying a
preference for suburban locations with good road accessibility supporting a constant
Pag. 29
traffic. They service regional markets with a 48-hour service window (lead time) on
average, implying that replenishment orders from their customers are met within that time
period. Another trend has been the setting of freight distribution clusters where distribution
activities agglomerate to take advantage of shared infrastructures and accessibility. This
tends to expand the added-value performed by logistics.
Richards (2014) refers to future warehouses and the forces affecting them as:
- The Global growing and ageing population
- The growing economies of not only the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa) but also those of the developing world where consumerism and the
growth of the internet will put even greater pressure on consumer product
manufacturers and their warehouses. Consumer awareness and demand for new
products and services will continue to increase
- As economies grow and the population gets older there will be greater competition for
staff
- Sustainability will play a significant role in supply chain operations in the future. The
green lobby will look to the supply chain for initiatives in terms of alternative energy use,
reduction in CO2 emissions, reduction in waste, reduction in water usage and the use of
alternative forms of transport. This will include intermodal transport initiatives as well as
fuel-efficient MHE. Consumers and retailers will also be encouraged to source local
products, leading to an increase in demand for neighbourhood warehouses
- Fuel and energy costs will continue to rise as fossil fuels continue to decline.
Companies will look to warehouse automation and the use of greener vehicles whilst
developers and warehouse operators will be encouraged to consider solar panels, wind
turbines and the use of waste product for energy production
- The potential introduction of government taxation initiatives to encourage companies to
reduce their impact on the environment
- An increasing pressure on companies to collaborate and share resources
- Technology will continue to improve, evolve and become more affordable
- With the growth in e-retailing there will be more fulfillment and returns centres as
opposed to warehouses
- The current trend seems to be towards greater centralization of warehousing, with
retailers building bigger sheds with more automation, replacing smaller regional centres.
Pag. 30
4. BACKGROUND - MARITIME
This section focuses on the maritime sector, where the major players are Ports and
shipping lines. Particular focus is placed on port operations, port efficiency, port
effectiveness, port hinterland, port services, port-centric logistics, and the choice of
shipping lines to select the most appropriate port according to several conditions.
Ports have become the most important logistics link in the production, distribution and
consumption chains of economies worldwide (Sanchez, 2006) and parts of intermodal
networks, with competition increasingly taking place between complete logistics chains
instead of between ports (De Lange and Chouly, 2004). The competitiveness of ports
within logistics chain is thus a much higher priority than it was before.
The developments in the logistics and port environment have created the need for ports to
be part of wider logistics networks and to provide value-added services (Verhoeven, 2010).
In an era of economic globalisation ports are evolving rapidly from being traditional land-
sea interfaces to providers of complete logistics network (UNESCAP and KMI, 2005), a
value-added logistics services (Bichou and Gray, 2004) and their pre-eminent role in
international distribution is unlikely to be challenged in the foreseeable future (Notteboom
and Winkelmans, 2001).
Seaports can evolve from a pure import/export and transshipment centre to a complex of
trade and industrial functions within a logistics system (IAPH, 1996; UNESCAP and KMI,
2005). They are the value-adding transfer points (Notteboom, 1998) and central links in
complex supply and logistics (Banister et al, 1995) and transport chains, providing
seamless transport facilities (Branch, 1986) with a strong interface with other modes of
transport services (Branch, 2007; Song, and Panayides, 2012). According to de Langen
Pag. 31
(2004) seaports should be regarded as logistics centres, industrial zones and centres of
trade. Branch (2007) and Nottemboom and Rodrigue (2005) state that the free trade
zone, the inland clearance depot, the freight village, container freight stations and
“distriparks” are the components of ports as trading and industrial centre with an
increasing role in global supply chain management and logistics network structures
(UNESCAP and KMI, 2005). Woo and Pettit (2009, p. 3) redefine port-supply chain
integration as “a strategy undertaken by a seaport terminal to integrate various functions
and organization in a supply chain to become an integral part of the supply chain.
Panayides (2006) for example notes that: [. . .] the demand for maritime transport nowadays
cannot be solely considered to be a derived demand emanating from the need for products,
but rather as an integrated demand emanating from the need to minimise costs, improve
reliability, add value, and a series of other dimensions and characteristics pertaining to the
transportation of goods from the point of production to the point of consumption.
Bichou and Gray (2004), propose a channel approach and conceptualise the role of ports
from three perspectives: logistics channel perspective, where the port serves as an
intermodal transport intersection and operates as a logistics centre; trade channel
perspective, where the port acts as a key location where channel control and ownership
can be identified and trading take place; and supply channel perspective, where the port
not only links outside flows and process but also creates patterns and process of its own
(Song, and Panayides, 2012, p. 237).
Botha and Ittmann (2008) describe the role of seaports as major components in
determining the competitiveness of a nation’s economy, and there is a close relationship
between development and expansion of seaports and economic growth. Ports constitute a
critical link in the supply chain, with their level of efficiency and performance influencing a
country’s competitiveness (Cullinane and Song, 2002). Tongzon (2007) provides nine key
determinants to be a successful port (and also logistics hub): port operations efficiency
level, cargo handling charges, reliability, port selection preferences of carriers and
shippers, the depth of the navigation channel, adaptability to the changing market
environment, landslide accessibility, product differentiation, and government role (including
government support, and law/regulation). Compared to the past, today’s port authorities
are focusing on efficiency rather than effectiveness.
In order to develop maritime transport as an integrated part of the logistics and supply
chain management system, ports have to simultaneously work in several directions
simultaneously, by taking into account the requirements of the sender and receiver of
goods (such as physical accessibility from land and systematic organisation of the
information flow, which affect the choice of seaport) as they become their business
partners in addition to the traditional ones (such as shipping companies, terminal
operators, and forwarding companies) (Song, and Panayides, 2012, p. 201).
Pag. 32
There are cases worldwide where some ports have plenty of idle land-side space available
which in the absence of other uses can be used for container storage; others ports, rather,
with limited space and good land-side transport linkages may choose to maximise the
available space for warehousing, distribution and light manufacturing.
Ports have evolved from being simple transshipment points and can provide a range of
services and activities to support the wider supply chain. This can benefit supply chains by
making them both more efficient and effective, while allowing ports to become more
profitable (Mangan, Lalwani, and Fynes, 2008).
Cullinane (2011, p. 323-324) clarifies that choice of port corresponds to the choice of
alternative logistic chains or routings. The level of decision-making can be distinguished:
1. The level of locations (trade generation) concerns:
a. location of industries, number of goods produced
b. total of imported and exported goods per firm or region
2. The level of relations (trade distribution) concerns:
a. the choice of trade partners
b. the assessment of trade relations between regions
3. The level of operations concerns:
a. the choice of transport mode, scheduled versus non-scheduled, choice of transport
route and vehicles size.
Chen (2001) also points out that modern ports depend upon the availability of efficient
infrastructure and inland connections, as a part of global transport system. Chen (2001)
highlights the ability of logistics and transport operators to contribute to value creation and
moreover to accomplish the qualitative attributes of customer demand (such as reliability,
frequency, availability of information, security, etc.) (Song and Panayides, 2012, p. 201).
Johnson and Wood (1996) view a logistics centre as a cost reduction centre, defined as a
facility where commodities move constantly to the end of circulation and the warehousing
other relevant costs are reduced as much as possible (Song, and Panayides, 2012: 196).
An UNESCAP report (2002) states that a logistics centre should be equipped with all the
public facilities necessary to carrying out all logistics-related activities. Logistics centres
serve a variety of purposes including cargo transshipment, production synchronisation and
facilitating business and trade, and others aiming to strengthen the logistics capability for
transforming a region into a more attractive or competitive market. However, fundamental
requirements for a logistics centre include being on a nodal point of the transport network,
common infrastructures, inter-modality, and logistics and transport services (Bhutta et al,
2003). Over time there have been changes to how things are stored, produced and
moved, which have been significant for the development. The logistics facilities concept
could, however, be derived from three different perspectives such as a traditional logistic
Pag. 33
and supply chain perspective (distribution centre or warehousing), a freight transport
perspective (load centre, freight village and transport node point), and a foreign direct
investment perspective (international logistics zone and international free trade zone)
(Song, and Panayides, 2012, p. 196).
Referring to the latter part of the previous paragraph, Robinson (2002) introduces the
concept of value chains in the port environment and discusses the notion that competition
takes place along the value chain (logistics chains) and not between individual ports.
Song, and Panayides, (2012, p. 240) argue that ports contribute to the supply chain
through the creation of competitive advantage and value-added delivery.
Mangan et al (2008) define port-centric logistics as ‘the provision of distribution and other
value-adding logistics services at a port’ (p. 36); they specify that higher profit margins can
be made by the provision of non-core port activities in port-centric logistics services.
Ports are increasingly recognising that higher profit margins can be made on some non-
core port activities and this is driving them to engage in activities beyond simply providing
berths for ships and other core port services (Falkner, 2006; Wall, 2007; Analytiqa, 2007).
Carbone and De Martino (2003, p. 306) define value added service as “an activity along
the chain that adds value to the product or service and which the final customer is willing
to pay”; these services vary from simple processes such as packaging, labelling and bar-
coding to more complicated processes such as inventory management and quality control
(UNESCAP, 2002). By offering value-added logistics services, ports aim to attract a large
portion of the value-added creation within product and logistics chain (Notteboom and
Winkelmans, 2001; Paixao and Marlow, 2003).
Pag. 34
Mangan, Lalwani, and Fynes, (2008), refer “[…] ports can be quite heterogeneous in terms
of their traffic mix and the potential for port-centric logistics activities is likely to vary
significantly among ports; […] the potential for port-centric logistics activities is not just
limited to container terminals at ports located close to end customers.”
It is now generally accepted that supply chains, and not individual firms or products, are
the basis of much marketplace competition (Christopher, 1992). Transport services (links
in supply chains) and transport infrastructure (nodes in supply chains) are key elements in
efficient logistics systems. Maritime transport (comprising ports as nodes and shipping
services as links) is the dominant mode for international freight movements and is thus
crucial to international trade and a vital component of many supply chains (Marshall,
2005).
Notteboom and Rodrigue (2005) argue that current patterns of (inland) distribution centre
location ignore the fact that most of the freight that passes through these distribution
centres first passes through a port. Therefore, they argue that it is logical (and often times
easier in terms of land cost, lack of congestion, etc.) to locate such distribution centres at
ports. The approach in-port distribution centres is not in conflict with the regionalisation
approach (connections to inland distribution centres) advocated by Notteboom and
Rodrigue (2005). It has also been recognised that the gateway position of major seaports
offers opportunities for the development of value-added logistics and other activities
proximate to ports. Port clusters (de Langen, 2002) have thus evolved which Haezendonck
(2001) defines as: [. . .] the set of interdependent firms engaged in port related activities,
located within the same port region and possibly with similar strategies leading to
competitive advantage and characterised by a joint competitive position vis-a`-vis the
environment external to the cluster.
Pettit and Beresford (2009) refer to the potential benefits of port-centric operations in order
to earn extra revenue from activities carried out on port’s land; and, moreover, and
element in considering the port’s attractiveness is how much land is available and the
quality of hinterland connections.
Port-centric strategy users highlight the opportunity to cut supply chain costs, reduce
carbon footprints and improve customer service. (NEP, 2012)
Browne (2010), specifies that port-centric logistics eliminate the costs of double handling;
and the recent recession, has forced companies to rethink their freight-handling and
transport strategies, simplifying the complex supply chain, adopting a port-centric logistics
approach.
According to Paul Barker, PD Ports development director “Port-centric logistics works on
the principle that it is faster, more cost-effective and certainly more environmentally friendly
to set up a distribution centre at the port(s) and distribute directly to the local region from
there.” (Brown, 2010); the positive effects of port-centric activities, eliminate the fuel and
labor costs of double-handling - carrying goods from port to distribution centre and from
Pag. 35
distribution centre to end user (ibid).
Monios (2011) states “Now that the majority of products come through ports, it may not be
efficient to haul containers to a central location and then send the contents outward again.”
Certainly, the port might incur in conflicting strategies, as affirmed by Monios (2011),
between inland intermodal terminals and port-centric logistics, because when an inland
intermodal terminal is used, containers are transloaded from rail to truck then taken to
RDCs for stripping, then trucked empty back to the depot at the inland terminal (or maybe
another depot); by contrast, if the customer is located within warehousing/logistics areas
adjacent to the terminal, the container can be stripped and the empty container can return
immediately to the onsite depot, as a consequence of these activities, stock can then be
picked and put on trailers direct to stores rather than via a diversion to a central DC.
One advantage of establishing a distribution centre at a port is that it cuts down on the
number of empty (return) containers on roads by “stripping” (e.g. emptying) imported
containers at the port. This also allows faster repositioning of containers to another port
where they are required.
In the article Port-centric logistics (2009), port-centric logistics was referred as the “new”
industry standard, challenging much of the conventional wisdom of inland cargo movement
and creating a broader approach to hinterland distribution. This approach evolved into a
series of mature relationships with importers and cargo owners, together with third-party
operators and ensures that the very best supply chain solutions are specified and
consistently delivered.
For instance Hutchison's UK ports have established themselves as leaders in the field of
global logistics, acquiring a unique position, because they tailored a package of logistics
services to meet and perhaps exceed the needs of cargo owners.
Ports are not a static element or player in the entire supply chain, as stated in the
aforementioned article, ports continue to work closely with both shippers and consignees
in challenging the traditional model of logistics. The positive consequences of this
challenge, has been the reduction of expensive and wasteful practices, early visibility, fast-
tracking, elimination of demurrage and the reduction of inventory levels.
According to NEP (2012), the positive consequences of port-centric logistics will only be
found if people consider the entire logistics chain. Players only look at the distribution from
DC to the retail store; that is where all the sophisticated figures are and the costs
calculated. But people don’t take into account the empty containers going back to the port.
Someone has to pay for that. It adds to the cost and when you overlay with the carbon
footprint issue, that is when the business case gets stronger, when people look at the total
picture rather than one or two legs of the chain.
Pag. 36
4.3.1 Examples from the United Kingdom
Several actors in the UK confirm the benefits coming through of the port-centric idea, one
of those is Perry Glading, Chief Operating Officer, Forth Ports, who believes that port-
centric ideas can be applied to a much broader range of cargoes and supply chains:
“When people talk about port-centric, they get carried away with it only being for imports of
containers. We believe it is about how you use the port as a centre for both import and
export. It is about broadening the role of the port. We talk about 360° port-centric logistics:
the port sits in the middle. Too many people have a vision of going in one direction, but it
isn’t, and exports from the UK are growing. It is how you use your port to add value. You
either don’t touch the cargo and it goes straight through, or you add value in and
out.” (NEP, 2012)
For instance Bapgroup (2016) and PD Ports (2016) offer a wide range of services from the
port-centric perspective, such as in the north-east, PD Ports has been a leading advocate
of port-centric logistics, making use of its very significant land bank at Teesport; the port
counts more than 3.5 million ft2 of warehousing (equivalent to 325,000m2 or 32,52 hectare)
on the port estate or close to the port, occupied by shippers using the port for import/
export activities; at the same port, retailers such as ASDA and Tesco have positive effects
on their logistics activities. (NEP, 2012). Stephen Taylor, Director of Port Centric Logistics
Partners, says: “Land has always been a key issue for port-centric logistics”; so, land is a
positive influence on the success and competition of the port. As a consequence, the
proactive development of port-centric logistics at English ports such as Teesport will exert
a strong influence on the future directions of logistics in Scotland.
Forth Ports is investing heavily in the rebranded London Container Terminal at the Port of
Tilbury, which handles deep-sea, short-sea and feeder services. At the same time, work
has started on Tilbury’s new London Distribution Park, north of the existing port estate.
This will add another one million ft2 (92,900m2 or 9.29 hectare) of warehousing to the
port’s already substantial supply of five million ft2 (464,500m2 or 46.45 hectare) on the port
estate. (NEP, 2012)
Pag. 37
An example of port-centric logistics onshore is the warehousing developments at the port
of Grangemouth, which has received government funding, indicating government support
for a strategy of port-centric logistics whereby the port authority is aiming to develop retail
business at the site (Monios and Wilmsmeier, 2012).
The Port of Tyne has focused on the port-centric concept, which it has historically
promoted as a one-stop shop approach, incorporating quayside handling and elements
such as warehousing, stock control, picking and packing, distribution and haulage (NEP,
2012).
According to Importservices.co.uk (2016), the port-centric model is optimum for the new
world of retail logistics, confirming that port-centric retail logistics with import services, is
the answer to certain business activities. For instance, in Southampton the distribution
centres allow stock to be held, free of duty and VAT, until sold to market in the EU or
transhipped, to external markets still under bond; at last some help to ease company’s
cash flow.
It is mentioned that if the company is located in Southampton and the order is B2C, 3PL
will move with agility and speed for next day delivery, straight from the container port
facilities, to the customer’s home. Port-centric with Import Services means that the carton
delivery is processed with thousands of other orders on the day. All orders moving from the
port warehouses, in full trailer loads, directly to the parcel hub for sortation and onward
delivery via integrated parcel carriers.
Retailers are particularly keen on Port-centric logistics, which helps rationalise deliveries
into their DC’s, cutting supply chain carbon emissions and allowing a significant tick in the
environmentally friendly box, for all concerned (ibid).
Pag. 38
4.4 Port Hinterland
Port Hinterlands have been described as captive and contestable (de Langen and Pallis,
2005). A captive port hinterland is a region, where a single port has a competitive
advantage (e.g. lower prices for freight trips) over other ports in handling the region’s
cargo. A contestable hinterland is a region where no single port has a clear competitive
advantage over competing ports. Port terminal operators have greater (less) bargaining
power versus port users when their ports have captive (contestable) hinterlands; operators
are more likely to charge relatively high (low) port prices when port hinterlands are captive
(contestable), e.g. high (low) rent extraction. The bargaining position of port service
providers versus shippers is generally stronger than that of port service providers versus
shipping lines. The rationale for the latter is that shipping lines have larger volumes of
cargo (from consolidating different origin-destination cargoes) that strengthens their
bargaining position in the bargaining process. Port hinterlands have also been described
as captive and overlapping (shared by more than one port) hinterlands.
Ports with overlapping hinterlands compete for the overlapping hinterland market.
However, a port with a large hinterland can also compete and be more competitive in
computing for the overlapping market (Zhang, 2008). Specifically, a port with a large
captive hinterland will 1) allow for more frequent services by shipping lines, 2) facilitate the
growth of third-party logistics providers and freight forwarders, 3) allow shipping lines to
use larger ships, deriving cost economies of ship size at sea, 4) yield higher ship
utilisation, and 5) allow more value-added clusters to be developed. The higher traffic
density at the port will in turn, among other things, lower shipping rates to and from the
port, thereby making it more competitive in competing for the overlapping market (Talley,
2009, p. 143).
Zhang (2008) states that a larger port hinterland allows for a larger size of ships being
attracted, thus realising economies of ship size (Jansson and Shneerson, 1987), higher
frequencies of service realising Mohring effects, stronger roles as load centres, better
availability, of third party logistics service providers and more value-added clusters (de
Langen, 2004).
Song, and Panayides (2012, p. 203) give this definition: “A maritime logistics hub is 1) a
nodal point of cargo transit or transshipment assuring flawless door-to-door cargo
movements, 2) a principal distribution centre functioning as a temporary storage and
sorting, and 3) a place creating and facilitating value added services on a regional and/or
international scale.”
Europlatform (2004) provides a precise definition of logistics centre: the hub for a specific
area where all the activities relating to transport, logistics, and good distribution, both for
Pag. 39
national and international transit, are carried out, on a commercial basis, by various
operators.
The development of international trade and industrial distribution patterns has impacted on
the development of logistics facilities as they have been recognised as main strategic
contributor to achieving competitiveness and attractiveness (Cullinane and Song, 1998).
In the 1990s, the hub concept became the primary distribution model employed by
logistics integrators as DHL, TNT, UPS, FedEx and leading international carriers.
Shipment coming from several origins are consolidated at major terminals (e.g. hub) and
redirected to their respective destinations through radial links (e.g. spoke) (Cavinato,
1989). In the field of logistics and supply chains, however, the hub concept has often been
introduced under various terms according to its functionality of storage and transportation:
logistics centre, logistics zone, freight terminal, distribution centre, warehouse, intermodal
terminal, international transport terminal, and so on (Song and Panayides, 2012, p.
195-196).
According to Worldbank (2001) port services definition, there are two types of activities
carried out by ports: core (traditional port) and value-added (non-traditional port) services.
Core services consist of marine (e.g. pilotage, towage, and vessel traffic management
services), terminal (e.g. vessel tie-up, container storage and container stuffing and
stripping), and repair services (i.e dry dock ship repair, container repairs). Nontraditional
port services “create value for shippers by expanding the scope of markets that they can
economically access, by reducing the delivered cost of products they sell, or by reducing
the cost to complete buy/sell transactions” (Worldbank, 2001, p. 10). Non-traditional port
services (e.g. information, office and equipment rental, equipment maintenance services,
and freeport zone) typically add value to the logistics activities, e.g. inventory management
and warehousing, of shippers (Talley, 2009, p. 44).
Customers now tend to look at value-added logistics services as an integral part of their
supply chain. As a result, ports must attempt to satisfy these needs by offering
differentiated services (Song and Panayides, 2012, p. 201). The importance of a number
of logistics value-added services (such as consolidation, packaging, labelling, assembly,
economic processing, contingency protection, and operation efficiency) is assessed by
various different authors (Song and Panayides, 2012).
Pag. 40
4.7 Port Choice and Shipping Lines
Several factors influence the shipping lines routes, or port choice; one such factor is port
consignment size, the greater the likelihood that a shipping line will have its ships call at a
given port (Talley, 2009, p. 65).
A shipping line’s liner (scheduled service) pricing policy will also affect whether a port is
included in a ship’s transportation network. Equalisation liner pricing is a port-to-portlier
pricing scheme whereby the freight rate (or price) for cargo is the same from any main port
in a port range (on one end of a ship’s round-trip route) to any main port in a port range on
the other end. If the shipper is responsible for inland transportation costs to and from ports,
the shipper would minimise total transportation costs (ocean and inland) by having the
cargo shipped to the port that is nearest to the shipper’s location.
The most prominent explanatory variables for port choice are ocean transport costs, inland
transport costs, port costs and variables capturing quality of service aspects, such as
Mohring effects (as mentioned earlier). The demand elasticity of a port can be measured
by applying logs models based on revealed or stated preferences. The demand elasticity
is measured as the change of demand as consequence of an increase in port call cost
consisting of port dues, marine charges and terminal handling charges associated with the
shipment of one twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) in a port (Cullinane, 2011, p. 323).
Ports that can accommodate larger ships while maintaining fast ship turnaround times
(e.g. time differences between ships entering and leaving a port) will likely see an increase
in the number of calls by larger ships. Ports with relatively shallow water depths will likely
experience a decline in ship calls over time as ships increase in size, conversely for ports
with deep water. If a port in a port range charges significantly lower port prices to shipping
lines than another port in this port range, the shipping line will prefer the less expensive
port in this port range. Also, if one port has superior inland transportation connections,
existing port relationships (or a service history), with a given shipping line, and closes
access to trade lanes, the given shipping line is more likely to choose this port over
another port in a port range. If one port in a range of ports is subject to less port
government regulation (e.g. economic, safety, and environment regulation) than another
port, the former will more likely be chosen as the port of call in this rage than the latter, all
else held constant (Talley, 2009, p. 66).
Pag. 41
4.8.1 Interport Competition
Notteboom and Winkelmans (2001) noted that inter-port competition has intensified, even
among more distant ports, and point out that for example the competition between
European ports situated in different port ranges has increased considerably in recent
years.
Fleming and Baird (1999) pointed out that the real future competition will not be between
ports and individual transport carriers per se, but between a handful of “total logistics
chains”. Indeed, Goss (1990), drawing upon Verhoeff (1981), discussed five different forms
of competition which ports are subject to, namely – competition between whole ranges of
ports or coastlines; competition between ports in different countries; competition between
individual ports in the same country; competition between the operators or providers of
facilities within the same port; and competition between different modes of transport.
Fleming and Baird (1999), identify the characteristics influencing interport competition as
the following:
1) Port performance improvements, with improvements in quality of service, the port time
prices of port users are expected to be lower. By reducing its costs, the port is then
able to lower its port prices.
2) Port accessibility by having superior sea and land accessibilities, a port’s
competitiveness relative to other ports is enhanced. A ship’s transit time and costs such
as pilotage and towage costs are less when a port is near the open sea. By having
direct connections to highways, rail and inland navigation systems, a port’s land
transportation transit times for its cargoes will be less all else held constant. The
competitiveness of ports is also enhanced if they are located near centres of
consumption and production.
3) Port tradition: ports located in cities with a long tradition of supporting port expansion
projects give rise to a culture of support for port improvement projects, especially when
a competing port appears to be gaining an interport competitive edge
4) Government assistance: the greater the government assistance to a port, the greater
the port’s competitiveness relative to other ports. That is to say, the port will be in the
position to reduce its port prices after receiving government operating assistance. The
latter may include, for example, tax reduction, low costs loans, guaranteed loans,
provisions of port infrastructure, and the fallout from government-funded research and
development programs that benefit the port.
5) Port Users Preference by congregating larger volumes of cargo at fewer ports, the
shipping lines (due to the larger cargo volumes at these ports) are able to obtain lower
negotiated rates often not proportional to distance) from inland carriers an thus charge
lower door-to-door rates (Talley, 2009, p. 140-141).
Major ports in China such as Shanghai and Shenzhen, are are feeling the effects of
competition with the neighbouring ports as Hong Kong, Singapore and Busan (South
Korea) (Sang-Hun, 2006; Wright, 2007). However as more capacity comes on stream,
Pag. 42
ports are looking to attract other traffic, especially transshipment traffic, which passes
through ports in neighbouring countries. These ports outside of China are pursuing a
variety of strategies, such as developing tax free zones and developing facilities for value-
adding activities within the port area, in order to retain their traffic from the onslaught of
competition from ports in China.
A port’s competitive position (or its competitiveness) may be evaluated in terms of the
growth, market share, and diversification of its traffic volume (Talley, 2009). An analytical
tool that has been used to evaluate the competitiveness of a port (in a port range) that
considers these factors is strategic position analysis (SPA). SPA includes: Product portfolio
analysis (PPA): Four levels of PPA have been used to evaluate the competitive position of
ports in a port range (Haezendonck et al, 2006)
a. The overall market shares and total growth rates of the traffic volumes of ports in
the port range are presented (external positioning analysis/portfolio of ports)
b. The market share and the growth rates of various traffic categories in a port’s total
traffic volume in the port range are described (internal positioning analysis/portfolio
of traffic categories)
c. The port’s market shares and growth rate at each commodity group in their total
commodity groups in their traffic volumes in the port range are described (portfolio
commodity groups)
d. Differs from the third level in that the shares and growth rates are within a port
rather than within the port range
Port operate in different economic, social, and fiscal environments. For example, even if
ports have the same economic objective of maximising annual throughput subject to a
profit constraint, the profit constraint is likely to differ among ports. Also, one port may have
a negative profit (or deficit) constraint that is to be subsidised, while another port may have
a positive or break-even profit constraint. Ports may also have different economic
objectives (Suykens, 1986). Thus, in a multi performance evaluation approach, where the
performance of one port is compared to that of another, similar ports should be used
Pag. 43
(Talley, 2009: 139). Port management and strategies are both directly and indirectly
influenced by prevailing logistics trends, since the demand for port services is a double
derived demand (Marlow and Paixao-Casaca, 2003). From the port industry’s perspective,
the shipping industry would be the party which has the most direct impact on it (Cullinane,
2011, p. 445).
According to Cullinane (2011, p. 439), the role and function of ports has evolved rapidly
and has changed in the context of supply chains and logistics chains. Ports now operate in
a new logistics environment focused on supply chain management, global sourcing and
logistics outsourcing. Port operators and port authorities are adopting new strategies for
improving service quality, such as strategic integration along the supply chain, customer-
oriented practices and value-added activities, as well as improving operational efficiency,
so that they can adapt to a more challenging logistics environment.
Talley (1994) identifies the criteria specification methodology for selecting port
performance indicators:
1) Conciseness requires that the redundancy and overlap among selected indicators be
limited;
2) Consistency with objectives: requires that the indicators be consistent with the port’s
operating objectives, e.g. they affect these objectives when their values change.
3) Data availability;
4) Data-collection time and cost: the time and cost to be incurred in the collection of the
indicator data should be considered in the selection of port performance indicators;
5) Measurability: requires that the selected indicators must be measurable, e.g. having a
continuous as opposed to a discrete unit of measurement;
6) Minimisation of uncontrollable factors requires that the values of the port’s selected
indicators be under the control of port management;
7) Robustness requires: that the selected indicators allow for the port to be evaluated
under various scenarios.
Port literature has focused on measuring efficiency while other transport modes such as
air, road and rail put a greater emphasis on external perspectives such as customer
orientation, reliability and service (Brooks, 2007).
It appears that a reduction of the average waiting time of vessels by one hour corresponds
with a cost decrease of 46.4 Euro per TEU Handled. A reduction of the average hinterland
transport transit time by one hour corresponds to a reduction in costs of 4.88 euro per
TEU, which is nearly a tenth (Cullinane, 2011, p. 336).
In order to improve port efficiency, lower cargo handling costs and integrating port services
with other components of the global distribution network, is the correct path according to
Bryan et al (2006).
Pag. 44
Port costs, for example, represent about 8–12 percent of total transport costs from product
origin to destination. Shippers make shipping decisions in part based on those costs. Clark
et al (2001) declare that port efficiency can affect transportation costs and that an
inefficient port has the effect of increasing the distance to a shipper’s export market by 60
percent. In a study of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries, Wilson et al
(2003) explore the importance of port efficiency relative to other factors that enhance or
constrain trade, such as customs performance, the regulatory environment, and e-
business.
Calculating indicators for each factor, Wilson et al (2003) found that improvement in port
efficiencies yields the largest increases in trade flows; specifically, an improvement of just
0.55 percent in the port efficiency indicator has the same impact as 5.5 and 3.3 percent
improvements in customs performance and e-business indicators, respectively. Improving
those procedures can lower total transaction costs and thereby improve the
competitiveness of a country’s trade, and recent research suggests that better procedures
can lower costs substantially.
An overview of FTZ is due because the PoG is interested in developing this area, in order
to attract new companies.
Rodriguez (2016h), defines the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) is an area that is considered
outside the customs jurisdiction of a country where cargo can be placed in a duty and tax
free environment until ready to enter the country.
FTZ is a prominent value-added service. A freeport zone is a designated area (within or
outside a port), where imported goods are stored and/or processed and exported - free of
all customs duties (Firoz, 2003).
The main advantages of FTZ are thus regulatory and financial, which enables rather
unique and flexible supply chain management practices Rodrigue (2016h):
1. Custom clearance: Done inland instead of at the gateway port (merchandises go
directly to the FTZ); Simpler and faster; Consignment can stay for an unlimited amount
of time in the FTZ; Consignee gets further advance notice that shipment is ready;
Quotas can be managed through postponement.
2. Duties and Fees: Duties and merchandise processing fee not paid until the
consignment is released and moved out of the FTZ (storage); Not paid if goods are
exported or re-exported; Deferred if goods moved to another FTZ; Not paid for
damaged, defective or obsolete goods; Lower insurance premiums since no duties.
3. Settlement: Vendors often not paid until consignments leave the facility for delivery
(Delay settlement); Remove damaged or defective products from the settlement.
4. Security: Higher security level since under jurisdiction of national customs; Lower
insurance premiums.
Pag. 45
5. Transformations and manufacturing: Product remarked or labeled to meet national
requirements; If transformation is performed in the FTZ, the duty class may change
(Select the taxation regime); Added value activities performed in a FTZ not subject to
custom duties.
The NVO (non vessel operating common carriers), also known as OTIs (ocean transport
intermediaries), in other words, the commoners that are handling the freight of a customer
- can split out the cargo here and then have it cleared by customs. This is what is meant
by cargo (or container) freight station bonding. The facility also provides bonded
warehousing; for example, an importer of liquor can leave it indefinitely here and only pay
duty on it when they move it out.
The site was also a foreign trade zone, or FTZ. As an example: this mean that the goods
have not yet entered the commerce of the Country. The FTZ enables firms to manipulate
cargo. (Bonacich and Wilson, 2008, 132)
Pag. 46
5. BACKGROUND E-COMMERCE
This section provides an overview of retailers and online retailers characteristics,
strategies, location and distribution centres in order to better perform activities that can
satisfy customer demand in a short lead time; and some e-commerce definitions. Several
parameters are taken into consideration when retailers select the e-consumers segment,
the most appropriate country in which to focus their business activities.
Fernie and Sparks (2015, p. 205) define e-commerce as “[…] is the sale and distribution of
goods and services via electronic means, has developed rapidly over the last couple of
decades. There are a variety of e-commerce sectors including: business-to-business
(B2B); business-to-consumer (B2C); business-to-government (B2G); consumer-to-
consumer (C2C) and government-to-business (G2B).”
The e-commerce phenomenon will continue to grow both for business-to-business (B2B)
and business-to-consumer (B2C) sectors. From a convenience point of view and under
greater environmental pressure, grocery home shopping and delivery will also grow
significantly (Richards, 2014, p. 21).
The author is primarily concerned with B2C e-commerce in order to support the location of
online retailers' warehouses in the port area, port-centric warehouses for online retailers,
contributing to a better distribution system across the country and internationally.
The increase in port-centric logistics has resulted in companies building large warehouses
as close to ports of entry as possible. As mentioned, Tesco's 1.2 million square foot
warehouse at Teesport UK is a typical example (Richards, 2014, p. 21).
Pag. 47
According to the IMRG report (2011), the growth of e-commerce was closely linked to the
development of internet usage. In 2000 there were just over 350 million internet users in
the world, a figure that grew to over 2 billion in the next 10 years and is forecast to grow to
5 billion by 2015. By contrast, the Global Internet Report (2015) specifies that globally
there are 3 billion internet users as at May 2015; the mobile penetration is forecast to
reach 71 per cent by 2019; there are 192 countries with active 3G mobile networks, which
cover almost 50% of the global population; Smartphone sales are the majority of mobile
handsets sold worldwide; and tablet sales will soon exceed total PC sales. Considering the
dedicated geographical area of this investigation - Western Europe (Sweden, Finland,
Denmark and Norway included), internet users are 79 per cent of the population, the
mobile internet penetration is about 64 per cent, and the 3G population coverage is 97 per
cent.
According to Forrester (2013) online retail sales in the United States in 2013 reached $262
billion – a rise of 13 per cent over 2012's $231 billion; this represents 8 per cent of the total
retail market and will reach $370 billion by 2017. In the United Kingdom online retail sales
accounts for approximately 10 per cent of overall sales and is likely to grow between 10
and 15 per cent over the next few years. The growth in countries such as China is closer
to 75 per cent (Richards, 2014). Instead, in the old continent, in Europe, 2014 e-commerce
sales counted for 372.84 $M, in 2015 counted for 418.05 $M, and 458.98 $M (2016
forecast) (Statista, 2016).
This information supports the growth trend in e-commerce business, but a deeper
investigation about the online sector continues in the analysis section.
The growth of broadband allowed faster download speeds and facilitated the growth of
successful e-tail websites, as mentioned by Fernie and Sparks (2015).
Fernie and Sparks (2015, p. 207) pay particular attention to the problem with the B2C
model compared with C2C and B2B models, because it entails trade goods that are
tangible and need to be stored and transported to the final consumer. The two authors
specify that market presence and brand identity are necessary ingredients to wean
customers away from their traditional methods of buying.
Yet despite these apparent drawbacks, the ‘hype’ associated with this new form of trading
led many analysts to discuss the notion of disintermediation in B2C markets.
Pag. 48
5.2 E-Retailers Market Evolution
The fourth “P” of the marketing mix, Place, was traditionally centred on the wholesale and
retail trade and how suppliers would channel their products to market (Fernie and Sparks,
2014, p. 36).
Despite all of the hype about international retailing, little has been written about the supply
chain implications of the internationalization process. Sparks (1995) acknowledges that
there are three main threads to understanding retail internationalization: international
sourcing; international retail operations; and internationalization of management ideas.
Fernie and Sparks (2015, p. 24) highlight that retailers need to create market demand
before investing in costly infrastructure.
One of the large changes in recent years has been the expansion of ‘reserve and collect’
and ‘click and collect’ type operations. It had been thought that internet shopping would be
based around home delivery, but consumers have shown that they also value the ability to
decide where and when they receive products. In reserve and collect type systems
consumers seem to be using the internet to check local inventory before going to the store.
In click and collect operations they are opting to have the order assembled at store and
then collect it at a time of their choosing and convenience. For retailers such
developments remove some of the issues of organizing home delivery, but emphasize the
importance of having accurate and real-time stock and inventories as well as changing
work practices. Similarly, the strong development of mobile and tablet computing and
shopping has encouraged retailers to shorten their advertised delivery periods and in
some urban areas to offer same-day or even two hour-delivery options. This poses real
challenges for many retailers.
The same authors highlighted that times have changed and retail logistics has also
changed. Retailers are the channel captains and set the pace in logistics. Having extended
their channel control and focused on efficiency and effectiveness, retailers are now
attempting to engender a more cooperative and collaborative stance in many aspects of
logistics.
In 1996, Alan McKinnon reviewed and summarized the key components required for this
retail logistics transformation. He identified six closely related and mutually reinforcing
trends: Increased control over secondary distribution, Restructured logistical systems,
Adoption of ‘Quick Response’ (QR), Rationalization of primary distribution (e.g. factory to
warehouse), Increased return of packaged material and handling equipment for recycling/
re-use, Introduction of Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Efficient Consumer
Response (ECR).
The dedicated order picking model utilizes e-fulfillment centres to pick and deliver orders
to customers. The advantage of this system is that it is dedicated purely to e-commerce
customers so OOS should be low and delivery frequencies should be higher. These
picking centres, however, have less of a product range and they need to be working at
Pag. 49
capacity to justify investment costs. In non-food there are some highly successful
operators of this model (e.g. asos.com) (Fernie and Sparks, 2015, p. 23).
Eisenmann, Hallowell, and Tripsas, (2002, p. 301) mention that catalog and web business
are similar in two important ways: 1) goods cannot be inspected prior the purchase and, 2)
consumers do not have access to the goods after the purchase.
What are online retailers exactly? Online retailers are companies that 1) use a web site to
merchandise newly manufactured physical goods for which they take title, and then 2) rely
on third party service providers (e.g. UPS, Fedex, DHL, etc.) to deliver those goods from
remote warehouses.
Pag. 50
1) Merchandise emphasis
a. Horizontal focused, when they sell many product categories such as amazon.com,
because it sells a broad range of products
b. Vertical oriented, when retailers sell in one distinct area (single category of
merchandise); examples are garden.com, eToys, and Pets.com
2) Pricing format
a. Fixed pricing (format valid in the offline market)
b. Auction, such as egghead.com who sells computer hardware and software
products.
c. Group buying (demand aggregation) sites as mercata.com and MobShop.com
d. Deep discount model, such as buy.com who sold, once, products at cost price, in
order to create a customers’ database and then selling it manufacturer (for
advertising and marketing programs); but the model had poor results
In the offline market, companies like Wal-Mart and Macy’s are considered Horizontal
retailers, while Toys and Home Depot can be considered vertical oriented.
Eisenmann et al (2002, p. 304), mention first of all that online prices are lower between
6-10 percent comparing to their brick-and-mortar competitors due to different transport
costs; instead several barriers influence the shopping online such as 1) sending the credit
card information over the web; (but turned out on development of electronic wallet); 2)
Consumer’s lack of familiarity with the brands of some pure-play companies (e.g.
companies that were “born on the web” and lack a brick-and-mortar or print catalogue
heritage) can compound consumers’ concerns about credit card theft; and building
consumers’ trust is an important task for young websites; 3) waiting for home delivery,
because 70 percent of the population is not home during the day; for this reason
amazon.com organised the delivery in 1 hour, or selecting the appropriate window time for
the delivery, in order to reduce thefts when packages are left in front the door.
Fernie and Sparks (2015, p. 218) specify that retailers need the trust of the consumer
before investing in the necessary infrastructure.
According to Rodrigue (2016i), E-commerce offers advantages for the whole commodity
chain, from consumers being exposed to a wider range of products to manufacturers and
distributors being able to adapt quickly to changes in demand. E-commerce generates
significant number of home deliveries parcel movements that are carried by conventional
postal services as well as specialized parcel carriers. In the United States, about 70% of
home deliveries are made by the United States Postal Services, while the remaining 30%
is carried by private parcel companies. Fulfillment (warehousing, packaging) costs account
for 10 to 12% of the revenue of e-commerce, while shipping and delivery costs added up
another 10%. E-commerce is also inciting shifts in retail freight distribution (Image 5.2) with
Pag. 51
the setting of new fulfillment and sortation centers. As retail sales get partially replaced by
online sales the need for conventional retail space declines while the footprint occupied by
distribution centre increases.
Parcel Delivery
Medium-sized facility. Cross-docking
Centre / Urban Periphery of metropolitan areas.
configura=on for loading vans.
Logis4cs Depot
Pag. 52
In standard e-commerce distribution chains, e-fulfillment facilities are usually owned by the
online retailer while parcel hubs, sortation centers and parcel delivery centers are usually
owned by third party logistics providers. However, consolidation trends are emerging as
large online retailers are opening their own sortation centers. Some are also getting
involved in the transportation segment of their distribution with urban delivery vehicles and
trailers to move cargo between e-fulfillment and sortation centers Rodrigue (2016m).
According to Richards (2014, p. 22-24), there are three types of fulfillment centre:
- integrated fulfillment, where internet sales are carried out alongside existing retail
operations;
- dedicated fulfillment, carried out in a purpose-built facility; and
- store fulfillment, which involves picking online orders from existing retail shelves for
separate delivery ex store. A same-day courier service provided by Shuttle boasts a
record delivery time of 13 minutes 57 seconds for an online order using this channel!
The third option has been favoured in the past for launching the service and establishment
of e-fulfillment but is least favoured for a substantive operation.
With regard to warehousing, pure internet traders have had an advantage in developing
purpose-built facilities according to a recent TI report for Savills (2013) whereas existing
retailers and manufacturers who are selling online need to adapt existing logistics systems
and facilities to meet these new demands or create new ones to accommodate the move
to multichannel retailing.
The report suggests that the tipping point for dedicated e-commerce fulfillment centres is
approximately 200,000 orders and that warehouses are in the region of 20–60,000 square
feet (Richards, 2014, p.22).
According to Fernie and Sparks (2015, p. 223), the distribution of online purchases
normally exhibits the following characteristics:
1. Products are generally supplied directly to the home from the point of production or a
central DC. Each order comprises a small number of items (often just one) and the
order picking is centralized at a national or regional level. A large proportion of the
orders are channelled through the ‘hub-and-spoke’ networks of large parcel carriers or
mail order companies.
2. Within these J4U delivery networks, each order must be individually packaged at the
central distribution point. This not only increases the volume of packaging in the supply
Pag. 53
chain: it also takes up more space on vehicles in both the forward and reverse
channels.
3. Within home shopping systems, whether catalogue- or internet-based, there is a large
rate of returned product. Typically, around 30 per cent of non-food products delivered
to the home are returned to e-tailers (in contrast to 6–10 per cent for ‘bricks and
mortar’ retailers) (Nairn, 2003). This requires a major reverse logistics operation
comprising the retrieval, checking, repackaging and redistribution of returned
merchandise.
The home delivery channel terminates at the home or a nearby customer collection point.
It is less clear where it begins. For the purposes of this review, the start of the home
delivery channel will be defined as the ‘order penetration point’ (Oldhager, 2003). This
physical process usually begins with the picking of goods within a stock-holding point. Only
when picked are the goods designated for a particular home shopper. Distribution
downstream from this point is sometimes labelled J4U, ‘just for you’ (Fernie and Sparks
(2015, p. 222-223).
This links to innovation in the ordering process discussed earlier leading to the ‘any time,
any place’ mentality and retailers have responded through offering a plethora of delivery
(and returns) options for customers. This means that retailers offer tighter time windows for
delivery, provide click and collect choices (the customer incurs the transport costs!) and a
range of collection/return points (mainly convenience stores) (Fernie and Sparks, 2015, p.
221).
Pag. 54
6. BACKGROUND - E-BUYERS
In order to have a better overview about this research, the author investigated e-buyer
characteristics. From the e-buyer characteristics point of view, e-retailers have better
knowledge about the specific customer. In this case the actors above mentioned will focus
their activities and logistics services based on location, and customer characteristics.
A company's primary responsibility is to serve its customers. Profit is not the primary
goal, but rather an essential condition for the company's continued existence.
(DRUCKER, 1954)
According to Kewill (2013) Generation Z/the post-90s generation have entered the market,
as both consumers and employees. Having grown up using e-mail, social networking and
communications technology such as mobile/smart phones, MP3 players, laptops/tablets
and games consoles, they have never known a world without them. Adept at switching
between multiple platforms, formats and devices, they expect to utilize the technology they
are familiar with in the work environment, accelerating the prevalence of Bring Your Own
Device (BYOD) in industries heavily reliant on the timely transfer of data, such as logistics.
Croucher, Baker and Ruston (2014) refer about the rapid growth in online selling
companies, such as Amazon, and the fact that all major grocery companies have wholly
embraced the concept means that home shopping is now very common, with all the
implications for logistics that home delivery brings.
It is important to differentiate between home shopping and home delivery (e-fulfillment).
‘Home shopping’ refers to the different ways of shopping for and ordering products from
Pag. 55
home. ‘Home delivery’, or e-fulfillment, refers to the physical delivery of the product to the
home (strictly speaking, e-fulfillment is the delivering of orders made via the internet but
the terms are used interchangeably).
The growth of home delivery has led to the need for some fundamental changes in
logistics operations that wish to serve the home market. The very nature of the final
delivery operation to the home is dramatically different from a standard delivery operation,
and home delivery requirements also affect other elements in the supply chain (Croucher,
Baker and Ruston, 2014); typical implications are:
- shops become showrooms where stock replenishment is no longer an issue
- there has been a major increase in direct home deliveries, where restricted delivery time
windows, often during the evening, have an impact on delivery vehicle utilization
- new distribution systems have been established (small deliveries on small vehicles into
residential areas, community depots, etc)
- existing delivery systems have been provided with new opportunities (postal service,
parcels delivery operations)
- customer ordering systems can be linked directly to manufacturers’ reordering systems;
- there is a high rate of returns – reverse logistics. Outside the grocery sector, returns
levels are quite high and can vary between 30 and 50 per cent.
Pag. 56
5) Hunter-Gatherers: this segment is typically age 30 to 49, married, with two children,
and most often goes to sites that provide analysis and comparisons of products and
prices;
6) Brand Loyalists: this segment of people go directly to the website of a merchant they
know, are the most satisfied with shopping online, and spend the most online.
This conceals the different stages of development for different country markets and the
geo-demographic profile of internet consumers.
The profile of an online shopper is not just linked to demographic and psychographic/
behaviour variables that favour online shopping, or to geography, technology and
confidence in the online market, but to the merchandise being bought. For example: the
age profile for online grocery shoppers tends to be younger, in the 18–40 year old range.
Grocery shoppers also tended to be in the higher social categories. Older shoppers (65
plus) were less likely to shop online for groceries (IGD, 2011).
It is interesting to note that early research into M-commerce customers indicates some
similarities to customers in the early years of the uptake of e-commerce, for example, most
shoppers (62 per cent in 2005) were young (14–24) males. They tended to be confident
internet users and experienced internet shoppers (Bigne et al, 2005). The demographic
and gender profile is likely to rebalance as the technology becomes widely familiar and the
market develops. Internet use was not found to influence mobile shopping, but previous
experience of internet purchase meant consumers were more predisposed to buy on
mobile devices.
All of this research shows that e-tailing has been most successful to date where a multi-
channel ‘click and bricks’ approach is adopted. The companies best equipped to adopt
such a strategy were traditional department stores and clothing specialists in that they had
considerable experience of dealing with the non-store shopper through their catalogues
and ‘low tech’ selling techniques, especially as these companies were well equipped to
deal with home deliveries and a returns policy.
According to Harrison, Hoek and Skipworth (2014, p. 287), if the delivery service does not
meet customer expectations, sales can be lost. Marks & Spencer (M&S), a household
retail brand in the UK, was faced with online shoppers expecting next-day or even same-
Pag. 57
day delivery of their orders, but its antiquated technology and delivery systems were not
up to the job, Butler (2013) reports.
Croucher, Baker and Rushton, (2014, ch.3) refer to the logistics components of customer
service and their classification in different ways.
Logistics customer service elements can thus be divided into three categories that reflect
the nature and timing of the particular service requirements (before, during and after
delivery of the product):
1) Pre-transaction elements: these are customer service factors that arise prior to the
actual transaction taking place. They include: written customer service policy; accessibility
of order personnel; single order contact point; organizational structure; method of ordering;
order size constraints; system flexibility; transaction elements.
2) Transaction elements: these are the elements directly related to the physical transaction
and are those that are most commonly concerned with distribution and logistics. The
following are included: delivery time; delivery reliability; delivery of complete order.
3) Post-transaction elements: these involve those elements that occur after the delivery
has taken place, such as: availability of spares; call-out time; invoicing procedures;
invoicing accuracy; product tracing/warranty; returns policy; customer complaints and
procedures; claims procedures.
Each of these can be broken down into further detailed elements (Croucher, Baker and
Ruston, 2014, ch.3). One example of this is shown in Image 6.2, which describes the
different time-related components.
The total order fulfillment cycle time has been split into the five main time-related
components from order receipt to final delivery. In addition, there is a preliminary step from
order placement to order receipt, although this is not considered by some companies
because it is deemed to be part of their customers’ ordering process. When identifying and
measuring order fulfillment cycle time it is important to be able to break it down to all of the
key components. Thus, if there is a customer service problem it can be measured and
traced quickly and easily and the actual detailed problem can be identified and remedied.
Pag. 58
Image 6.2 The Constituent Parts of Total Order Fulfilment Cycle Time
Source: Croucher, Baker and Ruston, 2014, ch.3 and personal elaboration
According to Croucher, Baker and Ruston (2014, p. 33), the core product concerns the
item itself: the technical content, the product features, the ease of use, the style and the
quality. The service elements, which can be called the ‘product surround’, represent the
availability of the product, the ease of ordering, the speed of delivery, and after-sales
support.
Pag. 59
The marketing departments of many companies recognize that the product surround
elements are very important in determining the final demand for a product. In addition,
these aspects often represent only a small percentage of the cost of a product. Thus, true
to the Pareto 80/20 rule, it is estimated that product surround or logistics elements
represent about 80 per cent of the impact of the product but only represent 20 per cent of
the cost. It is essential that the customer service elements are satisfactory, and logistics
plays a crucial role in providing good customer service (Croucher, Baker and Ruston,
2014, p. 33).
One of the definitions of logistics that was provided in the previous sections, referred to
‘the positioning of resource at the right time, in the right place, at the right cost, of the right
quality’.
This definition can be expanded into what might be considered as the seven ‘rights’ of
customer service. These are the right quantity, cost, product, customer, time, place and
condition (Image 6.4).
All of these different aspects can be key requisites of a good customer service offering –
indeed, each of them may be essential to ensure that a product achieves its expected
sales in the various markets where it is made available. It is notable that all of these
elements are affected by the standard and quality of the logistics operations that are
essential to getting a product to market (Croucher, Baker and Ruston, 2014, p. 33).
Pag. 60
The key topic of customer service continues to increase in importance and to have a major
impact on logistics, such that the logistics function has become the key element in
customer service strategy. This includes:
- the development of ‘customer-facing’ organizations and operations
- a move towards service policies based on market segmentation
- JIT and quick-response systems requiring markedly more frequent and reliable delivery
- ‘brand image’ becoming less strong – the dominant differentiator being availability.
One very recent example of the increasing importance of customer service has been the
move to develop an alternative approach to the supply chain by creating what is called
demand chain management (DCM). Here the intention is to move the emphasis away from
the supply of products and towards the demand for products – to reflect the importance of
what the customer requires rather that what the supplier wants to provide. Ultimately this is
linking the two concepts of supply chain management (SCM) with customer relationship
management (CRM), or linking logistics directly with marketing (Croucher, Baker and
Ruston, 2014).
Concerns have been expressed that online retailing is likely to generate more transport
and impose a heavier burden on the environment than store-based retailing (Hesse,
2002). Some e-tailers, on the other hand, advertise their service as being good for the
environment. Matthews et al (2001) compared the externalities associated with the
distribution of books through a conventional retail channel and from an online bookseller
and came to the conclusion that the latter was less environmentally damaging. According
to their calculations, which included ‘trucking, air freight, production, packaging and
passenger trips’, energy consumption, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and the
quantity of hazardous waste were respectively, 16 per cent, 36 per cent, 9 per cent and 23
per cent lower in the case of online retailing. (Fernie and Sparks, 2015, p. 231)
Pag. 61
7. METHODOLOGY
The current section presents the methods and methodology that have been used to
conduct this research.
In order to better define the type of research conducted, the classification of the study is
provided; it gives an overview of how this research can be classified according to the
purpose, process, outcome and logic of the research.
This is followed by an explanation of the study’s paradigm and how the data and literature
were collected.
This section continues with an overview of several models used in the analysis.
According to Collis & Hussey (2014), research can be classified according to the purpose,
process, outcome and logic of the research. To clarify how this study has been conducted,
the different classifications will be described in this section.
According to Collis & Hussey (2014), this purpose classifies the current research project
as predictive research. Predictive research looks into answering the questions of ‘how’,
‘why’ and ‘where’ and the answers or solutions generated from this analysis will be used to
generalize in similar studies where applicable.
The process of a study refers to the kind of data that is collected during that study in order
to answer the research question(s) (Collis & Hussey 2014).
The research question is this: assuming that all four ports included in the research provide
warehouses to e-retailers, which location has the most convenient distribution (e.g. short
lead time and large e-buyer customer base)? How can the Port of Gothenburg (PoG)
contribute to the success of online retailers? Which factors create a competitive advantage
for e-retailers? Which factors influence the choice of location for a warehouse/DC?
Pag. 62
In order to answer these questions, both qualitative and quantitative data needs to be
collected.
The qualitative data refers to the panel session organised with the Port of Gothenburg
director and top managers, in order to get experts within the field to share their knowledge
of the current situation and receive some inputs. The research sessions contributed to the
improvement of this paper (on going) based also on online retailers’ perceptions and
services requested.
The study relies on a quantitative analysis of data obtained mainly from scientific and
official resources. The quantitative data refers to the numerical data that has been used to
map the different locations, customers, costs, routes, port’s performances, country
economy, and different performances within the specific areas that are part of the study.
The data consists of coordinates of the port’s location as well as data that is used to
calculate the time, costs, capacity and the geographical distance between the distribution
centres and customers, which were necessary to be able to identify the best Scandinavian
port (among those identified) for online retailers interested in the Scandinavian market.
As described above, the purpose of the research is to investigate the port best able to
satisfy the demand for online retailers, shipping lines, offering a well connected hinterland,
and penetrating e-buyers spread across the North of Europe (Finland, Sweden, Norway,
Denmark). If the Port is aware of what is important to the actors involved in the e-business,
the port itself will deliver high services to its customers, and all actors involved work, as a
consequence, for “next customer” satisfaction. The outcome of the research can be said to
be applied research, as described by Collis & Hussey (2014). Applied research refers to a
study where the goal is to solve a problem. Since the Port of Gothenburg faces challenges
regarding port activities, lead time, costs and customer satisfaction, these can be related
to the problem that this research aims to solve.
A theoretical structure was created, with the purpose of being tested later in the process of
the research. This structure of the process indicates that this study was made under a
deductive approach. A deductive approach refers to empirical observations that are tested
against an already-developed theoretical structure and to a method that goes from general
to the particular, something that can also be related to in this study. (Collis & Hussey 2014)
7.2 Paradigm
This section presents an explanation of the study’s paradigm and how the data and
literature were collected.
Pag. 63
positivism. Interpretivism refers to the idea that social reality is subjective, since social
reality shapes people’s perception. This paradigm focuses on exploring the complexity of
social phenomena, while a positivist paradigm is more about measuring social phenomena
(Collis & Hussey 2014). A positivist paradigm focuses on different theories that can be
explained by the social phenomena that exist. Since this study is about building
warehouses/DCs in the PoG, with an investment of 490million USD (ca.) and the
introduction of new services for e-retailers, LSP, e-buyers, and port, including the
development of a new network by using theories about network-hub-port-centric activities,
this study is conducted under a positivistic paradigm.
There are different philosophical assumptions that underpin the paradigm and since this
study is done under a positivistic paradigm, the philosophy that is used in this study is
methodological assumption since a particular aspect was studied in this research and also
because the association between the variables was analysed. To add to this, as the
sample size studied here was large, it was therefore this assumption that suited the study
best. (Collis & Hussey 2014)
Considering the extensive literature on the research topic, some previous theories and
studies had to be collected. The literature that has been searched for and collected can be
referred to as secondary data, as the data already existed before the study began.
To find relevant literature, as published in articles and journals, the first step is to identify
the scope of the research.
The scope of the research was to investigate 1) The supply chain from an independent
point of view, in order to have a solid background; 2) The warehouse/DCs characteristics,
focusing on e-retailers and LSP; 3) The maritime section, as a relevant part of the SC, was
analysed taking into consideration the port perspective, shipping line preferences related
to port efficiency and hinterland/logistics infrastructure, focusing on port-centric activities;
4) Online retailers as part of the SC were analysed considering their preferences to better
respond to customer demand; 5) Logistics service providers, as actors in the SC who
receive the non-core activities by e-retailers; 6) E-consumers, as the final users of online
retailers’ products, were investigated considering their characteristics and locations.
This investigation as a whole identifies properly the role of the port in E-commerce
business, identifying the most appropriate port in which to establish a DC for e-retailers.
By having the scope defined, it is possible to identify some limitations, which improve the
literature review. (Collis & Hussey 2014)
After the scope was defined, the literature review began. By using different databases
provided by Gothenburg University (GU) and Chalmers’ library, together with keywords,
relevant literature could be found. The specification of the two universities was applied
because the first university (GU) has limited access to some online literature, and the
Pag. 64
second one provides an extensive database of e-books, relevant material, scanned
magazine-articles and online newspapers. The author investigated leading international
logistics and maritime transport journals, marketing and management journals, recent
books about SC, warehousing, distribution, transport modelling and transport geography.
Relevant literature about facility location by different authors was analysed from different
perspectives.
Moreover, the author searched for relevant articles in other international journals and news
sources by using electronic databases, such as ProQuest (ABI), Spinger link, IHS, Sea-
web.com, Eurostat, UN Comtrade, IMF, search words by section.
Dividing the literature background into different sections contributed to identifying several
key words, and observations have been classified. The different sections include the
following key words:
- Supply Chain: supply chain management, transport strategy, supply chain network,
logistics factors, supply chain performance; SC key activities, SC network, logistics
strategy, transportation network, transport strategy, route, transport structure, hub and
spoke, type of networks, transport geography, transport distance, green logistics;
- Warehouses (W.): w. location, w. strategic location, w. distance from the inbound
logistics access point and distribution area, type of warehouses, warehouses
classification, facility location strategy, public warehouse, private warehouses;
- Maritime Logistics: Port efficiency and characteristics, port services, port hinterland, port
strategic positioning, sea port productivity, port infrastructure in logistics, port
competitiveness, port performance, port-centric, port-centric activities, port inefficiency,
port choice and shipping lines, models to analyse the port performance, shipping
voyage estimation cost, Free Trade Zone (FTZ);
- Online Retailers: DCs localisation, facility location, where online retailers decide to
locate a warehouse for the online and store distribution; factors online retailers consider
when investing in a DC, infrastructure and logistics services required;
- Logistics Service Providers: LSP classification, party logistics services, LSP green
attitude, LSP localisation preferences;
- E-Consumers: e-consumer characteristics, e-buyer segment, e-buyer geo-demographic
characteristics.
By studying the gathered literature, the opportunity to find other relevant sources and
original sources was given, something that was important to providing the study with high
validity.
In line with the theories, the competitors analysis must be conducted through the Port of
Oslo, Copenhagen-Malmo, Stockholm and Gothenburg.
Several considerations have been identified in order to have clear guidelines for the
research:
Is the competitiveness of the Port of Gothenburg related to the expansion of the port land?
and/or is it related to the presence of logistics infrastructure? and/or is it related to port
efficiency - performance? and/or is related to the lead time? and/or is related to shipping
Pag. 65
line routing? and/or is it related to the investment of large online retailers? and finally, is
the competitiveness of the Port of Gothenburg positively related to the identification of
Gothenburg as a HUB?
Data is collected independently and according to the literature background. Each section
has a dedicated model or set of data to be investigated. The final result is to combine all
data together and present a ranking of the most efficient and competitive port (geographic
location) in which to locate a warehouse.
Considering that the strategic value of a company relates to many aspects of the business,
non-quantitative aspects must also be considered.
In order to formulate a logical supply chain network model, the following elements must be
considered:
- The Objective is the goal of the optimisation and the criteria to be used to compare
different solutions. If the object is to minimise the distribution time, it is possible to
compare two different solutions and judge which is the better based on time;
- The Constraints defines the rules of a legitimate solution.
- The Decision defines what the company allows the optimisation to chose from. In the
optimisation of the physical supply chain, the main decisions include how much product
moves from one location to another, how many sites are picked, where those sites are,
but of course the decision cannot be separated from the constraints;
- Data refers to the factors the company wants consider in the decision-making process.
In cases where no supporting data is available, a company will figure out how to make
good decisions by creating multiple scenarios.
7.5 Modeling
According to Watson (2013, p.12-13), considering the complexity of the supply chain,
mathematical optimisation technology is the best way to sort through the various options
balance trade-offs, determine the best location for facilities, and support better decision
making. Mathematical optimisation relies on linear and integer programming.
Optimisation is a complementary, not competitive, technology that allows a company
actually to determine the best locations for the facilities. The decision maker can let
optimisation do the have number crunching to determine the details of the alternatives
(where to locate, what is made where, how product flows, which customer is served by
which warehouse, for instance); and the positive consequences of optimisation, if set up
correctly, are that it will uncover ideas that the decision maker never thought about.
Pag. 66
Regarding the population (e-buyers), different sources have been analysed in order to
understand the geographical location of potential buyers; each country’s economic
performance has been considered in terms of, for example, the main economical indicator,
trade flow (import/export), trade value, trade throughput.
In the maritime section, several indicators are considered such as the number of TEUs,
containers (inward/outward), number of vessels (and GT), port characteristics, berth length
and depth, the services offered by the port, the working hours, port charges, location,
maritime transport by country, and future/actual investment planned. The port’s location is
compared with the COG, evaluating the network efficiency. A relevant factor is the shipping
route from Asia to Europe (especially to the four ports); a shipping voyage calculation is
provided in order to highlight which port that is more convenient for the shipping line
(costs, timing, and SECA nautical miles). The four ports are in SECA area and are required
to use a different type of fuel with a lower percentage of sulphur (this fuel has a different
price to the open sea used fuel).
For logistics, a centre of gravity (COG) problem is usually defined as selecting the location
of a facility so that the weighted-average distance to all the demand points is minimised. A
COG solution suggests that facilities are located at the centre (the “centre of gravity) of a
collection of demand points (or in some instances, for firms with many suppliers, at the
centre of the supply points). Centre of gravity models, by definition, are clear cut and not
ambiguous.
Problem formulations do not require a skilled professional to determine the cleanest
approximation or modelling formula, but rather, merely require a correct and accurate
specification. Centre of gravity studies are useful both for building the intuition of the
professional analyst and for validating the accuracy of his or her more comprehensive
results. The location of the warehouse was also considered from the perspective of time
range. In order to serve the higher number of customers in the shortest leat time, the
distances to the potential e-customers were analysed from the port (as a departure point)
and from the COG, and then compared (both road and rail). They study also focuses on
sustainable routing, and in this case Eco-transIT carbon emission calculator was used.
Pag. 67
8. Analysis - Trade
According to the literature introduced previously, in this section the author goes on to
investigate international trade by country - Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The
analysis focuses on the selected HS codes, Import-Export value by selected countries, top
Import-Export trade partners, and trade value among the Scandinavian countries.
International trade - Import & Export - is a picture of the country, and a local population’s
consumption habits show willingness to spend in products or services.
International trade, sourcing from foreign markets, products directed to different
marketplaces, market/industry trends and goods traffic flows are important elements to
consider for supply chain, maritime transport and warehouse location.
To perform this investigation was analysed in detail each single HS code by country. In
appendix A the selected HS codes are reported, with the proper classification.
After that the HS codes results have been merged to summarise the results (Appendix B).
In appendixes C-D-E-F the results are reported by country and single HS code.
In our analysis the HS codes have been classified as below, first by range (HS from/to)
and by dedicated category:
1. HS from 28 to 38: Chemicals & Allied Industries, categories included no. 30-33-34-37
2. HS from 41 to 43: Raw Hides, Skins, Leather, & Furs, category included no. 42
Pag. 68
3. HS from 44 to 49: Wood & Wood Products, categories included no. 48-49
4. HS from 50 to 63: Textiles, categories included no. 57-60-61-62-63
5. HS from 64 to 67: Footwear / Headgear, categories included no. 64-65-66
6. HS from 68 to 71: Stone / Glass, category included no. 69
7. HS from 72 to 83: Metals, category included no. 71
8. HS from 84 to 85: Machinery / Electrical, category 84 but only subcategories no.
8467-8468-8469-8470 ; and category 85
9. HS from 90 to 97: Miscellaneous, categories included no 90-91-92-94-95-96.
Figure 8.1 shows import/export data Figure 8.1 Import-Export Value Selected
by country for the year 2015 (in Countries 2015
Figure 8.2, export by selected HS category, highlights export value by country (to the rest
of the world) (see Appendix B, table B.2, for data).
In order to better understand the value trade, the average have been calculated, equal to
3,25 billion USD.
Sweden in 2015 had an overall better performance in export compared to the three
neighbours’ countries.
Sweden’s total export value for the selected HS codes is equal to 44,9 billion USD; second
better performance in exports is Denmark with 32,5 billion USD; third is Finland with 18,9
billion USD; and last is Norway with 7,6 billion USD.
Pag. 69
Figure 8.2 Export - Selected HS Category by
Country 2015
Sweden
Textiles Finland
Denmark
Norway
Footwear / Headgear
Metals
Machinery / Electrical
Miscellaneous
Figure 8.3 shows import value in million USD by selected HS codes, for the selected
countries (the import is considered from the rest of the world). The average import value,
among the considered countries, is 3,27 billion USD.
The “picture” of the import level changed slightly from the previous figure (8.2).
According to the selected HS category, Sweden remains the major importer among the
Scandinavian countries, with the total value of 39,5 billion USD; in second position is
Denmark with a total of 27,69 billion USD; third is Norway with 22,16 billion USD; and last
is Finland with the import value equal to 15,2 billion USD (see Appendix B, table B.3, for
data).
In order to better understand the trade value for each single country, a deeper
investigation was conducted. In the next paragraphs the reader will have a detailed picture
about the country’s top import/export partners, and the import/export value among the
Scandinavian countries; details about trade flow are reported in the dedicated appendix.
For a deeper investigation about HS codes (Import-Export) by country, refer to the
appendix C-D-E-F.
66
Pag. 70
Figure 8.3 Import - Selected HS Category by
Country 2015
Sweden
Textiles Finland
Denmark
Norway
Footwear / Headgear
Metals
Machinery / Electrical
Miscellaneous
Pag. 71
8.2 Denmark Trade
Figure 8.4 shows Denmark’s top 5 import countries. Figure 8.4 Denmark - Top 5 Import
The first country from which Denmark imports Countries (UN Comtrade, 2015)
products and services is Germany, with a value of
17,4 billion USDs (39 per cent).
Denmark imports for 10,5 billion USD products and 15%
14%
services from Sweden (23 per cent).
The Netherlands ranks third with a value of 6,81
23%
billion USD (15 per cent). Denmark imports “just” 6,37 9%
billion USD (14 per cent); and last one is United
Kingdom with total value of 3,83 billion USD (9 per
cent) (see appendix C, table C.2, for data). The
percentage considered is based on the value of top 5 39%
import countries and not based on total import .
Germany Sweden
Figure 8.5 highlights Denmark’s top 5 export Netherlands China
countries. United Kingdom
Germany represents the major market for Denmark
where the products are exported; the total value of this
trade is 15,29 billion USD (36 per cent of top 5 export Figure 8.5 Denmark - Top 5 Export
value). Sweden is ranked second with 10,45 billion Countries (UN Comtrade, 2015)
USD (24,65 per cent); Norway rank third, with the
total value equal to 6 billion USD (14,17 per cent).
United Kingdom in fourth position, receive goods and 12,78%
services from Denmark with the total value of 5,41 14,17%
billion USD (12,78 billion USD). The last country
receiving Danish export is USA with the value equal 24,65%
12,32%
to 5,21 billion USD (12,32 per cent) (see appendix C,
table C.3, for data). The percentage was calculated
on the total top 5 export value.
36,08%
Analysing the details of the import and export trade
between Denmark and Scandinavian countries is
clear to highlight the major country partner - Sweden Germany Sweden
United Kingdom Norway
(Figure 8.6). USA
Figure 8.6 shows the import/export trade value
between Denmark and Sweden-Finland-Norway. The total trade with Sweden count for
20,94 billion USD, with import value equal to 10,49 billion USD, and total export equal to
10,44 billion USD.
Norway, is ranked second, among the nordic countries with the total import/export value
with 10 billion USD (3,9 billion USD import; 6 billion USD export) (see appendix C, table C.
4, for data).
Pag. 72
Finland total trade with Denmark counts for 3,43 billion USD. Denmark import from Finland
1,10 billion USD, and export 2,32 billion USD.
The average value calculated for Denmark, it is equal to 7,63 billion USD. This data is
used at the end to compare the trade value among the countries.
16.000
14.000
12.000
10.000
8.000
6.000
4.000
2.000
0
Sweden Norway Finland
Pag. 73
8.3 Finland Trade
According to UN Comtrade (2015), Finland’s major Figure 8.7 Finland Top 5 Import
Countries 2015 (UN Comtrade)
import partners are Germany, Sweden, Russian
Federation, China and the Netherlands (Figure 8.7).
Germany export value for 8,99 billion USD (30,11 per
10,61%
cent), Sweden count for 6,74 billion USD (22,59 per
cent), Russian Federation trade value for 6,58 billion 30,11%
14,63%
USD (22,06 per cent), China trade value is 4,36
billion USD (14,63 per cent), and last is the
Netherlands with 3,16 billion USD (10,61 per cent)
(see appendix D, table D.2). The percentage was 22,06%
calculated on the total top 5 import value. 22,59%
Pag. 74
Denmark’s total trade with Finland counts for 2,92 billion USD. Finland import from
Denmark is 1,91 billion USD, and export 1 billion USD (see appendix D, table D.4, for
data).
The average import/export value from the Nordic countries is equal to for 4,11 billion USD.
9.800
8.400
7.000
5.600
4.200
2.800
1.400
0
Sweden Norway Denmark
Total Import Export
Pag. 75
8.4 Norway Trade
Figure 8.10 shows Norway top 5 import countries in Figure 8.10 Norway - Top 5 Import
Countries 2015 (UN Comtrade)
2015 (UN Comtrade, 2015). The first country from
where Norway import products and services is
Sweden with a value of 8,86 billion USD (25,1 per
cent). Norway import for 8,71 billion USD products 13,7%
25,1%
and services from Germany (24,6 per cent).
China rank third with a value of 8,02 billion USD (22,7 14,0%
per cent). United Kingdom export to Norway 4,94
billion USD (14,0 per cent); and last one is USA with
total value of 4,84 billion USD (13,7 per cent) (see
22,7% 24,6%
appendix E, table E.2, for data). The percentage
considered is based on the value of top 5 import
countries and not based on total import.
Analysing the details of the import and export trade United Kingdom Germany
between Norway and Nordic countries is clear to Netherlands France
Sweden
highlight the major country partner - Sweden.
Figure 8.12 shows the import/export trade value between Norway and Sweden-Denmark-
Finland. The total trade with Sweden count for 15,18 billion USD, with import value equal
to 8,86 billion USD, and total export equal to 6,32 billion USD. Denmark total trade with
Norway counts for 8,31 billion USD. Norway import from Denmark is 4,41 billion USD, and
export 3,89 billion USD.
Pag. 76
Finland, is ranked third, among the nordic countries (trade with Norway) with the total
import/export value with 2,87 billion USD (1,73 billion USD import; 1,14 billion USD export)
(details in appendix E, table E.4).
The average import/export value from the Nordic countries is equal to for 5,86 billion USD.
11.200
9.600
8.000
6.400
4.800
3.200
1.600
0
Denmark Finland Sweden
Pag. 77
8.5 Sweden Trade
Figure 8.13 shows Sweden top 5 import countries in Figure 8.13 Sweden - Top 5 Import
Countries 2015 (UN Comtrade)
2015. The first country from where Sweden import
products and services is Germany with a value of
24,77 billion USD (37,7 per cent).
17,22%
Sweden import for 11,42 billion USD products and
services from the Netherlands (17,37 per cent). 17,37%
Norway rank third with a value of 11,32 billion USD 16,15%
(17,22 per cent). Denmark export to Sweden 10,61
billion USD (16,5 per cent); and last one is United
Kingdom with total value of 7,61 billion USD (11,58 11,58%
per cent) (see appendix F, table F.2, for details). The
37,68%
percentage considered is based on the value of top 5
import countries and not based on total import.
Figure 8.15 shows the import/export trade value between Sweden and Norway-Denmark-
Finland.
Pag. 78
The Swedish total trade with Norway (figure 8.15) count for 25,43 billion USD, with import
value equal to 11,32 billion USD, and total export equal to 14,10 billion USD.
Denmark total trade with Sweden counts for 20,12 billion USD. Sweden import from
Denmark is 10,61 billion USD, and export 9,50 billion USD.
Finland, is ranked third, among the nordic countries (trade with Sweden) with the total
import/export value with 15,62 billion USD (6,36 billion USD import; 9,26 billion USD
export) (see appendix F, table F.4, for details).
The average import/export value from the Nordic countries to Sweden is equal to 13,59
billion USD.
23.400
20.800
Value in Million USD
18.200
15.600
13.000
10.400
7.800
5.200
2.600
0
Denmark Norway Finland
Pag. 79
8.6 Comparing the Average Value
This analysis is based on the average data calculated in the fig. 8.6, fig. 8.9, fig. 8.12; fig.
8.15. Figure 8.16 compares the different values of average according to the import/export
trade value in USD between the four countries (value in thousands).
The result is that Sweden rank first for the trade value between the nordic countries,
Denmark is second, third Finland, and fourth Norway.
10500
7000 7.639
5.860
3500 4.115,13
0
Average
8.7 Comments
According to Ballou (1999, p.34) there are different products directed to the selected
marketplaces (HS codes). Considering the figure 8.2, Sweden is the country with the
highest level of export value for the selected products (6 categories out of 8 are higher
compared with the other countries); instead, the figure 8.3 confirm Sweden as the top
importer for the selected HS codes categories (8 out of 8).
It is confirmed by Mulcahy (1994) and Richards (2014) that one important element to
consider, in warehouse investment, is the goods traffic flow; and Sweden definitely has the
higher values in Import-Export compared to the selected countries. When discussing about
logistics centre, Europlatform (2004) mention the goods flow on national and international
basis; in this case Sweden, considering the trade values both by HS codes (categories)
and by trade value among the Scandinavian countries (figures 8.6 - 8.9 - 8.12 - 8.15,
summarised in figure 8.16), is the country that perform better (almost with the double
Pag. 80
value fig. 8.16, compared to Denmark) in Scandinavia (trade flow perspective). Botha and
Ittmann (2008) and Cullinane and Song (2002) confirm that the expansion of seaports (as
critical link in SC) and economic growth (here the trade flow) are related; Sweden trade
flow is higher compared to the rest of the countries (the seaports’ expansion are
investigated in the next sections).
The literature investigated and the supported data, highlight Sweden as the right location
where to invest for a new warehouse/DC.
Pag. 81
9. Analysis - Maritime
In this section several analyses are conducted in order to provide a general picture of the
maritime sector in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Finland is not taken into consideration
because it is not part of the maritime research (only as a customer market).
A general overview of the maritime freight by country (and region), the port analysis
investigation, and the navigation costs will contribute to a clearer picture of the selected
countries and main ports (Oslo, Copenhagen-Malmo, Gothenburg, and Stockholm).
9.1.1 Denmark
According to Eurostat 2013, Denmark’s national overall performance in freight (loaded and
unloaded) counted for 74,500 thousand tonnes. Particularly the loaded in 2013 was 33,601
thousand tonnes and the unloaded 45,817 thousand tonnes. The port of Copenhagen is
located in Hovedstaden region; this region counted 4,437 thousands tonnes and unloaded
8,933 thousand tonnes, with the total of 13,341 thousands tonnes. This data refers to the
different regions and not the port itself.
Pag. 82
Table 9.1 Denmark Maritime Freight
Maritime transport of
freight - Denmark 2013 - Loaded (1) Unloaded (1) Total (2)
Thousand tonnes
Danmark 33.601 45.817 79.418
Hovedstaden 4.437 8.933 13.370
Sjælland 8.734 11.315 20.049
Syddanmark 13.098 12.783 25.881
Midtjylland 3.859 8.534 12.393
Nordjylland 3.474 4.251 7.725
this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”.
Note 1) Eurostat 2013
2) Author analysis based on Loaded + Unloaded flow
9.1.2 Norway
According to Eurostat 2013, Norway nationally had a total of 187,287 thousands tonnes of
freight. Particularly Oslo had 856 thousands tonnes loaded and 4,939 thousands tonnes
unloaded, with a total of 5,794 thousands tonnes. In percentage terms Oslo accounts for
3.09 per cent of total Norwegian freight. This data refers to the different regions and not
the port itself.
Maritime transport of
freight - Norway 2013 - Loaded (1) Unloaded (1) Total (2)
Thousand tonnes
Pag. 83
9.1.3 Sweden
Sweden in 2013 accounted for 132,710 thousand tonnes of freight, with 59,745 thousands
tonnes loaded and 72,965 thousands tonnes unloaded. Particular focus is on 3 different
regions:
1) Stockholm
2) Sydsverige (Malmo)
3) Vastsverige (Gothenburg)
In 2013, Stockholm region had 9.009 thousands tonnes of freight by maritime transport,
Sydsverige (Port of Malmo location) had 36,569 thousands of tonnes and Vastsverige
(Port of Gothenburg location) had 47,025 thousands tonnes of freight.
This data refers to the different regions and not the port itself.
Maritime transport of
freight - Sweden 2013 - Loaded (1) Unloaded (1) Total (2)
Thousand tonnes
Pag. 84
Figure 9.1 Comparing the Freight Results
Denmark
Copenhangen
(Source: Eurostat 2013)
Norway
Oslo
Sweden
Stockholm
Sydsverige
Vastsverige
By contrast the region - Vastsverige, where Gothenburg is the capital, had the highest
turnover freight compared to Sydsverige (Malmo, 2nd), Copenhagen (3rd), Stockholm
(4th) and Oslo (5th).
In order to show performance in gross tonnage (GT) by country, Eurostat (2014) reported
the data by country and by port (Figure 9.2) (details in Appendix “H”, table H.0).
To better understand the port characteristics the appendix “G” provides some details for
the selected ports; and the appendix “H” presents the containerships data by port.
Denmark in 2014 registered 23.59 million GT, while Copenhagen had 3.43 million GT, that
represent the 14.55 per cent of the total Denmark.
Norway in 2014 registered 21.93 million GT, and Oslo registered 3.28 million GT,
equivalent to 14.97 per cent of total Norway.
Sweden results being to largest country in terms of gross tonnage in 2014. Malmo
registered 488 thousand GT, in percentage terms equal to 1.29. Stockholm registered 1.72
million GT (4.57 per cent); and last Gothenburg with 21.37 million GT (56.58 per cent of
total Sweden). The PoG has almost the same GT levels of Norway (21,933 GT) and
Denmark (23,595 GT). It results that Gothenburg represent the major port among the
selected.
Pag. 85
Figure 9.2 Gross Tonnage by Country and by Port
40.000
36.000
32.000
28.000
GT (Thousands)
24.000
20.000
16.000
12.000
8.000
4.000
0
Denmark
Københavns Havn
Norway
Oslo
Sweden
Malmö
Stockholm
Göteborg
Source: Eurostat 2014
Figure 9.3 (Eurostat, 2014) (see appendix “H”, table H.1 for details) contributes to the
general understating of the number of containerships arriving to the Port of Oslo, Port of
Copenhagen-Malmo, Port of Stockholm, and the Port of Gothenburg.
In total the four ports received 1,727 containerships (2014); 386 arrived at the port of Oslo
(22,35 per cent), 389 to the port of Copenhagen-Malmo (22,52 per cent), 165 to the port
of Stockholm (9,55 per cent), and 787 to the port of Gothenburg (45,57 per cent). In
proportion, the Port of Gothenburg perform better than the other ports (see other tables in
appendix H, from H.2 to H.5). Figure 9.3 shows the PoG as the only port (among the
others) that receive calls by ships’ GT range from 40.000 to 199.000.
The higher segment, for the PoG, is the calls by ships within 7.000 to 7.999 GT; the
second higher segment is the call from ships within 9.000 - 9.999 GT.
Figure 9.3 can be considered as the shipping line preferences according to the most
appropriate trade market (import-export) and port characteristics. The PoG is able to
receive calls by larger containerships due to the water depth (introduced in the next
sections).
Pag. 86
Figure 9.3 Number of Containerships in Specified Ports (inwards) (2014)
300
Number of containerships in a specified port (units)
280
260
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2 000 to 2 999 GT
7 000 to 7 999 GT
8 000 to 8 999 GT
9 000 to 9 999 GT
10 000 to 19 999 GT
20 000 to 29 999 GT
40 000 to 49 999 GT
50 000 to 79 999 GT
80 000 to 99 999 GT
The appendix H, table H.4, summarise the port’s call performance. The PoG received a
larger number of calls (compared with the selected ports) in different categories (in total 10
out of 14); it is the only port able to receive calls from containerships in different ranges,
from 40,000 to 199,999 GT.
Instead the Port of Oslo received calls (25) for the segment 2.000-2.999 (equal to 83,33
per cent for the total segment), and 101 calls (segment 8.000-8.999) equal to 53,72 per
cent. By contrast the Port of Copenhagen-Malmo (CMP) received 63 calls for the segment
6.000-6.999, equal to 49,61 per cent of the total segment; CMP performed better in the
segment 20.000-29.999 with 34 calls, equal to 61,82 per cent of the total segment.
In the appendix “H” a comparison analysis is provided by port and by category.
Pag. 87
9.3 Container Traffic for Selected European Ports
The previous paragraphs already provided an idea about the selected ports, showing
Sweden - Gothenburg as the
Table 9.4 introduce the country’s annual throughput, the liner shipping line index (LSCI),
and liner shipping bilateral connectivity index (LSBC).
The throughput rate (2013 and 2014), in table 9.4, shows the total number of TEUs (and
FEUs) by country. UNCTAD (2016a) define it as “TEU (Twenty foot Equivalent Unit)
include loading, unloading, repositioning and transshipment containers as well as Forty-
foot Equivalent Units (FEUs) being counted as two TEUs.” Sweden, for the referred years,
result being the country with the highest level of throughput, followed by Denmark and
Norway.
UNCTAD (2016b) defines “the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index captures how well
countries are connected to global shipping networks” and “[…] the number of ships, their
container-carrying capacity, maximum vessel size, number of services, and number of
companies that deploy container ships in a country's ports”. It results that Sweden, has the
higher connectivity index (58,84) compared to Denmark (54,85) and Norway (5,89).
Another index considered to compare the countries is the liner shipping bilateral
connectivity index, which indicates a country pair's integration level into global liner
shipping networks (UNCTAD, 2016b). China was considered as the second country, to
compare, because the major shipping routes are from Asia (China) to Europe. It results
that Sweden has the higher index (0.58) followed by Denmark (0.54) and by Norway
(0.27); the maximum level is equal to 1.
Figure 9.4 represents the TEUs flow for the selected ports. The total TEUs flow is
1,245,210.
According to ESPO (2014), the Port of Stockholm, has the lowest TEUs level equal to
51,000 TEUs (4.09 per cent of the total), the Port of Copenhagen-Malmo, with 145,000
TEUs (11.64 per cent), the Port of Oslo with 212,579 TEUs (17.07 per cent), and last one,
the Port of Gothenburg with 836,631 TEUs (67.17 per cent of the total), is the largest port
Pag. 88
for TEUs flow in 2014 (see table H.6 in Appendix “H”). The data, in figure 9.4, were
collected through ESPO, Eurostat and Maritime Insight.
Port of Stockholm
Port of Copenhagen-Malmo
TEUs Flow
Port of Oslo
Port of Gothenburg
Total
Pag. 89
9.4 Ports’ Traffic Data
A relevant investigation is the analysis of the traffic (containers, TEUs, throughput, number
of vessels and Ro-Ro) in order to evaluate the ports’ traffic. The table below (9.5) provides
a general overview about the total throughput, number of vessels, number of containers
and number of TEUs by port in 2015. From the data collected by ESPO (2015), is
confirmed that the Port of Gothenburg has a better performance comparing to the other
ports; by contrast the Port of Stockholm receives a higher number of vessels (16,084).
Port of
Port of Port of Port of Total
2015 (1) Copenhagen
Oslo Stockholm Gothenburg
-Malmo (3)
Note: this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and decimals with the “comma” “,”
1) Source data ESPO, 2015
2) Author’s data elaboration
3) CMPort.com
Pag. 90
9.5 Ports Characteristics Overview
P.
P. Malmo P. Oslo P. Stockholm P. Gothenburg
Copenhagen
Port details
Latitude (2) 55° 37' N 55° 42' N 59° 54' N 59° 20' N 57° 41' N
Longitude (2) 12° 59' E 12° 38' E 10° 44' E 18° 3' E 11° 51' E
Max Offshore
NA NA NA NA NA
BCM
Port Facilities
Container Y Y Y Y Y
Facilities
RoRo Facilities Y Y Y Y Y
Navigation
Ice: Navigation is
Malmo : the harbour is practically maintained
Ice: The harbour
never closed by ice, drift ice can be throughout the
is generally ice
encountered in the outer part of the year with the
free, although it
dredged channels even during assistance of
Weather - may have ice in
normal winters. icebreakers.
the period
However, branch
January to March
Copenhangen: Prevailing winds: passages are
in hard winters.
W’ly. often closed
during severe
periods of icing.
Pag. 91
P.
P. Malmo P. Oslo P. Stockholm P. Gothenburg
Copenhagen
Tugs are
available by
Compulsory for
arrangement with 2 ("Tug" 2,400hp,
vessels over
vessel's agent 30 board pull; min. 3 tugs.
100m in length,
Tugs 3 prior to arrival/ ”Ted" 1,400hp, Other info
passing through
departure. The 15 bollard pull ) Appendix.
bridges.
largest tugs are
equipped for fire
fighting
Port Description
Number of
8000 Approx 9,020 NA NA
vessels
5,820,000t of Approx
38,200,000t of
Tons of cargo 14,400,000t cargo cargo 8,500,000 of
cargo
cargo,
LOA 350m,
tanker draught
19.05m (18.6m
if water level
Largest vessels low), container
handled: draught 11.5m,
Passenger and 225,000DWT.
dry cargo Max airdraught
vessels: LOA in Inner harbour
295m, beam 45m.
32.3m, draught
Max draught in
11.0m. Gota River:
Provestenen Drobak
LOA 260m, LOA 89m,
Harbour: Passage is
MAX size beam 45m, Hammerby beam 13.4m,
Draught 12.0m,
draught 12.5m Lock: Length draught 4.7m,
11.5m. alongside
115m, width with special
11.0m.
17.4m, depth permission up
6.5m. to 5.4m.
Vessels Airdraught
transiting Lake 27.0m.
Maleran max Bohus: LOA
airdraught 135m, beam
25.2m. 16.5m.
Trollhattan
Kanal: LOA
125m and
beam 16.5m.
1) Sea-web 2016
2) Conversion latitude and longitude ports in the appendix “G”
Note 3) Dock density, see definitions.
4) Y = YES
5) NA = Not Available
Tables 9.5 and 9.6 show different results in terms of vessels traffic.
The port of Stockholm received 16,084 vessels (ESPO, 2015), instead the data are not
available in Sea-Web for the year 2015 (2016). Instead, regarding the Port of CMP there is
Pag. 92
a slight difference between the two sources; similar situation is for the port of Oslo. Instead
the PoG received 11,000 vessels in 2015, but this data cannot be confirmed by Sea-web
because it wasn’t available.
Table 9.7 shows infrastructure available for the selected ports; some data were not available, even
trying to combine different sources.
P. P.
P. Stockholm
P. Malmo (1) Copenhagen P. Oslo (1) Gothenburg
(1)
(2) (1)
4 (tot:
Warehouses (w) 200.000 88.500 137.200
140,000m2 )
Container storage
50.000 NA NA 180.000 (5)
(m2)
1,140,000
Land storage area 1.255.000
250.000 ( land area) 1.000.000
(m2) (land area) (3)
(4)
Pag. 93
Table 9.8 summarised the different cranes available in ports. The data have been
elaborated in the next paragraphs in order to compare the cranes performance among the
ports.
Stationary cranes
3 * 20t - - -
Mobile crane
<300t - - 1 * 260t -
Gantry Crane
2 * 42t; Outreach
< 50t - 3 * 50t 1 * 35-50t 2 * 40-45t
22m.
Post Panamax
- - - - 2 x 45-70t
crane
1) Sea-web 2016
Note
2) CMPort.com
Pag. 94
9.5.1 Berth descriptions
In this paragraph are reported several tables to highlight the different infrastructure
characteristics (berth length, depth, and draught) to measure the competitiveness of the
ports. The fours ports have other berths such as berth for cruises and berths for tankers,
but in this investigation were considered only the following berths: RO-RO, containers and
general cargo. The data are elaborated in the next paragraphs.
Port of
Berth Length Depth Average
Stockholm draught Use
number (m) Use (m) depth (m)
Area (1)
Frihamnen
Cruise and F641 to
640 110 7,5 7,5 Ro-Ro berth (see F630 and F650)
Ferry (Quay 4)
Termnal
F650 to
7,5 to Ro-Ro ramp at SW (Quay 4) 55m
F652 222 8
8,5 wide.
(Quay 5)
Container
Terminal F653 to 8,5 to
240 8,75 Containers
Frihamnen F655 9,0
(CTF)
Pag. 95
Table 9.10: Port of Malmo Berth
Port of Malmo Berth Depth Use Draught
Length (m) Use
Area (1) number (m) (m)
Nordo-Link
Ro-Ro 702 245 8,5 - Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferries
Terminal
Malmo
Container
Terminal 705 150 9,2 - LOA 240m
(North
Harbour)
this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and decimals with “,” “comma”
Note
1) Source: Sea-web
Pag. 96
Table 9.11 Port of Copenhagen Berth
Port of Copenhagen Berth number/ Lengt Depth draug
h (m) Use (m) ht Use
Area (1) name
227, DFDS Ro/Ro 210 7 Passengers and cargo. Ro-Ro ramp 24m
-
leje wide (fore or aft).
401,
KALKBRAENDERIHAV
Kalkbraenderilobs 115 6,7 - Dry bulk. Ro-Ro (fore or aft).
NEN
kaj
402,
Kalkbraenderilobs 100 6,3 - Ro-Ro (fore or aft)
kaj
this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and decimals with “,” “comma”
Note 1) Source: Sea-web 2016
2) Our analysis
Pag. 97
Table 9.12 Port of Oslo Berth
Berth
Port of Oslo Lengt Depth Average
number/ Draught Use
Area (1) h (m) Use (m) depth (2)
name
General
Filipstad General cargo, breakbulk, Ro-Ro
cargo 463 8,7-9,1 8,9 -
Terminal: and containers
Berth
General
Kneppeskj
Cargo 165 6,4-8,0 7,2 - PCC, containers and Ro-Ro
aer
Terminal:
Container Sondre
304 12 12 - Containers
Terminal: Sjursoykai
Container
Ormsundk
Terminal 287 9,3-9,6 9,45 - Containers
aia
(South):
this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and decimals with “,” “comma”
Note 1) Source: Sea-web
2) Our analysis
Pag. 98
Table 9.13 Port of Gothenburg Berth
Port of
Berth Length Depth Use Average
Gothenburg Average
number (m) (m) depth (m)
Area (1)
Alvsborgshamn
en Ro-Ro 751 203 9,8 9,8 LOA 180m, draught 9.3m. Width of ramp 26m
Terminal
710 265 11,0 11,0 Ro-Ro. Draught 10.5m. Width of ramp 26m
Ro-Ro. LOA 197m, draught 10.5m. Width of ramp
702 210 11,0 11,0
24m.
Ro-Ro. LOA 184m, draught 9.0m. Width of ramp
700 190 9,5 9,5
28.7m.
AMP Container
Terminal: Total
Ro-Ro. Width of ramp 54m. Max LOA 250m when
length 1,750m
643 135 14,2 14,2 draught 10.5m, max LOA 300m when draught
(source PoG
9.5m
and sea-
web.com)
Continuous length 640m, max LOA 250m when
642 95 14,2 14,2 draught 10.5m, max LOA 300m when draught
9.5m
Continuous length 640m, max LOA 250m when
641 190 14,2 14,2 draught 10.5m, max LOA 300m when draught
9.5m
Continuous length 640m, max LOA 250m when
640 190 14,2 14,2 draught 10.5m, max LOA 300m when draught
9.5m
Ro-Ro. Width of ramp 27m. Continuouse length
615 190 14,2 14,2
1,132m, LOA 200m, draught 10.4m
Continuous length 1,132m, LOA 390m, draught
614 190 14,2 14,2
11.5m
Continuous length 1,132m, LOA 390m, draught
613 190 14,2 14,2
11.5m
From the east for 500m, the water depth is 14.2m
from 610 MW. At the rest of berth, the water depth is 12.0m
570 14,2 14,2
to 612 except for the last 220m where the depth is 11.9m
MW. Continuous length 1,132m, draught 13.5m
Logent Ports &
Terminals Car 601 135 14,2 14,2 Vehicles. LOA 290m
Terminal
Stena Line
Germany
Terminal - 46 60 9 9 Reserved space
Majnabbehamn
en
Pag. 99
Port of
Berth Length Depth Use Average
Gothenburg Average
number (m) (m) depth (m)
Area (1)
Ro-Ro, passengers, containers. Ramp 55m long
47 138 9 9
by 27m width
Ro-Ro, passengers, containers. Ramp 55m long
48 137 9 9
by 27m width
Ro-Ro, passengers. Ramp 55m long by 26.8m
49 140 9 9
width
Total (2) 4251 271,9
Pag. 100
Table 9.14 add extra information about each single port, such as working hours, holiday,
transport network availability.
(1) SE DK NO SE SE
Public holidays
16 + ALL
(fixed) (not 14 7 9 + All weekends 14
weekends
days)
Public holidays
(moveable) (not 7 8 8 7 7
days )
Normally Mon-Fri
0700-1600hrs;
Normally Mon-
Open throughout
Thu Container
24 hours. Day
Straight time 0700-1500hrs, Terminal
watch
0700-1600hrs, Fri Normally Mon-Fri 0700-2359hrs, Fri
Working hours 0700-1530hrs.
overtime 0700-1430hrs. 0700-1600hrs. 0630-2200hrs. All
Sat: Voluntary
1600-0600hrs. All weekend other hours are
and with
work is overtime. The oil
overtime pay.
overtime. ports work
throughout 24
hours.
vailable from
Barges available none available - towage company.
Two graving
drydocks
available. Size of
Small drydock
Not available in vessels that can
Drydocks: and shiplift none 2
Oslo. be handled: LOA
available.
185m, max beam
22m, max
draught 8.5m.
Pag. 101
9.6 Ports’ Characteristics Analysis
Considering the table 9.8 (Equipment available in Ports - Cranes), in the next table (9.15)
the different cranes and handling capacity (in tonnes) are considered to develop the port’s
crane tonnes efficiency indicator, in order to analyse which port perform better
comparing to the others.
1 45
Total Weighted
1.404,12
Average
This table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and decimals with “,” “comma”
Note 1) Source: Sea-web 2016.
2) WA: Weighted average mean
In order to calculate the port’s crane tonnes efficiency indicator the weighted average is
computed.
For those ports with the crane range (in tonnes), e.g. Oslo Gantry crane (quantity = 2) and
different capacity (35-40t) (table 9.8), the average was calculated = 37.5t ((35+40)/2); the
same formula was applied to the other ports’s crane tonnes range.
The first step is to calculate the weighted average by port in column “A”, as below:
Pag. 102
The second step is to calculate the total weighted average (using the similar approach
above), in order to compare the different ports’ cranes. The total weighted average
identified is 1.400,12.
The third step is to relate the weighted average by port with the total weighted average
(proportion); the proportion is calculated as below:
Table 9.15 highlights the PoG as the port with higher tonnes capacity (28.52 per cent,
compared with the other ports). In second position the Port of Copenhagen-Malmo with
19.10 per cent crane efficiency; third is the Port of Stockholm with 18.52 per cent; and last
one is the Port of Oslo with 14.03 per cent.
The figures above explain that PoG, compared to the others ports (cranes and capacity),
has the most appropriate equipment (cranes) able to manage large vessels (in tonnes
terms).
Pag. 103
Table 9.16 Performance Indicators
Port of
Port of Port of
(1) Copenhagen- Port of Oslo Total
Stockholm Gothenburg
Malmo
Weighted Average
2 Berth (length and 8,34 9,57 8,05 12,12 -
depth)
Throughput by Port
3 (2015) / Total Four 21,70% 8,64% 12,48% 57,18% -
Ports (2015)
Throughput (2015) /
4 2.761 4.736 4.588 8.986 5.328,16
Total Berth Length
TEUs (2014) /
5 Containerships 372,75 550,72 309,09 1063,06 721,02
(2014)
Throughput (2015) /
6 1.858,97 625,05 518,28 3.472,80 1.514
Vessels (2015)
Vessels (2015) / 12
7 650 770 1.340 917 3.677
months
Containerships
8 32,42 32,17 14 66 144
(2014) / 12 months
RO-RO (2015) / 12
9 60 61 329 774 1.223
months
Percentage of
10 containerships by 22,52% 22,35% 9,55% 45,57% -
port (2014)
This table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and decimals with “,”
Note “comma”
1) our analysis
The Performance indicator 1) Port’s Crane Tonnes Efficiency Indicator, was previously calculated
in table 9.15
The Performance indicator 2) Weighted Average Berth (see appendix G, table G.3) was
calculated to identify which port in average terms has the longest berths length and depth.
The result is that PoG has a longer berths length and depth, in relation to the other ports.
The Performance indicator 3), Throughput by Port / Total Four Ports, was calculated taking into
consideration the figures in the table 9.5, n order to compare the port’s throughput with the total
throughput (four ports). The result is that PoG, in relation to the other ports, has 57.18 per cent of
the total throughput.
Pag. 104
The Performance indicator 4) Throughout / Total Berth Length, is calculated considering :
[(Cargo Throughput 2015) / (Tot. Berths Length)].
Cargo Throughput, data in table 9.5 (1).
Total berth length (dedicated port data in tables 9.9 - 9.10 - 9.11 - 9.12 - 9.13).
Example: Port of CMP = [Cargo Throughout (14,500,000) / Tot. Berth Length (2,710 + 2,542)] =
2,761. The result represent the berth utilisation rate (by meter). The total is calculated considering
the Total Throughout and the Total berths length (among the ports). PoG has the higher berth
utilisation rate, considering the total length and total throughput.
Pag. 105
The Performance indicator 10) Percentage of containership by port, is calculated considering:
the figures in tables H.1 and H.2 (appendix H). The percentage calculated considered the total
number of containerships by port and the total number of containerships.
Example: PoG = [(787) / (1727) * 100] = 45.57 per cent
It results that PoG received in 2014, 45 per cent of the total containerships, for the selected ports.
In order to understand the ports’ economical performance a short summary about future
development is provided. This will provide the reader a general overview about port’s
investment, goals to achieve and in some cases country’s preferences.
In Copenhagen ports’ side, a new dry bulk area in South part of Provestenen is underway.
When the infill work is complete Provestenen area will be extended by 50% and water
depth at the new quays will be 13.5m (Sea-web.com, 2016a).
Malmo: a Low Sulfer Fuel Terminal is being built to help ships with Emission Control Area
(ECA).The project if being financed by the port in partnership with Scandinavian Tank
Storage, and will store fuel supplied by Statoil. It is expected that 170 vessels will use the
new terminal for refuelling per year (Sea-web.com, 2016b).
Development of a 900,000m2 industrial park is currently underway in the Northern Harbour
(Norra Hamnen). As increasing number of companies begin operating in the Northern
Harbour, capacity will be increased by the addition of more terminals, docks, berths and
railway tracks. In addition to the industrial park two facilities for LNG are planned.
Container operations in Free Port are due to be moved to the Northern Harbour, freeing up
space to increase the car storage capacity (Sea-web.com, 2016b).
There are plans for expansion in the Dry Bulk area of Berths 740 to 760 with a new wharf
side area providing extra berths and two extra piers in the Nordo Link Ro-Ro harbour area.
CMP announced on 27th November 2014 that a barge service will be introduced between
the two cities. "Daily barge traffic between the cities will simplify transportation of
containers and other freight. The shortcut over the strait will be flexible and cost-effective
for freight customers, however it will also deliver environmental benefits”. CMP officials
have said that they want to develop the port into a regional, northern European transport
hub. The airports of both cities are also located along the motorway and railway link
between the two cities, which further contributes towards the realisation of the transport
hub ambitions (Sea-web.com, 2016).
According to Sea-web (2016d) the port of Oslo announced “Norway project looks to spur
port and ship electrification (Sea-web, 2016d); “Inspired by Norway’s successful promotion
of electric cars, maritime organisations are working with engineers and investors to study
Pag. 106
how to expand the country’s shore power and boost its use of electric- and hybrid-powered
ships”.
Bjorvika (Oslo area) is due for urban development, Sorenga (Oslo area) will act as a
temporary transit depot for empty containers until new facilities are developed at Sydhavna
(from Kongshavn down through Sjursoya, Kneppeskjaer Pier to Ormsund Quay). A seabed
tunnel has to be constructed under Bjorvika before the other developments start (Se-web,
2016c).
The Port of Stockholm is developing the entire Vartahamnen, Frihamnen and Loudden
area in a joint project with the City of Stockholm. The largest project is the Varta Pier
expansion. Due to complete in 2016 at a cost of $300M, it will have a new passenger
terminal, five quay-berths and a total of quay length of 1200 m.
Vaatahammen Cruise Terminal: Construction and dredging is underway to develop a
dedicated cruise terminal by converting the existing 3,000m2 cargo warehouse located at
Frihamnen. The adjacent pier will also be extended by 130m, and increase depth from 9m
to 10.5m, to enable the facility to accommodate 3 Panamax cruise vessels simultaneously,
with completion expected in 2015 (Sea-web, 2016e).
According to Port of Stockholm, (2014), new development are planned and partially
realised as the new container terminal (CTF) where several actors are involved such as
Hutchinson Port Holding (HPH), Greencargo, MSC Sweden AB, Team Lines Sverige AB,
Unifeeders Sweden AB, CMA-CGM (Port of Stockholm, 2016).
The Port of Gothenburg, has announced the construction of a new freight terminal to be
completed after 2020 to handle the increase in demand for sea transport via the port. The
terminal will have an area of 220,000m2 and a depth of 11.0m (Sea-web.com, 2016g).
"We are extremely pleased to receive this decision, which will strengthen Gothenburg as
the logistics capital of the Nordic region. The terminal is an important part of our future
expansion and will present us with an opportunity to handle the increase in demand for
sea transport via the Port of Gothenburg," said Magnus Kårestedt, Port of Gothenburg
CEO, in a statement (3rd March 2016) (Sea-web.com, 2016f).
The port of Gothenburg is a type of port seeking on continuous improvements, for example
it simplified the call notification system as reported by the authority and local news: “Ships
making calls at the largest port in the Nordic countries can now notify the relevant
authorities through a new platform using Swedish Maritime Administration system
Reportal. It replaces Port of Gothenburg’s now redundant VTMS system (Sea-web.com,
2015a).
Pag. 107
PoG announced to create a new 1 million m² logistics park with industry partners. The new
investment expected to generate more than 2,000 jobs and be completed by 2025.
Speaking to IHS Maritime, a port spokeswoman stated, “Gothenburg Port Authority will
invest approximately SEK1 billion (USD122 million) and the other four land owners
involved – NCC Property Development, Prologis Nordic, Eklandia Fastighets, and
Bockasjö – about SEK3 billion.” (Sea-web.com, 2015b). The new park will be built directly
adjacent to the port's Hisingen freight terminals and Gothenburg CEO Magnus Kårestedt
described the project as an enormous investment and a golden opportunity for every
company looking to establish a warehouse directly beside the largest port in Scandinavia
(Sea-web.com, 2015b).
Gothenburg is currently the only port in Sweden with the capacity to receive the world's
largest container vessels and has just opened a 900 m quay extension to the container
terminal operated by APM Terminals. The port also has terminals for oil, cars, ro-ro, and
passengers (Sea-web.com, 2015b).
PoG, in order to maintain his green philosophy, decided to attract green ships with a
discount on harbour dues from 10 to 30 per cent. Seven shipping lines were involved and
25 ships already signed for the agreement and environmental scheme. (Sea-web.com,
(2015c)
Vessels scoring 30 points or less on the Environmental Ship Index and Clean Shipping
Index qualify for the lower figure, while those using LNG get the higher one (Sea-web.com,
(2015c).
According to IHS and Sea-web.com (2015d), PoG decided to maintain the same tariffs of
2015 for 2016.
Pag. 108
"Our aim behind this move is to reinforce industrial growth, shipping, and the port," stated
PoG managing director Magnus Kårestedt, "Shipping costs become transport costs for
industry. By doing our best to keep port charges down, we can contribute to maintaining a
strong cluster of shipping companies in Gothenburg and a broad range of services to key
markets." "We also hope other parties in the transport chain do everything to keep costs
to a minimum. The state fairway charge, for example, doesn't exist throughout the rest of
Europe (except Finland) and simply makes transport more expensive for Swedish
industry." (Sea-web.com, 2015d).
The port of Gothenburg is planning a new energy port at Risholmen, situated at the
entrance to the port of Gothenburg. Five new berths are planned, start of construction is
due in 2018 and completion expected by 2030. Future development projects should
increase forest exports through the port including new road and rail links and a weather-
protected forest terminal (Sea-web.com, 2016g).
Pag. 109
9.8 Voyage Calculation
A voyage calculation is provided in order to compare part of the costs necessary to reach
the four ports.
The identified departure port is Shanghai - China, because the major navigation route is
ASIA - EUROPE.
Our assumption:
Contract type : Time charterer
Fixed costs : 60,000USD/day
Capacity : 18,000TEUs (9,000 containers 40feet)
Weight per TEUs : 2 tonnes
Total containers weight: 36,000 tonnes
Fuel consumption per day: 190tons
Voyage speed : 20 knots
Fuel price (open sea) (IFO 0380): 233USD/mt
Fuel price for SECA area (MGO): 465USD/mt
Discharging day: week days
Suez Canal charges: are not considered because Suez Canal tool calculator required two
parameters : SCGT (Suez Canal Gross Tonnage) and SCNT (Suez Canal Net Tonnage);
those parameters are only available for the shipping company (Suez Canal Tonnage
Certificate).
The containerships will discharge 18,000 TEUs to the dedicated port. The Port of
Stockholm, the Port of Oslo, and the Port of Copenhagen-Malmo do not have the depth
water adapted to host Maersk Triple E. The Northern Sea route is considered with the
same vessel, and during the period between March/April and September; no icebreakers
costs are considered.
This calculation want demonstrate the different navigation routes and related discharging
ports’ costs. Ports apply different prices : per container (in tonnes), per TEUs, or total
vessel GT.
Pag. 110
Table 9.17 Voyage Calculation
The voyage calculation cost show that the less expensive port, to transport 18,000 TEUs (or 9,000
containers, with the weight of 2 tonnes) is the Port of Gothenburg.
The preferred route by the shipping lines might be the Northern sea or the Suez-Gibraltar route.
In the analysis was also considered the different fuel to use in open sea and in SECA area.
Ports applies different rates to the discharged containers, and in our case was considered only the
discharging fees by TEU or container. The fees were published on the considered ports web site.
The results in details are presented in the appendix “I”, tables I.1 - I.2 - I.3 - I.4.
9.9 Comments
According to Cullinane and Song (2002), Botha and Ittman (2008), seaports are the main
components in determining the competitiveness of nation’s economy, the result is that
Sweden has the largest gross tonnage (fig. 9.2) and higher throughput level (table 9.4)
compared to the considered countries.
de Langen and Pallis (2005) discussed about the port hinterland (e.g. lower prices), and
regarding the voyage costs, the Port of Gothenburg has competitive advantages over the
competing ports. It means that PoG has a higher bargaining power compared to the other
ports versus port users. Also, Zhang (2008) and Talley (2009) specify that a large captive
hinterland is recognised by frequent services by shipping lines; the general performance of
the PoG is definitely higher, compared with the competitors.
The Mohring effect is confirmed (Zhang, 2008; Janson and Shneerson, 1987) by the
higher frequencies of shipping lines, and the result is, in average terms, the PoG is the
location receiving more Ro-Ros (per month), more containerships and higher levels of
TEUs and containers, compared to the other ports.
Culinane (2011) and Talley (2009) introduce the shipping lines preferences to a specific
port; the shipping line will prefer call the port of Gothenburg because the depth water is
higher compared to the other ports, and the handling fees at the Port of Gothenburg are
lower. The trade lane is an important factor, because the shipping line will prefer call a port
if located in the ship’s navigation route and the environmental regulation affect this choice.
Pag. 111
For example, considering that all four ports are in SECA area, the different type of fuel to
use in this area (MGO) is more expensive compared to the open sea fuel (IFO 0380), this
represent another positive element for the PoG and its location, because shipping lines will
travel less nautical miles in the SECA area, meaning lower fuel costs.
The authors Notteboom and Winkelmans (2001), Fleming and Baird (1999), Goss (1990),
Verhoeff (1981), in order to compare the port performances, and interport competition,
confirm that the four ports compete because located in the port range or coastlines; the
competition is not only among ports but also to the total logistics chain; particularly the
voyage cost showed PoG as the less expensive port where to navigate and discharge the
containership with 18,000TEUs; the hinterland is characterised by several operators
(intermodal transport) and infrastructure able to satisfy the entire logistics chain.
The shipping lines prefer to discharge larger volume to fewer ports (Talley, 2009), in order
to negotiate on volumes, and PoG has the largest TEUs volume compared to the other
ports.
Talley (2009) introduces the strategic position analysis (SPA); one component is the
product portfolio analysis (PPA). Part of our analysis, in line with the author (ibid.), confirm
that the PoG has the largest market share compared to the other ports, in terms of
containers, TEUs, containerships traffic categories (RO-RO) in table 9.5 - 9.16 and figure
9.5.
Tongzon (2007) when discussing about the country competitiveness, some key
parameters were identified. According to the author (ibid.) Sweden, and PoG perform
better compared to the other countries; such as port water depth, shipper preferences and
port operations efficiency (Wilson et al, 2003).
Fleming and Baird (1999) confirm that the collaboration between the port and government
is a competitive advantage. The presented ports collaborate with government and special
investments are planned. The PoG, recentely invested in many infrastructures (new
warehouses, terminal expansion, etc.), freezing the containerships fees and adopting
lower fees to the green containerships (confirmed by Bryan et al, 2006).
Cheng (2001), Song and Panayides (2012) pointed out that modern ports need efficient
infrastructure, to accomplish better logistics operations, because all players are part of the
global transport system. The PoG offers more efficient infrastructures compared to the
other ports.
Pag. 112
10. ANALYSIS - POPULATION - E-BUYERS
In this section are presented the buyer characteristics by country and major cities.
Companies when investing in a new country take into consideration several factors such
as the population size (as a potential market), economic growth, income, labor force and
internet access for the e-buyers.
In order to show the country economic performance several macro data have been
collected. Table 10.1 show the characteristics of each single country, according to its own
GDP (gross domestic product). The appendix “L” shows extra figures about this chapter.
Sweden is first ranked among the nordic countries for GDP growth in 2014 (both in USD
and Euro) with 571.1 billion USD, followed by Norway (499.81 billion USD), Denmark
(342.4 billion USD) and Finland (272.2 billionUSD).
Pag. 113
Table 10.1 Country Economic Overview
GDP per capita 2015 (EUR) - (2) 45,600 37,400 73,400 44,300
this table identify thousands with the “,” “comma”, and decimals with “dot “.”
1) Eurostat
Note
2) International Monetary Found (IMF) 2016
3) Worldbank
The annual growth is higher in Sweden, with 2.4 per cent, followed by Norway (2.2 per
cent), Denmark (1.1 per cent) and Finland with a negative growth (-0.4 per cent). The
growth among the nordic countries between 2004 and 2014, was higher in Sweden with
1.7 per cent, Norway (1.4 per cent), Finland (0.7 per cent), followed by Denmark that
performed the lowest growth in the Nordic countries with 0.4 per cent.
In 2015 the registered GDP per capita was higher in Norway with 97,226 US dollars,
followed by Denmark with 61,294 US dollars, in third position Sweden with 58,856 US
dollars and last is Finland with 49,678 US dollars.
In terms of global ranking, Sweden perform better comparing to the rest of the three
countries (no. 23), followed by Norway (no. 28), Denmark (no. 36) and Finland (no. 44).
(Eurostat, 2015)
Table 10.2 Population characteristics, highlights the residents in the specific country.
Sweden rank no. 1 for population (ca. 9 million), number of e-buyers (9 million ca.), labor
force (5 million ca.) and employed people (ca. 4.8 million).
Denmark is the second largest market in Scandinavia in terms of population, e-buyers and
number of employed people.
Unemployment rate is lower in Norway with 3.60 per cent, Denmark (4.93 per cent) and
Sweden (7.50 per cent), and the highest unemployment rate is in Finland (9.38 per cent).
Norway is the country with the youngest population (39.1 years old) (in average) followed
by Sweden (41.2) and Denmark (41.8) and Finland (42.4). All the four countries have a life
expectancy higher than 80 years old, where the first position in rank is Sweden with 82
years, showing the country’s quality life. The life expectancy can be read, from the retailer
Pag. 114
point of view, as a future products' market expansion because the population will have
different needs.
The category population density is higher in Denmark (smaller country) where 132.9
people live per square kilometre, with a surface of 43,090 sq. km, followed by Sweden
with 23.8 people per sq. km with a total surface of 447,420 sq. km., Finland has an
Pag. 115
average of 18 people per sq. km. with a total surface of 338,420 sq. km, Norway has the
lowest population density among the nordic countries with 14.1 people per sq. km.
The category CO2 emission highlighted by Eurostat (2011, last data available) shows the
willingness of the local population in eco-friendly practices such as the use of public
transport; Sweden rank first for the lowest CO2 emissions (5.5 metric tons per capita)
among the Nordic countries.
Eurostat 2016 identified the four countries Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, by the
major cities (Image 10.2).
Retailers and Online retailers when considering an investment in a new location, take into
account the number of potential users (population) in a specific area (city).
Image 10.2 shows the population density by major urban centres such as Olso,
Gothenburg, Malmo, Copenhagen, and Helsinki.
Source: image with population bubbles provided by EU statistics, and adapted by the author
In the next paragraphs (10.2 - 10.3 - 10.4 - 10.5) the four countries and the major urban
centres are analysed in details.
Pag. 116
10.2 Denmark
According to Eurostat 2015, the major cities (urban centres) in Denmark are Copenhagen,
Arhus, Alborg and Odense (table 10.3).
Copenhagen, the Danish capital, counts 559,440 residents, followed by Arhus (319,09
ab.), in third position Alborg with 203,448 residents and last is Odense with 193,370
people. Arhus and Alborg have the lowest unemployment rate, 3.90 and 4.80 per cent
respectively. In opposite the Danish capital unemployment rate is 5.90 per cent, and
Odense rank first for the unemployment rate in 2014 (6 per cent).
City
Unemployment rate
5,90% 3,90% 4,80% 6,00%
(2014) (1)
Note: this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and
decimals with “comma “,”
1) Eurostat
10.3 Finland
Comparing to Denmark, Finland has a different situation. The Finnish population is mostly
concentrated around Helsinki, in Vanta, Espo, Tampere and Turku. The rest of the cities
Oulu, Lahti, Kuopio and Jvaskyla are located in a more remote areas.
Considering the closest cities around Helsinki as Vanta - Espo - Tampere and Turku, the
population resident reach 872,179 people, reaching ca. 1.48 million with Helsinki. In
opposite the remote areas such as Oulu, Jvaskyla, Lahti and Kuopio count in total for
479,374 habitants. Table 10.4 shows the detail of the habitants in different cities.
City
Population
612.664 208.908 260.753 220.446 182.072 143.909 134.658 103.364 97.443
2015 (1)
Unemploy
ment rate 7,5% 8,2% 5,5% 12,6% 12,5% 12,7% 12,9% 13,7% 12,5%
(2014) (1)
this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and decimals with “comma “,”
Note
1) Eurostat
Pag. 117
The highest unemployment rate is in Lahti (13.7 per cent) (ca. 100 km North-east from
Helsinki), followed by Jvaskyla (12.9 per cent) (ca. 270 km North from Helsinki). In third
position Oulu with 12.7 per cent unemployed people, followed by Turku and Kuopio both
with 12.5 per cent unemployed rate.
Different situation is for Helsinki’s suburbs area, Vanta (8.2 per cent) and Espo with 5.5 per
cent who repent the lowest unemployment rate in Finland. Helsinki, the Finnish capital,
maintain an unemployment rate equal to 7.5 per cent.
10.4 Norway
Norway, comparing with the previous two countries - Denmark and Finland, the higher
number of habitants is concentrated in four major urban centres: Oslo (the capital),
Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger. (Eurostat, 2015)
In order to better understand the geographical disposal of Norway, the table 10.2 (previous
pages) shows the different country’s surface among the four countries (DK-FI-NO-SE).
Norway is the second largest Nordic country, followed by Finland and Denmark.
As mentioned earlier, the major city is Oslo, with 623,996 ab. and 3 per cent of
unemployment rate (table 10.5).
Bergen, the second largest city, is located in the extreme west part of Norway; it counts for
ca. 267,950 ab. with the second lowest unemployment rate (1.9 per cent), and with a
distance of ca. 300miles (ca. 500km) from the capital.
Trondheim, third most populated city, is located in the north of Norway; it counts ca.
179,692 ab., unemployment rate equal to 2.4 per cent, and with a distance of ca. 305
miles (ca. 495km) from Oslo. Stavanger, furthest urban centre, is located in the South-
West part of Norway; it counts ca. 179,692 ab., unemployment rate equal to 1.8 per cent
(the lowest in Norway), and the distance from the capital is 343miles (ca. 553km).
City
Unemployment rate
3% 1,9% 2,4% 1,8%
(2014) (1)
this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and
Note decimals with “comma “,”
1) Eurostat
Pag. 118
10.5 Sweden
Sweden, Scandinavian largest country, with 447,420 sq. km and with a population of 9.6
million. Eurostat (2015) classified major cities (table 9.6) and one extra was added for the
purpose of this research - Luleå (suggested by the PoG). The total population living in the
major urban centres is ca. 3.1 million habitants.
The major cities in Sweden are Stockholm (the capital) who counts ca. 864,324 ab. with
the unemployment rate of 6.5 per cent; the second urban centre is Gothenburg with
520,374 ab. (9.3 per cent unemployment rate); the last largest urban centre is Malmo with
302,835 ab. with the 14.3 per cent of unemployment rate.
The rest of the cities, from Uppsala to Boras, have a range of habitants between 200,000
(Uppsala) and 100,000 (Boras); the unemployment rate wasn’t available for all cities (table
10.6). The smallest urban centre is Lulea, with ca. 76 thousands habitats. Table 10.6
presents the details of the Swedish population.
Umea 116.465 8%
Lund 107.351 NA
Luleå 75.966 NA
Pag. 119
10.6 E-buyers Characteristics and Retailing
9.600
8.000
6.400
4.800
3.200
1.600
0
Denmark Finland Norway Sweden
Source: Euromonitor, 2015
A relevant element to consider when investing in a new country (e-retailers point of view) is
the presence of the number of devices hold by the population. Figure 10.2 shows the four
countries personal computers, tablets, and smartphones (in percentage terms).
94 per cent of the Swedish population has a personal computer, 35.5 per cent has a tablet,
and 74.9 per cent has a smartphone. By contrast, 50 per cent of the Danish population
own a tablet (see appendix “L.1”, table L.1 for details). Overall the four countries show a
high level of devices.
Pag. 120
Figure 10.2 Devices by Country
100
% based on Population
75
50
25
0
Denmark Finland Norway Sweden
Source: Euromonitor 2015
Social Class A refers to the number of individuals with a gross income over 200 per cent of
an average gross income of all individuals aged 15+. Social Class B with a gross income
between 150 and 200 per cent of an average gross income of all individuals aged 15+.
Social Class C with a gross income between 100 and 150 per cent of an average gross
income of all individuals aged 15+. Social Class D with a gross income between 50 and
100 per cent of an average gross income of all individuals aged 15+. Social Class E with a
gross income less than 50 per cent of an average gross income of all individuals aged
15+.
Norway
Sweden
0 600 1.200 1.800 2.400 3.0003.600 4.200 4.800 5.4006.000 6.600 7.2007.800 8.400 9.000
Population (‘000) (Source: Euromonitor, 2015)
Pag. 121
Three countries out of four have almost the same level of people belonging to social class
A, by contrast Sweden has almost 600,000 people in that range.
Denmark, Finland and Norway have almost the same level (ca. 400,000 people), with
slight differences, for the segment B. Sweden has ca. 800,000 people in the same class.
The relevant segments are C and D where Sweden count 1.9 million and 3.2 million
respectively. Denmark, Finland and Norway have similar levels (ca. 900,000 (C) and ca.
1.6 million (D)).
The segment E is described has the following results: Denmark 1.4 million habitants,
Finland 1.18 million, Norway 1.1 million, and Sweden has 1.76 million habitants.
In order to clarify the population in the four countries, figure 10.4 classify the population by
age and people living in urban centres.
The segment, 0 to 14 years, Denmark-Finland-Noway have almost the same level
(900,000 people), instead Sweden counts 1.8 million people.
The segment, 15-64 is almost constant among the first three countries (Denmark, Finland
and Norway) equal to 3.6 million people (by country). By contrast Sweden reach 6.3 million
people.
The Population over 65 years old (in yellow) is almost the same in Denmark and Finland
(1.16 and 1.24 million respectively). Norway counts 900 thousands and Sweden counts
2.07 million people.
The last chart in this section is the offline retailing and internet retailing market. Figure 10.5
highlights the four countries, comparing them with the data of 2015 and the forecast of
2020 (Euromonitor, 2015). Data are available in the appendix “L” table “L.3”.
6.300
5.400
4.500
3.600
2.700
1.800
900
0
Denmark Finland Norway Sweden
Source: Euromonitor, 2015
Pag. 122
The growth is registered for the four countries (2020) and particular emphasis is on
Norway and Sweden (retailing). Instead, internet retailing in forecast to growth in the four
countries as well. From the author perspective, the difference (in USmillion) between
retailing and internet retailing must be seen as a big opportunity for the first mover big
player entering in the Scandinavian market, in order to get competitive advantages
compared to other e-retailers.
In the appendix “L”, table L.4 are are provided some sales data (apparel and footwear;
beauty and personal care; consumer electronics) and Sweden has a better performance
compared to the other countries.
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$USmn, constant prices, fixed exchange rate (Source: Euromonitor)
Pag. 123
10.7 Comments
According to Croucher, Baker and Ruston (2014) the home delivery (e-fulfillment) level in
the selected countries will continue to grow in the next years (fig. 10.5), with Sweden as a
driver.
Fernie and Sparks (2014) state that several demographic variables are necessary to
identify the e-buyers, and the figures introduced in tables 10.1 - 10.2, show the better
performance of Sweden. Doherty and Ellis-Chadwick (2010) confirm that internet shoppers
are wealthier, and the previous data show the higher income level in Sweden and Norway
(table 10.1); by contrast figure 10.3 shows the higher level of income in Sweden, with
different social classes.
Bigne et al (2005), state that internet shoppers prefer buying on mobile devices and
Denmark and Sweden are the countries with the higher level of mobile devices
(smartphone and tablets). By contrast figure 10.1 shows Sweden with higher level of
mobile internet subscription (11.2 millions people).
IGD (2011) refers to the segment age 65+ (figure 10.4) as not potential buyers for online
groceries. By contrast, the other segment 15-64 years are more willing to buy products
online. Sweden represents the major market compared with Denmark, Finland and
Norway.
Pag. 124
11. ANALYSIS - WAREHOUSE LOCATION
The following section analyse the warehouse location. The centre of Gravity (COG) has
been considered under several perspectives. In order to perform a warehouse analysis is
relevant taking into consideration the maximum number of potential customers reachable
from one of the four locations (Port of Copenhagen-Malmo, Port of Oslo, Port of Stockholm
and Port of Gothenburg). Furthermore the analysis consider different transport modes by
road, rail and sea.
According to the literature introduced previously (Watson et al, 2013), in order to identify
the best location for a warehouse, is necessary to identify the centre of gravity (COG). For
our purposes, several destinations (cities) have been identified across Denmark, Finland,
Norway, and Sweden. The cities are the same mentioned in the population section (Image
10.2, and table 11.1).
The centre of gravity (COG) identified takes into consideration the longitude and latitude
(of the city) and (weighted by) the local population.
Applying the formulas F3.2 and F3.3, the new latitude and longitude are identified. COG 1
has coordinates Latitude 59.1 and Longitude 16.2 see (Image 11.2).
The total population identified is 7.531.429 potential customers (for the considered cities).
Pag. 125
Table 11.1 Cities Coordinates, Population, and COG
Using the same formulas F3.2 and F3.3, a second centre of gravity (COG 2) is identified.
In this particular case a dummy variable (= 1) was considered. COG 2 is the centre of
gravity, considering the four ports (longitude and latitude distances). The new coordinates
are the followings: latitude 58.2 and longitude 13.3 (Image 11.2)
Pag. 126
Image 11.2 Centres of Gravity in Scandinavia
A second COG (COG 2) was identified (latitude 58.2 and longitude 13.3), comparing only
the four ports geographical location. The new COG 2 is located in north-east from
Gothenburg, starting from Highway E20, and when in Vara the route 47 direction Falkoping
(for ca. 20km).
COG 2 is located 106 miles (170km) from Gothenburg, 179 miles (288km) from
Copenhagen, 212 miles (341km) from Oslo, and 337 miles (542km) from Stockholm
(euclidean distances). A second centre of gravity (COG 2) was considered, in case the
investors (online retailers) need to make a decision among the considered ports. It shows
the closest port is PoG.
Pag. 127
11.2 Centre of Gravity and City’s Distance
The centre of gravity identified in the coordinate (latitude 59,1; longitude 16,2) is the
geographical position that better satisfy all customers (Watson et al, 2013). But, the
centre of gravity calculated by the longitude and latitude considered the euclidean distance
weighted by the population.
In order to identify the best location for a warehouse, is necessary to proceed with other
considerations. For instance retailers consider important to satisfy the higher number of
customers within 500miles (804,6km).
The first step is to calculate the distance, in miles, from each port to the selected cities
(table 11.2) (using the formula F3.1).
Pag. 128
Table 11.2 Euclidean Distances from Ports and COG to Cities
Port of
Port of Port of Centre of
Country/City Copenhagen- Port of Oslo
Stockholm Gothenburg Gravity 1
Malmo
Denmark
Copenahgen 5 318 455 147 344
Arhus 171 260 584 155 461
Alborg 209 205 583 140 456
Odense 155 311 593 186 474
Finland
Helsinki 903 980 479 919 607
Vanta 913 987 487 928 615
Espo 886 961 460 901 588
Tampere 866 906 421 863 547
Turku 741 797 301 744 429
Oulu 1.094 1.076 644 1.067 758
Jvaskyla 1.011 1.048 568 1.009 694
Lathi 970 1.033 537 980 666
Kuopio 1.151 1.187 708 1.150 834
Norway
Oslo 318 2 505 172 380
Bergen 599 375 881 488 756
Trondheim 555 245 599 409 500
Stavanger 527 351 850 431 722
Sweden
Stockholm city 451 508 1 444 130
Gothenburg 146 174 434 9 307
Malmo (2012) 26 335 433 164 327
Uppsala 449 476 46 427 112
Linkoping 278 353 179 265 62
Orebro 304 312 196 257 69
Vasteras 382 401 106 350 42
Jonkoping 178 278 289 160 167
Norrkoping 316 387 138 306 35
Helinborg 24 298 434 127 321
Umea 769 711 346 719 430
Lund 38 335 418 165 313
Boras 141 214 370 75 244
Luleå 947 880 516 896 608
Total miles 15.523 16.704 13.561 15.053 12.998
conversion in miles to km: 100 miles = 160,93km ; 200 miles = 321,86km ; 300 miles = 482,80km
Note
; 400 miles = 643,73km ; 500 miles = 804,67km
Pag. 129
We proceed to the identification of the port that satisfy the higher percentage of customers
within a certain range of miles and in particular 500miles (table 11.3).
Table 11.3 identifies the higher number of customers within a certain range of miles.
The Port of Copenhagen-Malmo (base Copenhagen port latitude and Longitude) satisfy 15
per cent of the population within 100 miles. The Port of Gothenburg satisfies 42 per cent of
the population within 200 miles and 46 per cent within 300 miles.
The Port of Oslo satisfies 55 per cent of the population within 400 miles.
Finally, the Port of Gothenburg satisfies 71 per cent of the total population within 500miles.
This analysis considered the euclidean distance.
The result of this first investigation is that the centre of gravity identified, by euclidean
distance, doesn’t satisfy the higher number of customers, in all categories.
In order to know exactly the total number of potential customers within a certain range (of
miles), the next table shows the population reachable from the ports (table 11.4), taking
into consideration the euclidean distance.
The Port of Copenhagen-Malmo satisfies ca. 1 million of potential customers; the PoG
reach 2.5 millions people from 101 to 200 miles; the Port of Oslo is able to reach ca. 1
million people from 201 to 300 miles; the COG 1 reach 2.2 millions people from 301 to 400
miles; and the Port of Stockholm reach 2.9 million people from 401 to 500 miles. Finally
the PoG is able to satisfy 5.37 million customers within 500 miles.
Pag. 130
Table 11.4 Population Within Specified Range (Euclidean Distance)
Port of
Port of Port of Centre of
Miles Copenhagen- Port of Oslo
Stockholm Gothenburg Gravity 1
Malmo
A relevant factor for retailers is the maximisation of the number of clients within a certain
range. The next table (11.5) shows the number of clients reachable by different ports and
COG (by euclidean distance). Table 11.5 summarised the figures from the previous table
(11.4) and merged by miles range.
Table 11.5 identifies the Port of Copenhagen-Malmo as the location able to reach ca. 1.1
million customers (range from 0 to 100 miles). The Port of Gothenburg, appear to be the
location able to reach 3.18 million people within the range from 0 to 200 miles; and 3.47
millions people within the range from 0 to 300 miles.
The Port of Oslo is the location within 400 miles, that can cover 4.17 million potential
consumers.
And finally, the Port of Gothenburg seems to be the location that better satisfy 5.37 million
people within 500 miles (confirmed by table 11.4).
The point of Gravity doesn’t cover the maximum number of customers as the other cities
(highlighted in yellow).
Pag. 131
Other considerations are presented in the next paragraphs.
After the miles/km distance calculation identified in the previous paragraph, a second
consideration is necessary. Ballou (1999) and Mulchay (1994) suggest to identify the
delivery time for a quicker response and closer proximity to consumers.
Retailers are interested in time reduction, shorter lead time, in order to satisfy customer’s
demand (e.g. deliver products within 24 hours).
Considering the same data in the table 11.1 (latitude and longitude by city), using Google
Maps®, a road-time calculation is provided in the table 11.7. The departure points
identified are the Port of Copenhagen-Malmo, the Port of Oslo, the Port of Stockholm, the
Port of Gothenburg and COG 1. Table 11.6 shows the coordinates latitude and longitude
for different departure points.
Pag. 132
Table 11.7 Travel Distances from Ports/COG to Cities
Denmark
Copenahgen 0h16m 6h25m 6h40m 3h30m 5h47m
Arhus 3h38m 9h10m 9h30m 6h15m 9h45m
Alborg 4h35m 8h20m 10h00m 5h19m 9h15m
Odense 2h17m 7h55m 8h20m 5h04m 7h15m
Finland
Helsinki 18h23m 17h35m 11h55m 16h44m 13h45m
Vanta 18h30m 17h36m 12h03m 16h47m 13h50m
Espo 18h12m 17h20m 11h40m 16h30m 13h30m
Tampere 18h35m 17h40m 12h00m 16h53m 13h50m
Turku 16h45m 15h55m 10h10m 15h02m 12h00m
Oulu 19h12m 17h05m 12h35m 17h6m 13h45
Jvaskyla 20h10m 19h25m 13h43m 18h30m 15h25m
Lathi 19h15m 18h25m 12h45m 17h37m 14h30m
Kuopio 21h48m 20h55m 15h30m 2h10m 17h04m
Norway
Oslo 6h18m 0h15m 6h10m 3h18m 5h10m
Bergen 13h33m 7h10m 13h20m 10h27m 12h20m
Trondheim 13h05m 6h35m 9h36m 9h46m 10h15m
Stavanger 13h00m 7h20m 13h10m 9h51m 12h30m
Sweden
Stockholm city 6h50m 6h15m 0h10m 5h02m 2h05m
Gothenburg 3h24m 3h15m 4h50m 0h15m 4h00m
Malmo (2012) 0h51m 5h55m 6h12m 2h59m 5h20m
Uppsala 7h30m 6h00m 1h00m 5h19m 2h10m
Linkoping 4h45 5h40m 2h10m 3h04m 1h25m
Orebro 5h42 4h10m 2h13m 3h29m 1h15m
Vasteras 6h40m 5h00m 1h15m 4h25m 1h25m
Jonkoping 3h35m 4h45m 3h20m 1h56m 2h30m
Norrkoping 5h08m 5h46 1h52m 3h27m 1h00m
Helinborg 1h27m 5h20m 5h35m 2h27m 4h45m
Umea 13h22m 11h00m 6h47m 11h14m 7h55m
Lund 1h00m 5h46 6h05m 2h55m 5h10m
Boras 3h50m 3h50m 4h10m 0h58m 3h20m
Luleå 16h25m 13h55 9h45m 14h17m 11h00m
Note Results from Google Maps®. Car time.
Table 11.7 shows the different time-distances by departure point (e.g. COG 1) and related
city.
Summarising the data from the table 11.7, and combining with the population (table 11.1),
is possible to identify the number of potential customers within a certain time-range (table
11.8). For example locating a warehouse in the Port of Stockholm, e-retailers are able to
cover 1,327,069 people within 2 hours driving, and PoG is able to cover 2,230,304
potential consumers in a time range between 2 and 4 hours.
Pag. 133
Table 11.8 Distances by Time range Single Category
from 0h to
2hours 1.096.380 623.966 1.327.069 750.166 547.199
from 2h01m to
4hours 1.262.630 621.861 412.760 2.230.304 1.814.491
from 4h01m to
6 hours 615.963 1.412.445 748.615 1.595.827 1.720.346
from 6h01m to
8 hours 1.822.975 2.193.967 1.710.057 319.094 309.835
from 8h01m to
10 hours 0 522.542 971.570 308.883 522.542
from 10h01m
to > 2.733.481 2.156.648 2.361.358 2.327.155 2.617.016
Note this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”.
Merging the results from the table 11.7, combined with the population (table 11.1) and
sorted by port, table 11.8 identifies the total population able to be served by ports and
COG 1 in a different time ranges.
Table 11.9 identifies the higher number of potential consumers within a specific time range.
For instance, taking into consideration the PoG (as a departure point), e-retailers are able
to deliver products to ca. 3 millions of potential customers within 4 hours driving, and ca. 5
millions customers within 8 hours driving. By contrast the Port of Oslo is able to reach 5,3
millions of potential consumers.
What is relevant in this table is the maximisation of the number of potential consumers in
the shortest delivery time; overall PoG performs better comparing to the other departure
points, because within a lower time-range it maximises the number of clients; and as a
consequence, it reduces the P-time and D-time and contributing to the company’s
efficiency.
Pag. 134
11.4 Road-Rail and Emissions calculation
The potential warehouse location consider the transport network efficiency by truck and
rail point view. The green house emissions (GHG) are a relevant part for a new
sustainable warehouse network.
The tool EcotransIT® (Ecological Transport Information Tool for Worldwide Transports)
that calculates the environmental impacts for any freight transport service, is used.
EcoTransIT World provides energy consumption and GHG Emissions for trucks, trains,
ships and airplanes in accordance with the European standard EN 16258:2012
(ecotransit.org, 2016). For our investigation the truck, rail, and ship are considered as
transport modes.
In EcoTransIT the user can select several options from basic to advanced. For our
purposes the standard option was preferred:
The author proceeded with the calculation for different departure points (ports and COG
latitude and longitude) and the arrival city point (latitude and longitude). The calculation
doesn’t consider the optimal routing but just the results from point A to point B. Table 11.10
summarised the results.
Pag. 135
Table 11.10 Energy consumption from Ports/COG to Cities
Port of Port of Port of from COG 1
Port of Oslo
Copenhgen Stockholm Gothenburg to ci4es
Truck results
Energy consumption
(Detailed) truck 63.013 58.394 44.636 52.615 47.121
(kilowatthours) - WTW
GHG emissions as
CO2e (WTW) - Tonnes 16,47 15,25 12,23 13,77 12,35
Table 11.10 shows the Port of Stockholm as better departure point to satisfy the different
cities consuming a lower level of kilowatthours (44,636) and GHG emissions CO2e
(carbon dioxide equivalent) (12.23 tonnes).
Instead the COG has the lowest total kilometres to satisfy the cities by road. By rail,
instead, the COG, as a departure point, has the lowest energy consumption in
kilowathours (17,012) and GHG emissions as CO2e (1,726 tonnes). Instead the Port of
Gothenburg maintain the best performance in railway network.
Another consideration to take into account is the transport of the same container (1TEU,
10t) from each single port to the Centre of Gravity (hypothetical warehouse location). The
author proceed to calculate the single data and afterwards results have been merged
(table 11.11).
Table 11.11 shows the new environmental and network scenario for the considered
container (1TEU, 10t) from the ports to the COG.
It appear that the port of Stockholm has better performance (in truck terms) than the other
ports; and the Port of Gothenburg perform better compared to the others two ports.
In rail terms, moving the container from the port of Stockholm to COG 1 to the network
(cities), has a lower environmental impact compared to the other ports. Compared with
PoG there is a slight difference. By contrast, if the container (1TEU, 10t) is transported
from the Port of Gothenburg to the COG 1 and afterward to the different cities, there is a
lower rail GHG emissions levels (CO2e).
Pag. 136
The total number of km by rail are lower from the Stockholm network.
Table 11.11 New Scenario with Container Transport from Ports to COG 1 to Cities
Port of
Port of Port of
Copenhagen- Port of Oslo
Stockholm Gothenburg
Malmo
Truck results
Energy consumption
(Detailed) truck 48.534 48.162 47.522 48.087
(kilowatthours) - WTW
Rail results
Energy consumption
(Detailed) rail 17.216 17.199 17.068 17.138
(kilowathours) WTW
GHG emissions as CO2e
1,731560 1,727180 1,727460 1,726910
(WTW) - Tonnes
Note: this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and decimals with “comma” “,”
In order to perform a “global transport network energy and GHG calculation”, and adding
extra value to the previous figures, the author decided to investigate the transport
emissions from China - Shanghai.
The shipping departure point is Shanghai (latitude 30.626539 and longitude 122.064958)
to the considered destinations (Class: DryFreight type; via Suez trade (4,7-7k TEU);
Speed: 25.0% LF:67.0%; (1TEU, 10t); with EcotransIT carbon calculator). Results are
provided in table 11.12.
Table 11.12 Emissions and KM from Shanghai to Dedicated Points (ports and COG 1)
Port of
Port of Port of Port of
from Shanghai to Copenhagen COG 1
Oslo Stockholm Gothenburg
-Malmo
Sea results
Energy consumption
(Detailed)
8.942 10.412 10.542 9.703 10.306
(kilowatthours) - WTW
(total trip)
Note: this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and decimals with “comma” “,”
Pag. 137
The results from EcotransIT (table 11.12) show the transport from Shanghai to the port of
Copenhagen-Malmo as the optimal option. However, EcotransIT, when the user select
longitude and latitude (departure Shanghai and arrival Copenhagen-Malmo Ports), the
system takes Hamburg (Germany) as discharging port (and it is not possible to modify it),
and from Hamburg a road transport is provided to the final destination (ports or COG 1).
Table 11.13 shows merged data from table 11.10 (Energy consumption from Ports/COG to
Cities) and table 11.12 (Emissions and KM from Shanghai to Dedicated Points (ports and
COG 1), in order to calculate the most appropriate freight system with the lower level of
energy consumption, GHG emissions, and total kilometres (by road or by by rail and
road).
Energy consumption
(Detailed)
71.955 68.806 55.178 62.318 57.427
(kilowatthours) - WTW
(total trip)
The results from table 11.13 shows the Port of Stockholm (by sea and truck) as the ideal
port for the lower level of energy consumption and GHG emissions: arrival (from
Shanghai) and departure to the different cities. Instead COG 1, is the distribution point
requiring less kilometres to receive and distribute the container (total 33,826.07 km).
Instead, considering the following transport modes: Vessel from Shanghai to Hamburg,
road from Hamburg to dedicated port/COG 1, and from dedicated port/COG 1 to final
destination (cities); the centre of gravity 1 would generate the lower level of energy
consumption; with the Port of Copenhagen-Malmo with the lower level of GHG emission;
Pag. 138
and the PoG has the lower number of kilometres to distribute the containers (from port to
cities).
According to Mulcahy (1994), several parameters have been considered when evaluating
the most appropriate country.
Sweden (3rd on global rank) results being the most appropriate choice when considering
the Networked Readiness Index (NRI) (the performance of 143 economies in leveraging
information and communication technologies to boost competitiveness and well-being)
(see definitions), followed by Norway (5th), and Denmark (15th).
Regarding the corporate tax, Denmark and Sweden maintain the same level equal of 22
per cent; by contrast Norway has a higher rate (27 per cent).
The industrial and logistics costs have different prices among the three countries.
It was mentioned in the previous sections that Oslo is one of the most expensive city
worldwide for warehouses.
Considering Denmark, Copenhagen area, official resources weren’t available, and it was
necessary to investigate third sources. “Colliers”, one of the most reputed real estate
company worldwide, had two warehouses on sale; the first warehouse is located nearby
the port are and the second is located in proximity to the international airport.
The first one has a total surface of 1,119sqm2 with the sale cost equal to 152,792.00USD
(136.54USD, price per square meter). The second warehouse has the total surface equal
to 1,229sqm2 with the sale cost equal to 176,724.00USD (average cost is 143.79USD per
square meter) (Collier, 2016). From other sources (PoG) is suggested to identify the rent
cost dividing the sale price per square metre, and adding 10 per cent margin. The potential
rental price for the first warehouse (port area) is 150.19USD/sqm2 and the second
warehouse (airport area) rental cost is 158.17USD/sqm2.
Official warehouses costs were not available through the Ministry of Foreign Investment
(Investindk.com ) or other third party agencies.
Swedish warehouses infrastructure cost, in average terms across the country, is 570SEK
(69USD per square meter per month); the price per square meter is the same for
Stockholm, Malmo and Gothenburg.
Certainly one important element to consider is the private negotiation between the parties,
where are negotiates terms-conditions-benefits.
Pag. 139
Table 11.14 Comparing Three Countries
Networked Readiness
15 5 3
Index’s (NRI) (9)
Labor hours 36 38 40
1) USCIB, 2016
2) InvestinDK.com (2016); considered as main source (if not specified)
3) Innovasjonnorge.no, (2016); considered as main source (if not specified)
4) Business in Sweden (2016); considered as main source (if not specified)
5) Colliers (2016a)
Note:
6) Doing Business Denmark, (2016a)
7) Doing Business Norway, (2016b)
8) Doing business Sweden ( (2016c)
9) World Economic Forum (2016)
10) Conversion rate by XE.com on 10 May 2016.
The utility price, different in Norway, in Denmark and Sweden is one of the factors
influencing the warehouse location. The example below shows the different electricity
costs per month.
It is assumed that the warehouse operates 8 hours a day for 30 days a month, with
equipment utilized at 80 per cent of capacity on average, and that there are no electricity
cuts (assumed for simplicity). The subscribed capacity of the warehouse is 140 kVA, with a
power factor of 1 (1 kVA = 1 kW). The monthly energy consumption is therefore 26,880
kWh, and the hourly consumption 112 kWh (26,880 kWh/30 days/8 hours).
Pag. 140
It results that Norway has the lowest cost per month (346,752 USD), followed by Sweden
(357,504USD) and last is Denmark (389,760USD).
Value Added Tax maintain different levels in the three countries; VAT category 1 refers to
the electronics or sports equipment; VAT category 2 applies to accommodations,
entertainment; VAT category 3 applies to basic products as food.
Labor hours are different in Denmark, Norway and Sweden; in general terms, Sweden has
the higher number of working hours per week, comparing to the other two countries.
12.4 Comments
From the logistics point of view, the warehouse/DC should be seen as part of the global
supply chain, and not as an independent operation (confirmed by Tompkins and Smith,
1998). The importance of this consideration is how the products can be delivered from the
manufacturing country (e.g. Shanghai) and delivered to the Scandinavian consumers in
amore efficient and effective way.
Lambert and Stock (1993) confirm that the warehouse can be used to receive products
(containers) from the manufacturing country, and afterwards smaller deliveries can be
organised to satisfy the needs of many consumers. The authors
According to Lambert and Stock (1993) the facility location can be considered under the
macro and micro perspectives. The macro perspective is where PoG belong because
several geographical areas can be served. From the micro perspective the retailer
services (sales and delivery) will benefit from this location, offering a quick delivery, and
able to satisfy a higher percentage of the Scandinavian market (confirmed by Mulcahy,
1994).
Panayides and Song (2006) assert that ports can contribute to improve the performance of
the supply chain as whole. In this case the development of new warehouses in the Port of
Gothenburg will contribute to a better distribution, compared to the other ports.
The importance of the warehouse/DC is confirmed by Croucher, Baker and Ruston (2014)
because necessary to the distribution of several products. The identified warehouse
location is the Port of Gothenburg because from this location three main markets can be
served (Norway, Denmark and Sweden) with a shorter delivery time-miles. The location of
the warehouse at the PoG can be considered as Scandinavian geography (to serve
multiple geographical - international markets) and the warehouse can be classified for
finished goods (to be distributed to the potential customers) or even returned goods (after
purchase). The authors discuss the importance of the product surround; deliver service as
an important element in determining the final demand for a product. The same author
confirm that a new distribution system can be established with small deliveries on small
Pag. 141
vehicles into residential areas. The distribution from the PoG will contribute to those areas
with frequent deliveries due to the distance and lower time needed to serve dedicate
consumers.
In order to increase the sales, a faster delivery is necessary and the positive consequence
is the improved customer service (Ballou, 1999). Watson et al (2008) confirm that the
warehouse must be located in proximity of the market where the product is consumed; and
it is confirmed that the PoG is the preferred location to satisfy different markets (cities).
The proximity to the market is confirmed by Lambert and Stock (1993; from Edgar
Hoover). Bonacich and Wilson (2008) agree with the proximity to population centres where
large proportions of goods can be delivered; confirming PoG as the closest place where to
satisfy millions or potential consumers.
For example Mulcahy (1994) states that the site selection project must cover a radius of
150-200 miles (241-321km), and PoG has the higher number of potential consumers
within this range; PoG is able to cover 42 per cent of the Scandinavian market within 200
miles, 3,18 millions people. Savills (2013) and NCFRP (2013) focus on central location
and proximity to consumers, confirming the results of the PoG.
The centre of gravity identified (COG 1) as suggested by Mulcahy (1994) and Watson et al
(2013) shows the lower level of total miles needed to satisfy the selected locations. By
contrast the centre of gravity doesn’t satisfy at all this statement. The COG 1 cannot take
advantage of true road distance or even travel restrictions; it is a straight-line based on
latitude and longitude (Watson et al, 2013). Another reason for not accepting COG 1 is the
present of the sea between Sweden and Finland. In this case the formulas was weighted
by the population and not other variables were considered (e.g. lake and sea/ocean).
The PoG is able to satisfy a larger geographical market (euclidean distance) compared
with the COG 1.
In order to compare the different destinations, Mulcahy (1994) suggests to use another
approach: serve-a-cluster-of-customer-method; where time and distance and considered.
This method confirmed the PoG as location able to satisfy different locations in shorter
delivery travel time-miles. This is confirmed by Richards (2014) in shorter lead time
distribution.
NCFRP (2013) asserts that the location is also chosen by the negotiation process with the
warehouse’s owner. The average rental cost was identified and online-retailers can base
part of their negotiation on that data.
Sustainability is a relevant issue in 2016, and the warehouse of the future should take into
consideration the environment. According to Richards (2014) the warehouse is part of the
global supply chain and the alternative forms of transport must be considered. From the
global perspective (Shanghai - Port/COG 1 - Final consumers), the Port of Stockholm
Pag. 142
seems being the location where there is a lower level of emissions; by contrast COG 1 is
the location able to use the lower number of kilometres to deliver the container (to the
identified cities). PoG has the lower level of kilometres, if the distribution is by rail.
Noteboom and Winkelmans (2001a), UNESCAP and KMI (2005), Bichou and Gray (2004),
Verhoeven (2010) specify the importance of the ports as value-added logistics services,
and central links in the complex supply chain, where intermodal transports is able to satisfy
multiple consumers. The PoG can be seen as distripark, because the location of new
warehouses facilities in that area will contribute to redefine the port-supply chain
integration and centre of trade (Branch, 2007; Woo and Pettit, 2009); Nottemboom and
Rodrigue, 2005).
Johnson and Wood (1996) consider the logistics centre as cost reduction infrastructure;
and in our analysis we assume that the lower distance (kilometres and miles) and travel
time, from the PoG to consumers, contribute to reduce the retailers costs.
According to Robinson (2002) the competition between individual ports is along the
logistics chain and the geographical location of the PoG (and warehouses located in the
port) contribute to perform the distribution in a more efficient and effective way compared
to the other ports. It is confirmed by Song and Panayides (2012) that ports contribute to
the supply chain through the creation of value added-delivery and competitive advantage,
and the distribution system from the PoG has a relevant impact for online retailers.
Mangan et al (2008) discuss about port-centric logistics services such as warehousing,
contributing to higher profits margins for the port itself. The new warehouses, located in
the Port of Gothenburg area will contribute to better distraction operations such as no
double transportation for containers, enable hauliers to reduce wastage and make the
most efficient use of trucks and drivers’ hours. Carbon and de Martino (2003) confirm that
the customer is willing to pay for those services contributing to adds value to the product.
Worldbank (2001) and Talley (2009) define the non-traditional port services who contribute
to cost reduction; the PoG with the “new” and future port warehousing service will
contribute to reduce the cost related to distribution (assumption based on kilometres and
voyage shipping costs).
Concluding, the delivery service must meet customer expectations otherwise sales can be
lost (Harrison, Hoek and Skipworth, 2014); nowadays customers expectations are related
to the same day or next day delivery, and the PoG warehouse's location can contribute to
have amore efficient distribution and potential sales will not be lost.
Pag. 143
12. CONCLUSIONS
This section provides a summary of the conducted research.
2) How can the Port of Gothenburg (PoG) contribute to the success of online retailers?
Pag. 144
Once the literature review was identified, a proper methodology was necessary in order to
have the most appropriate data collection methods, and models applied in the analysis.
In the analysis section, several comments related to the literature clarified the results.
It is possible now to answer to the following research questions:
1) Assuming that all four ports included in the research provide warehouses to e-
retailers, which location has the most convenient distribution (e.g. short lead
time and large e-buyer customer base)?
The preferred location who better satisfy the higher number of consumers is Gothenburg.
The Port of Gothenburg, with the new warehouses, will contribute to a more efficient
distribution penetrating the higher number of potential consumers with a shorter
distribution time compared to the ports’ competitors; thanks to Gothenburg’s geographical
location, 5.37 millions of potential consumers can be reached within 500 miles; it means
that consumers in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden will incur in positive benefits, as faster
products delivery.
2) How can the Port of Gothenburg (PoG) contribute to the success of online
retailers?
The PoG as a central distribution centre for e-retailers will positive influence the global
supply chain thanks to the higher level of efficiency.
Containers will be discharge at the port and moved directly to the warehouses located 1.5
km from the container terminal. This activity will contribute to have a lower delivery time to
the retailer warehouses and the products will be dispatched quicker and sooner to the
consumers (port-centric logistics). In this case sales will not be lost.
Pag. 145
Shipping companies will prefer call PoG for the lower voyage costs, lower containers
handling fees, higher level of efficiency (indicators) compared to the other ports. PoG
perform higher calls from containerships and Ro-Ros. It means that shipping companies
prefer PoG to other ports.
Sweden has a larger population, compared to the rest of the three countries. The Country
economy perform better compared to Denmark, Finland and Norway.
The four ports have different infrastructures, dimensions, throughput, containers and TEUs
flow; the port with a better performance is definitely Gothenburg.
In total there are ca. 24.7 million E-buyers in Scandinavia, and 19.6 millions can be
reached from Gothenburg.
Sweden is the country with higher sales in apparel, footwear, beauty, personal care, and
consumer electronics.
The warehouse location, that is the most relevant part of this research. One important
element is the customer satisfaction in the shortest lead time. It means that the more
convenient location is where the company can dispatch several times, during the day,
products to major urban centres.
Infrastructure investment costs such as warehouse’s rent price, utilities prices, negotiable
salaries, working hours, international trade volume, and income of the potential market to
be served.
Considering that the final users of the warehouse/DC are e-retailers, is necessary to
identify if the level of technology of the population. The four countries have pretty young
population, in average, and particularly Sweden; the habitants have multiple devices,
multiple internet and mobile subscriptions.
Pag. 146
12.1 Future Research
This research is quite extensive and wasn’t possible to cover all the aspect related to e-
retailers, distributions, maritime, E-commerce and e-buyers.
Starting from the supply chain, some possible investigations are related to the transport
costs from the manufacturing country, the transport to the first port, and a more detailed
voyage cost analysis.
Regarding the maritime sector, particular focus can be on port time efficiency. It would be
interesting identifying the time necessary to discharge a containerships and related costs
(e.g. labor, cranes, quay cranes, berthing, and pilotage). Several authors identified some
performance indicators, but due to the lack of informations and time wasn’t possible to
investigate them.
The containers flow, inward and outward, wasn’t considered. Containers when moving
from the port to the retailers’ warehouse, are in stand-by for a certain time, and the
retailers incur in extra costs for this stand-by.
Under the e-commerce analysis, it would be interesting investigate in details the order
delivery; what happen next an order is received by the retailers? how long does it take to
process the order? how many people can be involved in a single order? how e-retailers
negotiate with 3PL (e.g. for faster deliveries)?
One thing the author was interested, was the routing optimisation. The identified routes, in
this research, considered the departure point (Port) and arrival (city). It would be
interesting to analyse in details the routes optimisation for those cities reachable in the
same time range (e.g. within 2 hours; or within 200 miles).
Pag. 147
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Pag. 162
APPENDIX “A” - HS CODES
The Appendix “A” refers about the Harmonised system codes, applied during the import/export
analysis.
Below are classified the categories by type of products (HS Codes by category):
The author’s classification is focused primarily on the main trade categories, classified by the Port
of Gothenburg, because the products are part of the e-commerce (B2C).
The author’s analysis was focused primarily on each single code data (e.g. HS 30 import-export-
country), afterwards all the categories belonging to the HS range (e.g. 28-38) were merged and
summed, in order to provide a general overview about the HS range category.
Pag. 163
Table A.1 Selected HS Codes by Range (macro category) and by Description (sub-category)
HS
HS range cod HS Description
e
41-43 Raw Hides, Skins, Leather, & Articles Of Leather, Saddlery & Harness, Travel Goods,
42
Furs Handbags, Articles Of Gut
44-49 Wood & Wood Products 48 Paper & Paperboard, Articles Of Paper Pulp
only selected sub category 8467 Tools for working in the hand, pneumatic etc, pts
only selected sub category 8468 Machines, solder etc, gas surf temper machines, pt
only selected sub category 8469 Typewriters & word processing machines
only selected sub category 8470 Calculating & account machines, cash registers etc
Pag. 164
HS
HS range cod HS Description
e
Pag. 165
APPENDIX “B” - OVERVIEW TRADE COUNTRIES
HS
HS Description Sweden Finland Denmark Norway
codes
Pag. 166
Table B.3 Import - Selected HS codes by Country
HS
HS Description Sweden Finland Denmark Norway
codes
Pag. 167
APPENDIX “C” - DETAIL TRADE DENMARK
Germany 17.400.249.204
Sweden 10.498.794.750
Netherlands 6.815.631.900
China 6.374.960.249
United Kingdom 3.831.320.193
Source: UN Comtrade, 2015
Germany 15.291.829.247
Sweden 10.446.351.869
Pag. 168
Table C.4 Denmark, Import/Export 2015 Neighbours countries
Denmark - Import/Export
Trade in USD 2015
Neighbours countries
Sweden 20.945.146.619
Import 10.498.794.750
Export 10.446.351.869
Norway 10.000.714.488
Import 3.992.969.532
Export 6.007.744.956
Finland 3.430.167.664
Import 1.107.212.473
Export 2.322.955.191
Source: UN Comtrade, 2015
Pag. 169
Figure C.1 Import Denmark selected HS codes 2015
(value in USD) (table C.5.1)
17,86%
20,94%
1,35%
6,38%
17,61%
30,27%
3,70%
1,90%
Chemicals & Allied Industries Raw Hides, Skins, Leather, & Furs
Wood & Wood Products Textiles
Footwear / Headgear Metals
Machinery / Electrical Miscellaneous
Pag. 170
Table C.5.2 Denmark Import Data 2015 by HS Category (Detail)
HS Trade Value
HS description
code (US$) 2015
Pag. 171
Table C.6.1 Export Denmark selected HS codes 2015 (value in USD)
38,91%
0,62%
3,80%
13,21%
1,91%
1,25%
24,09%
16,21%
Chemicals & Allied Industries Raw Hides, Skins, Leather, & Furs
Wood & Wood Products Textiles
Footwear / Headgear Metals
Machinery / Electrical Miscellaneous
Pag. 172
Table C.6.2 Export Denmark selected HS Codes 2015 (value in US$)
Pag. 173
APPENDIX “D” - DETAIL TRADE FINLAND
Source: UN Comtrade,
2015
Trade in USD
Country
2015
Germany 8.990.539.819
Sweden 6.744.042.668
Russian Federa=on 6.587.281.553
China 4.368.658.494
Netherlands 3.167.943.473
Source: UN Comtrade, 2015
Trade in USD
Country
2015
Germany 8.099.889.695
Sweden 6.049.930.545
USA 4.003.917.948
Netherlands 3.825.796.158
Russian Federa=on 3.443.649.012
Source: UN Comtrade, 2015
Pag. 174
Table D.4 Finland, Import/Export 2015 Neighbours countries
Sweden 12.793.973.213
Import 6.744.042.668
Export 6.049.930.545
Norway 2.799.577.917
Import 1.089.040.375
Export 1.710.537.542
Denmark 2.924.759.588
Import 1.914.137.937
Export 1.010.621.651
Pag. 175
Figure D.1 Finland Import Data 2015 by HS category (table
D.5.1)
18%
22%
1%
5%
11%
3%
2%
39%
Chemicals & Allied Industries Raw Hides, Skins, Leather, & Furs
Wood & Wood Products Textiles
Footwear / Headgear Metals
Machinery / Electrical Miscellaneous
Pag. 176
Table D.5.2 Finland Import Data 2015 by HS Category (detail)
Trade Value (US$)
HS code HS description 2015
34 Soaps, Waxes, Scouring Products, Candles, Modeling Pastes, Dental Waxes 308.671.680
63 Made-Up Textile Articles Nesoi, Needlecraft Sets, Worn Clothing, Rags 176.172.969
8467 Tools for working in the hand, pneumatic etc, pts 154.302.831
Pag. 177
Table D.6.1 Finland Export Data 2015 by HS Category
Finland Top 10 HS -
HS description Trade Value (US$) 2015
Export
2%
6% 1%
3%
17%
27%
Chemicals & Allied Industries Raw Hides, Skins, Leather, & Furs
Wood & Wood Products Textiles
Footwear / Headgear Metals
Machinery / Electrical Miscellaneous
Pag. 178
Table D.6.2 Finland Export Data 2015 by HS Category (detail)
HS Trade Value
HS description
code (US$) 2015
Pag. 179
APPENDIX “E” - DETAIL TRADE NORWAY
Trade in USD
Country
2015
Sweden 8.863.712.690
Germany 8.711.615.499
China 8.019.352.303
United Kingdom 4.942.683.167
USA 4.843.748.237
Source: UN Comtrade, 2015
Pag. 180
Table E.4 Norway Import/Export 2015 Neighbours Countries
Denmark 8.313.278.320
Import 4.414.250.424
Export 3.899.027.896
Finland 2.874.673.563
Import 1.730.863.844
Export 1.143.809.719
Sweden 15.185.416.641
Import 8.863.712.690
Export 6.321.703.951
Pag. 181
Figure E.1 Norway Import Data 2015 by HS
Category (value in USD) (table E.5)
13%
1%
6%
30%
12%
3%
3%
32%
Chemicals & Allied Industries Raw Hides, Skins, Leather, & Furs
Wood & Wood Products Textiles
Footwear / Headgear Metals
Machinery / Electrical Miscellaneous
Pag. 182
Table E.5.2 Norway Import Data 2015 by HS Category (detail)
HS Trade Value (US$)
HS description
code 2015
34 Soaps, Waxes, Scouring Products, Candles, Modeling Pastes, Dental Waxes 412.677.994
42 Articles Of Leather, Saddlery & Harness, Travel Goods, Handbags, Articles Of Gut 275.791.578
63 Made-Up Textile Articles Nesoi, Needlecraft Sets, Worn Clothing, Rags 361.428.412
8467 Tools for working in the hand, pneumatic etc, pts 183.857.067
Furniture, Bedding, Cushions, Lamps & Lighting Fittings Nesoi, Illuminated Signs,
94 2.891.703.799
Nameplates & The Like, Prefabricated Buildings
Pag. 183
Table E.6.1 Norway Export Data 2015 by HS Category
Finland Top 10 HS -
HS description Trade Value (US$) 2015
Export
11%
7%
35% 2%
7%
39%
Chemicals & Allied Industries Raw Hides, Skins, Leather, & Furs
Wood & Wood Products Textiles
Footwear / Headgear Metals
Machinery / Electrical Miscellaneous
Pag. 184
Table E.6.2 Norway Export Data 2015 by HS Category (detail)
HS Trade Value
HS description
code (US$) 2015
Pag. 185
APPENDIX “F” - DETAIL TRADE SWEDEN
Germany 24.773.079.351
Netherlands 11.421.002.899
Norway 11.323.719.790
Denmark 10.618.591.078
United Kingdom 7.614.114.734
Source: UN Comtrade, 2015
Trade in USD
Country
2015
Norway 14.108.114.814
Germany 13.982.231.920
USA 10.160.876.437
United Kingdom 9.818.620.833
Denmark 9.509.120.496
Source: UN Comtrade, 2015
Pag. 186
Table F.4 Sweden Import/Export 2015 Neighbours Countries
Denmark 20.127.711.574
Import 10.618.591.078
Export 9.509.120.496
Norway 25.431.834.604
Import 11.323.719.790
Export 14.108.114.814
Finland 15.629.212.928
Import 6.362.885.839
Export 9.266.327.089
Source: UN Comtrade, 2015
Pag. 187
Figure F.1 Sweden Import Data 2015 by HS Category
(value in USD) (table F.5.1)
20%
14%
1%
5%
12%
3%
45% 2%
Chemicals & Allied Industries Raw Hides, Skins, Leather, & Furs
Wood & Wood Products Textiles
Footwear / Headgear Metals
Machinery / Electrical Miscellaneous
Pag. 188
Table F.5.2 Sweden Import Data 2015 by HS category (value in USD) (detail)
63 Made-Up Textile Articles Nesoi, Needlecraft Sets, Worn Clothing, Rags 544.637.598
Pag. 189
Table F.6.1 Sweden Export Data 2015 by HS category (value in USD)
19%
17% 20%
5%
1%
3%
35%
Chemicals & Allied Industries Raw Hides, Skins, Leather, & Furs
Wood & Wood Products Textiles
Footwear / Headgear Metals
Machinery / Electrical Miscellaneous
Pag. 190
Table F.6.2 Sweden Export Data 2015 by HS category (value in USD) detail
HS Trade Value
HS description
code (US$) 2015
34 Soaps, Waxes, Scouring Products, Candles, Modeling Pastes, Dental Waxes 561.617.051
63 Made-Up Textile Articles Nesoi, Needlecraft Sets, Worn Clothing, Rags 255.082.918
8467 Tools for working in the hand, pneumatic etc, pts 680.384.540
Pag. 191
APPENDIX “G” - PORTS CHARACTERISTICS
Table G.1 shows the port’s characteristics by categories. The source is the National
Geospatial Intelligence Agency. The macro categories are available at the following link
(http://msi.nga.mil/NGAPortal/MSI.portal). The table wasn’t used in our analysis because is
not descriptive and reliable; exact measures are not provided; in opposite, it provides a
general overview about the four ports. Each single port has two column; the first one (with
letters) is the macro category (classified by msi.nga.mil) and the second is the relative
conversion (e.g. harbour size 7.9-9.1 meters).
Entrance
Restriction
s
Tide N N N N N
Swell N N N N N
Ice N Y Y
Other Y Y L 7.9-9.1 Y Y
meters
Overhead
Y Y Y Y
Limits
Good H
Y N Y Y
Holding
Ground
Turning Y Y Y
Area
First Port of
Y Y Y Y Y
Entry
Pilotage
Compulsory Y Y Y Y
Pag. 192
Table G.1 Oslo Malmo Copenhagen Stockholm Gothenburg
Available Y Y Y Y Y
Tugs Y Y
Salvage
Tugs Assist Y Y Y Y Y
Air Y Y Y Y Y
Rail Y Y Y Y Y
Load/
Offload
Wharves Y Y Y Y Y
Anchor Y Y Y Y
Ice Moor
Garbage Y Y Y Y Y
Disposal
Dirty Ballast Y Y Y Y Y
Cranes
Fixed Y Y Y Y Y
Mobile Y Y Y Y Y
Floating Y Y Y
Lifts
200 Tons + Y Y Y Y
50-200 Tons Y Y Y Y Y
25-49 Tons Y Y Y Y
0-24 Tons Y Y Y
Services
Longshore Y Y Y Y
Steam Y Y
Pag. 193
Table G.2 Ports’ Characteristics Details
Port details
Latitude 55° 37' N 55° 42' N 59° 54' N 59° 20' N 57° 41' N
Latitude
55.616667 55.700000 59.900000 59.333333 57.683333
decimals
Longitude 12° 59' E 12° 38' E 10° 44' E 18° 3' E 11° 51' E
Longitude
12.983333 12.633333 10.733333 18.050000 11.850000
decimals
Max Offshore
NA NA NA NA NA
BCM
Port Facilities
Container
Y Y Y Y Y
Facilities
RoRo Facilities Y Y Y Y Y
Port Description
Summer Zone for ships over 100m Summer Zone North Atlantic Summer Zone North Atlantic
in length and Winter Zone for ships for ships over Winter Seasonal for ships over Winter Seasonal
of 100m or less in length. Winter 100m in length Zone II, Winter 100m in length Zone II, Winter
Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to and Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, and Winter Zone Nov 1 to Mar 31,
Zone for ships Summer Apr 1 to for ships of Summer Apr 1 to
Load line zone Oct 31.
of 100m or less Oct 31. 100m or less. Oct 31.
in length. Winter Winter Nov 1 to
Nov 1 to Mar Mar 31, Summer
31, Summer Apr Apr 1 to Oct 31.
1 to Oct 30.
Number of
8000 Approx 9,020 - -
vessels
Pag. 194
Table G.2 Malmo Copenhagen Oslo Stockholm Gothenburg
Approx
8,500,000 of 38,200,000t of
5,820,000t of cargo, cargo
Tons of cargo 14,400,000t cargo cargo
LOA 350m,
tanker draught
19.05m (18.6m if
water level low),
Largest vessels
container
handled:
draught 11.5m,
Passenger and
225,000DWT.
dry cargo
Max airdraught
vessels: LOA
in Inner harbour
295m, beam
45m.
32.3m, draught
Gota River: LOA
Max draught in 11.0m.
Provestenen 89m, beam
LOA 260m, beam 45m, draught Drobak Passage
MAX size Harbour: 13.4m, draught
12.5m is 12.0m, Hammerby Lock:
Draught 11.5m. 4.7m, with
alongside 11.0m. Length 115m, special
width 17.4m, permission up to
depth 6.5m. 5.4m. Airdraught
Vessels 27.0m.
transiting Lake Bohus: LOA
Maleran max 135m, beam
airdraught 16.5m.
25.2m. Trollhattan
Kanal: LOA
125m and beam
16.5m.
Navigation
Pag. 195
Table G.2 Malmo Copenhagen Oslo Stockholm Gothenburg
Tankers of
30,000DWT or
more are
required to use
Tugs are at least 2 tugs
available by when berthing or
Compulsory for 2 ("Tug"
arrangement leaving
vessels over 2,400hp, 30
with vessel's Torshamnen
100m in length, board pull; ”Ted"
Tugs 3 agent prior to crude oil jetty
passing through 1,400hp, 15
arrival/departure. and 1 tug on
bridges. bollard pull )
The largest tugs arrival if over
are equipped for 5,000DWT
fire fighting (Berth Nos 800
and 801). This
rule applies to
both laden and
empty vessels.
Port of Copenhagen: The port extends to 1,108ha with a land area of 413ha and a total
quayage length of 39,651m. 3 sections: The North Harbour, The Inner Harbour and The
Provestenen Harbour; Free Port is located in the North Harbour. (Sea-web, 2016)
Port of Oslo: The port is a well sheltered major harbour built around the mainland coast of
the bay in the NE corner of Oslofjorden. The harbour is divided into Eastern and Western
harbours by a group of islands lying in the entrance to the bay and joined by channels.
The port serves a considerable industrial and commercial centre, handling a large part of
the country's foreign trade, both imports and exports. There are extensive Ro-Ro, ferry and
cruise facilities including two floating Ro-Ro ramps with three daily ferry arrivals from
Denmark and Germany. It has excellent road and rail connections with the rest of Norway
and is equipped to handle most types of cargoes including oil, salt, cement, stone, timber,
newsprint, vehicles, grain and animal feeds. (Sea-web, 2016)
Port of Stockholm: The quays, which includes 10 cruise berths, have a total length of
16km extending approx 10km from W to E. The area of the harbour is approx 1,750ha.
The waterway Hammarbyleden, connecting Lake Malaren with the sea, has a length of
6,550m from Danviksbron to Reimersholme with a depth of 6.1m. There is a lock
connection, Hammarby Lock, max vessel dimensions LOA 110m, beam 15m and draught
5.6m at MW. (Sea-web, 2016)
Pag. 196
Port of Gothenburg: The port is the largest port in the Nordic countries
The port is also the central Nordic port for liner shipping with about 30% of its general
cargo imports and exports being transit cargo to or from other Nordic countries.
The port is also the central Nordic port for liner shipping with about 30% of its general
cargo imports and exports being transit cargo to or from other Nordic countries.
Direct calling deep sea container or Ro-Ro liners connect Gothenburg to all continents with
their base at the Scandia Terminal. Ro-Ro ferry liner operations to Continental Europe and
UK calls at the Alvsborg Terminal. The total complex of a unit load centre of 2,000,000m2
with 2,500m of quay length and 11 container cranes including 2 post Panamax and 3
super post Panamax with a lifting capacity of 103t each. In addition, the port also has
cruise liner facilities with berths dedicated to cruise vessels.
Traffic can also navigate the Gota River and via locks to Lake Vanern where channel depth
is 6.1m. (Sea-web, 2016)
Pag. 197
Table G.3 Berth Length - Depth Analysis
Berth Depth Berth Depth Berth Depth Berth Depth Berth Depth
length (m) length (m) length (m) length (m) length (m)
100 6 60 9
147 6 140 9
Total
2710 2542 1219 1817 4251
length
Weighted
8,75 7,91 9,57 8,05 12,12
Mean
Port of
Copenhange-
8,34
Malmo Weighted
average
Pag. 198
The total weighted mean identified, taking into consideration all berth length and depth is
65,90.
Pag. 199
APPENDIX “H” - CONTAINERSHIPS BY PORT
Table H.0 Gross Tonnage by Country and by Port
2014 % by country
Denmark 23.595 -
Norway 21.933 -
Sweden 37.776 -
Note: 1) Eurostat
The “dot” :.” is used for
thousand and the “comma” “,”
for decimals.
Pag. 200
Table H.2 Containerships by GT Calculus
The total number of containerships is 1.727 (in 2014) for the selected ports. The port of
Oslo received 386 calls (equal 22,35 per cent of total), the Port of Copenhagen-Malmo
received 389 calls (equal to 22,52 per cent of total), the Port of Stockholm received 165
calls (equal to 9,55 per cent), and finally the PoG received 787 calls (equal 45,57 per
cent). The recent data (2016) show a an increase number of calls for the segment 100.000
to 199.999 GT (PoG source).
In the column “A” - the table H.2 - are reported the total percentages, but in the table H.5
are reported the specific data by port and category.
Table H.3, shows the different performance by port and by category. The percentage was
calculated by the single category in the table H.1 (by port) divided by the total calls by port.
For example the value for Oslo was calculated by (category 2.000 - 2.9999):
[(25)/(386)*100] = 6,48 % (result in table H.3.)
Pag. 201
The data are highlight the ships calls main segment by GT.
Table H.4, shows the different performance by port and by (single) category.
The percentage, by category and by port was calculated taking into consideration the the
single value (e.g. 25, Port of Oslo, category 2000-2999) and divided by the total number of
calls for the specified category.
For example the value of 83,33 per cent (Port of Oslo) was calculated as below:
= [(25/30 total by category)*100]
The PoG receive a larger number of calls in different categories (total 10 out of 14).
Instead the Port of Oslo receive calls (25) for the segment 2.000-2.999 (83,33 per cent),
and 101 (segment 8.000-8.999) equal to 53,72 per cent. In the other side the Port of
Copenhagen-Malmo (CMP) receive 63 calls for the segment 6.000-6.999, equal to 49,61
per cent of the total segment; CMP perform better in the segment 20.000-29.999 with 34
calls, equal to 61,82 per cent of the total segment.
Pag. 202
Table H.4 Port's performance by GT category
Total
Flow 2014 / Vessel Type (GT) (1) Port of
Port of by
by category Port of Oslo Copenhagen- Port of Gothenburg
Stockholm categor
Malmo
y
From 6 000 to 6 999 gross tonnage 1 0,79% 63 49,61% 16 12,60% 47 37,01% 127
From 7 000 to 7 999 gross tonnage 111 26,62% 40 9,59% 21 5,04% 245 58,75% 417
From 8 000 to 8 999 gross tonnage 101 53,72% 50 26,60% 5 2,66% 32 17,02% 188
From 9 000 to 9 999 gross tonnage 81 20,45% 146 36,87% 7 1,77% 162 40,91% 396
Table H.5, shows the different performance by port and by category. The percentage was
calculated by the single category in the table H.5 (by port) divided by the total calls in table
H.2. For example the value for Oslo was calculated for the category 2.000 - 2.9999:
[(25 calls) / (1727 total calls)*100] = 1,45 % (results in table H.5).
Pag. 203
Table H.5 Total port performance - calls by GT category
Flow 2014 / Vessel Type (GT) (1) Port of
Port of
Port of Oslo Copenhagen- Port of Gothenburg
Stockholm
Malmo
From 7 000 to 7 999 gross tonnage 111 6,43% 40 2,32% 21 1,22% 245 14,19%
From 8 000 to 8 999 gross tonnage 101 5,85% 50 2,90% 5 0,29% 32 1,85%
From 9 000 to 9 999 gross tonnage 81 4,69% 146 8,45% 7 0,41% 162 9,38%
Table H.6, data 2015, shows the performances by port with the total TEUs flow
(1.245.210). The PoG
Pag. 204
The Liner Shipping Connectivity Index captures how well countries are connected to
global shipping networks. It is computed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) based on five components of the maritime transport sector:
number of ships, their container-carrying capacity, maximum vessel size, number of
services, and number of companies that deploy container ships in a country's ports. For
each component a country's value is divided by the maximum value of each component in
2004, the five components are averaged for each country, and the average is divided by
the maximum average for 2004 and multiplied by 100. The index generates a value of 100
for the country with the highest average index in 2004. The underlying data come from
Containerisation International Online.
In order to establish a unit free index, all components are normalized using the standard
formula:
Normalized_Value = (Raw - Min(Raw)) / (Max(Raw) - Min(Raw)).
This formula rather than the Raw/Max(Raw) formula has been chosen essentially because
of the existence of minimum values which differ from zero. If all minimum values for all
components were zero both formulas would be equivalent and would generate identical
normalized values.
The LSBCI is computed by taking the simple average of the five normalized components.
As a consequence, the LSBCI can only take values between 0 (minimum) and 1
(maximum). As to the first component, we simply take its complement to unity that is 1-
Normalized_Value to respect the correspondence between higher values and stronger
connectivity.
Pag. 205
APPENDIX “I” - VOYAGE COSTS
Northern Sea
Shanghai to via Cape of Good Route (passing
via Suez-Gibraltar via Cape Horn
Copenhagen hope by: 70° 26' 47"N
171° 39' 57"W
Costs
2 Average Fuel
consumption per day 190 190 190 190
(mt) at 20 knots
Assumptions
total consumption
9 4.503 5.852 7.146 3.059
(2*8)
Average nautical
10 480 479 480 479
(5/8)
Chartered voyage
19 $2.579.334,36 $3.319.772,25 $4.029.693,31 $1.748.748,67
cost
Charges
20 Port Charges (9,000
containers,
2tonnes/each), DKK3.780.000,00 DKK3.780.000,00 DKK3.780.000,00 DKK3.780.000,00
price in DKK, VAT
excluded
21 20 converted in
USD
(1 DKK = 0.150015
$567.057,07 $567.057,07 $567.057,07 $567.057,07
USD); source:
xe.com (10 May
2016)
Pag. 206
Table I.2 Voyage Costs Shanghai - Oslo
Assumptions
total consumption
9 4.400 5.744 7.045 2.945
(2*8)
Average nautical
10 483 480 480 479
(5/8)
cost per day
11 $44.270,00 $44.270,00 $44.270,00 $44.270,00
IFO0380 (2*3)
Price per nautical
12 mile IFO0380 $91,73 $92,24 $92,23 $92,48
(11/10)
Cost per day MGO
13 $88.350,00 $88.350,00 $88.350,00 $88.350,00
(2*4)
Price per nautical
14 $183,07 $184,09 $184,07 $184,56
mile MGO (
Chartered voyage
19 $2.499.198,83 $3.236.950,14 $3.951.187,51 $1.659.923,41
cost
Charges
20 Port Charges
(18,000 TEUs, NOK NOK2.232.000 NOK2.232.000 NOK2.232.000 NOK2.232.000
124/TEU)
21 20 converted in
USD
(1 NOK = 0.119762
$267.309,00 $267.309,00 $267.309,00 $267.309,00
USD); source:
xe.com (10 May
2016)
Pag. 207
Table I.3 Voyage Costs Shanghai - Stockholm
Costs
2 Average Fuel
consumption per day 190 190 190 190
(mt) at 20 knots
Navigation data
Assumptions
total consumption
9 4.642 5.983 7.285 3.192
(2*8)
Average nautical
10 480 480 480 480
(5/8)
Chartered voyage
19 $2.687.929,72 $3.424.060,99 $4.138.294,88 $1.854.101,80
cost
Charges
21 20 converted in
USD
(1 SEK = 0.120195
$459.744,60 $459.744,60 $459.744,60 $459.744,60
USD); source:
xe.com (10 May
2016)
Pag. 208
Table I.4 Voyage Costs Shanghai - Gothenburg
Costs
2 Average Fuel
consumption per day 190 190 190 190
(mt) at 20 knots
Navigation data
Assumptions
total consumption
9 4.376 5.717 7.021 2.926
(2*8)
Average nautical
10 480 480 480 480
(5/8)
Chartered voyage
19 $2.480.317,62 $3.216.451,13 $3.931.762,07 $1.646.462,19
cost
Charges
22 20 converted in
USD
(1 SEK = 0.120195
$16.879,00 $16.879,00 $16.879,00 $16.879,00
USD); source:
xe.com (10 May
2016)
Pag. 209
APPENDIX “L” - POPULATION DETAILS
Internet subscribers 9.055,1 22,23% 9.613,2 23,60% 7.267,3 17,84% 14.800,1 36,33%
Internet users 5.184,1 22,24% 4.842,3 20,78% 4.698,5 20,16% 8.581,3 36,82%
Mobile internet
6.664,4 21,51% 7.805,7 25,20% 5.108,4 16,49% 11.398 36,80%
subscriptions
Mobile telephone
7.249,6 21,56% 7.799,6 23,19% 6.063,3 18,03% 12.518,2 37,22%
subscriptions
Pag. 210
Social Class A presents data referring to the number of individuals with a gross income
over 200% of an average gross income of all individuals aged 15+.
Social Class B presents data referring to the number of individuals with a gross income
between 150% and 200% of an average gross income of all individuals aged 15+.
Social Class C presents data referring to the number of individuals with a gross income
between 100% and 150% of an average gross income of all individuals aged 15+.
Social Class D presents data referring to the number of individuals with a gross income
between 50.0% and 100% of an average gross income of all individuals aged 15+.
Social Class E presents data referring to the number of individuals with a gross income
less than 50.0% of an average gross income of all individuals aged 15+.
Retailing forecast
44.410,9 40.948,8 56.195,2 77.756,5
2020
Internet Retailing
5.401,4 3.894,8 4.657,7 5.475,7
(2015)
Internet Retailing
7.297,4 4.649,8 6.275,0 7.645,3
(forecast 2020)
Direct selling
77,2 202,9 167,5 211,5
(forecast 2020)
this table identify thousands with the “.” “dot”, and decimals with “comma “,”
Source: Euromonitor (2015)
Note: this table identify thousands with “comma “,” , and decimals with “.” “dot”.
Source: Euromonitor (2015)
Pag. 211