For ports, especially those located in the U.S., 2010 is shaping up to be a watershed year. For some time, global trade has been trending toward tremendous change as economic forces clash with other concerns such as climate issues and political instability in different parts of the world.
If 2009 has showed us anything, it is that having a single or dominant cargo base is not economically healthy for the short or long term. All one must do is examine the tonnage and revenue downturns at “single-cargo” ports. Any port director will quickly get a sense on how not to proceed into the next decade.
I believe you will see ports in the Western Hemisphere become increasingly pressured to diversify their cargo bases. This will include altering their one-dimensional terminals and infrastructures into multi-use facilities. Flexibility is the friend of diversification.
Change is never easy, and 2010 will be a year of great change.