Ports, pillars of international maritime trade

In a highly globalized economy, maritime ports represent much more than just logistical infrastructures. As genuine hubs of global exchange, they embody the vital nodes through which more than 80% of global trade by volume transits. Having become indispensable pillars of international maritime trade, ports directly influence the competitiveness of nations.

Ports: essential gears of international maritime trade

According to recent data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the volume of global maritime trade reached 12.3 billion tons in 2023, showing a 2.4% growth compared to the previous year. Projections indicate a continuation of this dynamic with an average annual growth of 2.4% until 2029.

This is hardly surprising. The efficiency of a port determines the competitiveness of an entire region, with a direct influence on supply costs and lead times for thousands of businesses. In France, this observation has even led to a reflection on the need to "rearm" national ports. As a senatorial report highlights, French ports still suffer from a "lack of competitiveness and an absence of long-term strategic vision."

The war of ports: an exacerbated international competition

Competition between ports intensifies as international maritime trade develops. This race plays out on several levels: investments in infrastructure, operational efficiency, and connectivity to transport networks.

At the heart of this competition, China is deploying a particularly ambitious maritime expansion strategy. As a recent analysis by Euradio reveals, this power is strengthening its control over ports through its major shipowners, thus playing "a major strategic role in global maritime trade." This expansion is part of the 2049 plan, which aims to make China the world's leading power.

Chinese investments in European ports illustrate this strategy. In 2016, China acquired 51% of the container terminals in the port of Piraeus, a share increased to 67% in 2021. Its influence now extends to numerous strategic European ports, including Vado Ligure, Le Havre, Marseille, Antwerp, and Rotterdam.

Faced with this offensive, Europe seeks to preserve its strategic autonomy. In 2021, when Cosco attempted to acquire 35% of the Tollerort terminal in Hamburg, Brussels' opposition forced the German Chancellor to limit Chinese participation to 24.99%.

Ports: friction points of global trade tensions

Ports represent friction points where the tensions of international maritime trade crystallize. The recent trade wars initiated by the United States offer a striking illustration. According to La Tribune, the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in 2025 caused a brutal slowdown in activity in American ports.

The port of Los Angeles, the main gateway for Chinese products to the United States, experienced a "35% drop in deliveries" for the week of May 4, 2025. Its director testifies: "You could hear a fly buzz, it's really unusual." This paralysis affects the entire American logistics chain, with direct consequences for consumers: "less choice and higher prices."

Ports are also the scene of social mobilizations. In Genoa, dockworkers organized a strike against the loading of military equipment destined for Saudi Arabia, involved in the war in Yemen. These actions illustrate how ports become spaces of ethical contestation.

The panama canal: an emblematic example of strategic issues

The Panama Canal also illustrates the strategic importance of maritime infrastructure in international trade. This artificial waterway plays a crucial role by preventing ships from having to circumnavigate the entire American continent.

As a detailed study specifies, "during the fiscal year October 2020/September 2021, the Canal Authority counted 516 million tons having crossed the isthmus aboard 13,342 ships." This traffic represents about 3.5% of global maritime trade.

Its importance justified colossal investments for its expansion, completed in 2016 after nine years of work and a cost of $8.9 billion. This modernization allowed for the accommodation of much larger ships, increasing capacity from 5,000 to 14,000 containers.

However, the canal faces new challenges related to climate change. Each passage requires between 200,000 and 250,000 m³ of fresh water, a resource threatened by recurrent droughts in the region.

Supply security and new risks

Supply security is a major issue for ports in international maritime trade. Recent disruptions, linked to geopolitical conflicts and climate change, directly threaten global trade flows.

In mid-2024, the diversion of ships from the Red Sea and the Panama Canal had increased global demand for ships by 3% and that of container ships by 12%. As UNCTAD points out, if this crisis persists, global consumer prices could increase by an additional 0.6% in 2025.

Faced with these challenges, new international financing solutions are developing to secure trade and enable companies to maintain their trade flows despite uncertainties. These mechanisms offer actors in international maritime trade the flexibility needed to adapt their strategies in a volatile environment.

The increasing digitization of ports also engenders new cyber risks. A recent analysis reveals how "smart ports" are becoming targets for cyberattacks. In 2017, the Maersk company was a victim of the NotPetya virus, causing $300 million in damages and paralyzing the port terminal of Rotterdam for more than a week.

To counter these threats, securing port infrastructure becomes paramount, requiring continuous risk management and cybersecurity training for key personnel.

Conclusion: ports, at the heart of 21st century issues

Ports are more than ever the pillars of international maritime trade. Their strategic role is affirmed in a context of profound changes: geopolitical tensions, reconfiguration of supply chains, digitization, and environmental challenges.

To preserve their economic competitiveness, nations must invest in their port infrastructure and develop a long-term strategic vision. This necessity is particularly pressing for France, whose ports must be "rearmed" to face international competition.

At a time when reflections on economic sovereignty are multiplying, ports appear as essential gateways to territories. Their development is a major strategic issue, at the crossroads of the economic, geopolitical, and environmental imperatives of the 21st century. International maritime trade will continue to shape the global economy, and ports will remain its indispensable pillars.

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