Steel product flows: works-to-port: an application of the ‘transportation problem’

Abstract

The pattern of landward flows of steel products between manufacturing works and ports in the United Kingdom used for export is examined, and the spatial implications of various levels of hypothetical rationalization in the distribution of port facilities discussed. While extreme spatial concentration of port facilities for handling general steels would seem both impracticable and undesirable, the analysis suggests that a greater degree of rationalization than at present could be achieved without increasing overall landward transport costs.