Port supply chain integration: analyzing biofuel supply chains

Abstract

This paper focuses on port supply chain integration to strengthen operational and business performance. We provide a structured and comprehensive method to enable port supply chain integration and demonstrate its applicability to the biofuel supply chain. We define the value proposition, role, activities, resources, and characteristics that a port needs to integrate in the biofuel supply chain and incorporate them in an ‘integration matrix’. Port authorities can achieve integration in the biofuel supply chain by extending their role and (1) facilitating flows, (2) attracting new flows, (3) executing value-adding activities, (4) developing a bio-industry cluster, and (5) acting as a knowledge center. A roundtable and two single case studies on the Port of Rotterdam and the northern Dutch port cluster have validated the content and applicability of our findings.

Keywords:

• ports
• logistics
• sustainability
• terminals
• risk
• policy

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Accenture, GSP, and the PoR for supporting this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.