Transformation of the Competitive Landscape in the East Asian Port System

This article analyzes the fundamental changes in the competitive landscape of the East Asian Port System (EAPS), which handles over 40% of the global container cargo turnover. The study aims to identify the key factors driving the transformation of the regional port hierarchy amidst global economic instability, geopolitical tensions, and the technological revolution in logistics. The research undertakes a retrospective analysis of the evolving balance of power within the EAPS, a comparative assessment of the logistics efficiency of the region’s key economies based on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) for 2007–2023, and an examination of the role of geo-economic strategies, digitalization, and integration processes in reshaping inter-port competition. The paper’s structure encompasses an analysis of historical dynamics, contemporary differentiation in logistics development, the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative and the response strategies of regional powers, as well as the influence of digital platforms and regional trade agreements. The main findings indicate a paradigm shift in competition: traditional rivalry based on tariffs and capacity is giving way to a strategic struggle for integration into global supply chains. China emerges as the primary beneficiary of this transformation, as its ports, through investment expansion and digitalization, consolidate their status as global hubs. Concurrently, ports in Japan and ASEAN countries face the risk of marginalization, thereby cementing a new, more rigid multi-tiered hierarchy in the region.