 |
| Ports Importance |
The majority of the things we use on a daily basis pass via ports, making them an important link in the worldwide manufacturing and supply chains on which we rely.
UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan stated, "Our livelihoods — food, jobs, energy – are dependent on functioning and resilient supply networks."
Boosting trade and economic development
Because more than 80% of world trade is handled by sea, a port's efficiency has a direct impact on the economies of the countries it serves. Many emerging countries have much greater percentages.
The pandemic of COVID-19 has served as a sharp reminder that when ports slow down, everyone suffers.
Freight rates surged during the epidemic and have risen again in the aftermath of the Ukraine war due to logistics interruptions and port congestion.
According to a UNCTAD study, increases in freight costs can drive up the cost of goods.
Many ports throughout the world experienced delays and interruptions as a result of the lockdown. Between 2019 and 2021, the median duration container ships spent in ports throughout the world climbed by 20%.
Assisting in crisis response
When tragedy strikes, ports are the primary entry point for food, water, and medicine, as well as the fuel needed to keep hospitals and health facilities operational.
Yemen, for example, imports 90% of its food through its ports, despite being in the midst of one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
The war in Ukraine has also served as a heartbreaking reminder of the critical role ports play in combating global hunger crises. In the 2020-2021 season, the country was the world's sixth largest wheat exporter.
More than 50 million tonnes of grain were shipped through the country's Black Sea ports in the eight months leading up to the conflict, enough to feed nearly 400 million people.
With ports on the way,
Environmental impact must be addressed.
While ports are vital for economic development and crisis response, the associated maritime traffic, handling of goods, and road and rail transport take a toll on the environment through air and water pollution.
This is caused by fuel-powered cargo handling equipment, ships, trucks, trains and the power plants providing the energy needed to run port operations.
The emissions include greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and particulate matter, which cause respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and chronic lung and heart diseases.
Reducing port emissions would cut air and water pollution and improve the health of over 3.5 billion people while helping curb climate change.
Women must be empowered.
Ports are a significant source of local employment, although historically, men have had more opportunities than women.
Women held only 18 percent of official port posts in 2021, according to data from over 50 ports participating in UNCTAD's TrainForTrade port management programme. Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America are all home to ports.
The European ports that took part in the survey revealed the highest regional average of 22%.
A thorough examination revealed a 42 percent average for management and administrative posts in ports. However, only 6% of personnel in cargo handling and operations were female.
The figures emphasise the need of empowering female port workers and continuing to fight toward gender equality in the industry.
UNCTAD's support for ports
UNCTAD conducts research, analyses, and provides technical assistance to help ports and the maritime transportation sector, particularly in poor countries, improve operations, empower women, and become more sustainable and resilient to crises, such as climate change.
The yearly Review of Maritime Transport and a multi-year expert forum on transportation, trade logistics, and facilitation are two examples of this effort.
Members of the programme can use UNCTAD's port performance scorecard to track their progress on a variety of indicators.
0 Comments