Sustainability-based evolution of port hinterlands: green performance and spatial impacts in the Bohai Rim

Global net-zero targets are reshaping port clusters toward greener and more coordinated development. However, the performance and hinterland influence of hub ports from a sustainability perspective remain underexplored. The Bohai Rim, with its high port density and early green transition efforts, of...

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Main Authors: Chong Ye, Tingshan Cai, Chenliang Zhang, Wenting Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25010271
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author Chong Ye
Tingshan Cai
Chenliang Zhang
Wenting Cao
author_facet Chong Ye
Tingshan Cai
Chenliang Zhang
Wenting Cao
author_sort Chong Ye
collection DOAJ
description Global net-zero targets are reshaping port clusters toward greener and more coordinated development. However, the performance and hinterland influence of hub ports from a sustainability perspective remain underexplored. The Bohai Rim, with its high port density and early green transition efforts, offers a representative case for studying spatiotemporal hinterland evolution in this context. This study uses panel data from six major container ports over the period 2011-2023 to build a multidimensional sustainability indicator system that includes carbon emissions and sea-rail intermodal throughput. The sustainability scores are first applied in a Wilson model to estimate general port influence, and then integrated with OD-cost distance in a field strength model to delineate county-level hinterland patterns. The results show that port hinterlands generally expanded during the study period, with increased overlap, stronger connectivity, and more intense regional coopetition. Qingdao and Tianjin evolved into dual spatial cores, and Rizhao accelerated inland expansion via multimodal transport. In contrast, Dalian and Yingkou showed limited hinterland growth and constrained spatial influence. This study proposes a transferable integrated framework for sustainability-based hinterland analysis, offering cross-port and cross-regional applicability to support planning and policymaking under green development goals.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1470-160X
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publishDate 2025-09-01
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series Ecological Indicators
spelling doaj-art-89d34b0149c34ce2a981de247afca5b82025-08-26T04:14:10ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-09-0117811409510.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114095Sustainability-based evolution of port hinterlands: green performance and spatial impacts in the Bohai RimChong Ye0Tingshan Cai1Chenliang Zhang2Wenting Cao3School of Economics and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Corresponding author at: Building A, Tongji Mansion, No.1500 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.Global net-zero targets are reshaping port clusters toward greener and more coordinated development. However, the performance and hinterland influence of hub ports from a sustainability perspective remain underexplored. The Bohai Rim, with its high port density and early green transition efforts, offers a representative case for studying spatiotemporal hinterland evolution in this context. This study uses panel data from six major container ports over the period 2011-2023 to build a multidimensional sustainability indicator system that includes carbon emissions and sea-rail intermodal throughput. The sustainability scores are first applied in a Wilson model to estimate general port influence, and then integrated with OD-cost distance in a field strength model to delineate county-level hinterland patterns. The results show that port hinterlands generally expanded during the study period, with increased overlap, stronger connectivity, and more intense regional coopetition. Qingdao and Tianjin evolved into dual spatial cores, and Rizhao accelerated inland expansion via multimodal transport. In contrast, Dalian and Yingkou showed limited hinterland growth and constrained spatial influence. This study proposes a transferable integrated framework for sustainability-based hinterland analysis, offering cross-port and cross-regional applicability to support planning and policymaking under green development goals.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25010271Port sustainabilityOD cost accessibility analysisWilson modelField strength modelHinterland evolution
spellingShingle Chong Ye
Tingshan Cai
Chenliang Zhang
Wenting Cao
Sustainability-based evolution of port hinterlands: green performance and spatial impacts in the Bohai Rim
Ecological Indicators
Port sustainability
OD cost accessibility analysis
Wilson model
Field strength model
Hinterland evolution
title Sustainability-based evolution of port hinterlands: green performance and spatial impacts in the Bohai Rim
title_full Sustainability-based evolution of port hinterlands: green performance and spatial impacts in the Bohai Rim
title_fullStr Sustainability-based evolution of port hinterlands: green performance and spatial impacts in the Bohai Rim
title_full_unstemmed Sustainability-based evolution of port hinterlands: green performance and spatial impacts in the Bohai Rim
title_short Sustainability-based evolution of port hinterlands: green performance and spatial impacts in the Bohai Rim
title_sort sustainability based evolution of port hinterlands green performance and spatial impacts in the bohai rim
topic Port sustainability
OD cost accessibility analysis
Wilson model
Field strength model
Hinterland evolution
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25010271
work_keys_str_mv AT chongye sustainabilitybasedevolutionofporthinterlandsgreenperformanceandspatialimpactsinthebohairim
AT tingshancai sustainabilitybasedevolutionofporthinterlandsgreenperformanceandspatialimpactsinthebohairim
AT chenliangzhang sustainabilitybasedevolutionofporthinterlandsgreenperformanceandspatialimpactsinthebohairim
AT wentingcao sustainabilitybasedevolutionofporthinterlandsgreenperformanceandspatialimpactsinthebohairim