Suraj wrote: I'm also interested in know how containerization is related to the economic profile of imports and exports. Does it typically increase or decrease relative to other means, i.e. dry bulk and liquid cargoes ? Or do they all grow equally in general ?
Thanks in advance.
Suraj.. Containerization and palletization (goods are not just stuffed in containers, but are palletized to facilitate handling by fork lifts) is a massive productivity improving method.. That is exactly how most civilized countries in the world got rid of the crude manual handling by armies of sweating coolies unloading and loading trucks, ships, whatever.. An image that is still the most common method of cargo handling in India , and beloved to our commies. A nice "eye candy" that screams "EXPLOITATION" and stirs your "conscience" and all the usual chest beating and rhetoric and commie exploitation of "Mudalali Vargam" and "Thozilali Vargam" ."Capitalist Classes" and "Working/Toiling Classes" .
Specifically to answer your question on how it changes with economic growth. Diverse /discrete cargo (also correctly called as break -bulk) is what is "unitized" by containerization /palletization to increase productivity via mechanization in cargo handling. Now that is directly related to merchandise trade (as Emsin correctly pointed out as "Wal Mart" stuff) . As merchandise trade increases, containerization usage simply explodes.
For eg, containerization took off in the 60s and 70s, in Sea borne trade largely to coincide with exports from Asia (Japan and later Asian tigers and in 80s onwards China) to the US.. This is largely merchandise trade (electronics, clothing, toys, etc..etc).
If for eg, India was to export 100,000 tons of "rice" to the US it most probably would do that in dry bulk carriers (just like what happens when we import wheat)..But if exporting braded "Basmati" , it most probably would be pre-packed , palletized and exported in Containers! .
India is not a major "container power" compared to Koreans, Japanese, Chinese and Singapore/Malaysia because our merchandise trade (due to well known problems from socialist years) still is lower than theirs.. That is part of the reason why Indian ports dont have the kind of container infrastructure in those countries .. Indian ports are largely (or until very recently maybe..my exp is over 15 years ago before going off to Massa) geared towards bulk imports (oil, fertilizer, raw materials) and exports of bulk commodities (iron ore mostly) and not geared towards merchandise.
In fact, Mundra /Pipapav and the new Rewas that folks in this forum mentioned are not something I knew of until I read here .. These are really good developments and I am sure are light years removed from the sclerotic, crusty, babu and "sweating/toiling labor class" infested Charles Dickens like leftovers from the 19t century, but rather world class ports with technolgy, productivity and management capability to give the Pandas , Japs, Koreans , Europoort and the Americans a run for their collective monies..
The problem I see is that while these will happen in Gujarat (and provide a very convenient outlet to West Coast and North India), it is too close to Pakistan and is vulnerable.. And plus it is too far away from the South.. You definitely need a mega port for the Bangalore /Chennai .. Mangalore can become a decently sized port as well... Maybe kakinada too.. Orissa is too far away and hinterland has just bulk stuff like Iron Ore and coal.. Port in West Bengal.. give up simply because it will be another commie infested 19th century hell hole.