Unpacking the evolution of port systems: a review study

Port system evolution is an important topic in the domain of port geography. This review study focuses on the evolution of container port systems by summarising the main evolutionary trajectories of port systems based on the existing literature. We sorted 142 relevant studies to form the literature collection according to a six-step approach. Port system evolution research is overall characterised by a growing number of relevant studies, dominant journals for publication, various analyzed geographical scopes and diverse research methods. The review results show that port systems have generally experienced the processes from concentration to deconcentration, and from interport and intraport competition to coopetition in foreland and maritime space, and the development from limited inland access to improved port-hinterland accessibility. There exist a number of debates and gaps surrounding the evolutionary processes of port systems.