ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the ramifications that the readjustment of global imbalances entails over three issues. The first ramification concerns the impact of the crisis on strategies of container carriers and terminal operators, in particular their operational strategies with respect to vertical and horizontal integration. The second ramification involves how the forces behind the added value creation process are reconciled with the debasement of value chains through competition and efficiency improvements. While the value capture process is a much sought after effect, particularly by gateways between major systems of circulation. The third ramification pertains to the duality between concentration versus deconcentration, particularly in terms of ports, gateways and corridors. In an environment where traffic is likely to consolidate would additional concentration at major gateways and corridors accelerate as shipping lines rationalize their services. The rebalancing of freight flows either towards concentration or deconcentration remains in flux.
