Transport Networks as a Factor of IDL

International Division of Labor

Lecture 6

6.1. International Division of Labor: the Definition

International Division of Labor (IDL) is the specialization of functions and roles involved in production. Division of labor is closely tied with the standardization of production, the introduction and perfection of machinery, and the development of large-scale industry. Among the different categories of division of labor are

1) territorial, in which certain geographical regions specialize in producing certain products, exchanging their surplus for goods produced elsewhere;

2) temporal, in which separate processes are performed by different industrial groups in manufacturing one product, as the making of bread by farmers, millers, and bakers;

3) occupational, in which goods produced in the same industrial group are worked by a number of persons, each applying one or more processes and skills. Modern mass-production techniques are based on this type.

On the whole countries benefit from IDL. The example of Japan and Newly Industrialized Countries (NICs) with their limited natural resources is a clear confirmation of this fact.

There are some factors IDL depends on:

1) geographical and climatic differences

2) historical traditions of production

3) international politics

4) transport networks

IDL depends upon the transport networks, basically upon sea transport. So let’s focus on the largest ports, busiest channels and canals.

The largest ports involved in IDL are:

1. Port of Antwerp

2. Port of Bilbao

3. Port of Boston

4. Port of Busan

5. Port of Charleston

6. Port of Chicago

7. Port of Dubai

8. Port of Felixstowe

9. Port of Halifax

10. Port of Hamburg

11. Port of Hong Kong

12. Port of Houston

13. Port of Incheon

14. Port of Kobe

15. Port Klang

16. Port of Long Beach

17. Port of Los Angeles

18. Port of Montréal

19. Port of Mumbai

20. Port of Mundra

21. Port of New York/New Jersey

22. Nhava Sheva (Near Mumbai, India)

23. Port of Rotterdam

24. Port of Seattle/Port of Tacoma

25. Port of Shanghai

26. Port of Shenzhen

27. Port of Singapore

28. Port of Vancouver

29. Port of Vigo

The world's busiest port is contested by several ports around the world, as there is as yet no standardised means of evaluating port performance and traffic. Most keenly fought over this for the past decade the Port of Rotterdam and the Port of Singapore, with both ports claiming the busiest port title. The former, however, based its measurement on cargo tonnage handled (total weight of goods loaded and discharged), while the latter ranks in terms of shipping tonnage handled (total volume of ships handled). Since 2005, the Port of Shanghai has exceeded both ports to take the title in terms of total cargo tonnage.

The following ports have variously made claims (or had claims made for them):

· Port of Shanghai, People's Republic of China

The world's busiest port by cargo tonnage for the first time in 2005.

· Port of Singapore, Singapore

The world's busiest port by shipping tonnage since 1986, and was the world's busiest container port twice in 1998 and 2005. It also continued to be the world's busiest transshipment port. It was the busiest by cargo tonnage until overtaken by Shanghai in 2005.

· Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands

Was the world's busiest port by cargo tonnage for many years until it was first overtaken by Singapore, and then by Shanghai.

· Port of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China

Hong Kong was the World's busiest container port from 1992 to 2005.

There are some international channels and canals involved in IDL:

Босфор

Дарданеллы

Скагеррак

Каттегат

Большой и Малый Бельт

Эресунн (Зунд)

Баб-эль-Мандебский