Analysis of the spatial development of the hinterland of ports: a case study

There is a growing interest concerning the inland side of port traffic. According to this trend, this paper analyse the spatial development of the ports' hinterland through the simultaneous use of two indices. The aim is to assess two relevant and complementary questions in the port hinterland configuration: its relative geographical extent and its spatial homogeneity in the generation of traffic. The interest of the combined use of the proposed indices is shown by means of a case study: the analysis of the spatial development of the hinterland of the main Spanish ports. To conduct the study it was necessary to identify the location of the Spanish firms generating the flows of cargo, as well as their volume and distribution among the ports analysed. The main finding is that the port of Valencia has reinforced its leadership among the Spanish ports over the past decade also in the inland side.