Core and comprehensive ports: The new challenge for the development of the Spanish port system

The characteristics of the Spanish port network, with its heterogeneity, cause the need for different specialized facilities which directly impacts the need for significant investments by the Port Authorities. These Port Authorities are the institutions in which it is articulated the Spanish port system nowadays. However, the European Union has developed the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) project that classifies European ports as core or comprehensive. After this regulation, some countries have reformulated their port systems in relation to the powers of the institutions that make up this structure. Thus, Spain has to carry out this modification, but there are many factors that must be taken into account for this. The objective of this paper is to analyze the importance of the Spanish port system considering the heterogeneity of ports, the high grade of competences that have the different regions and analyses the concentration of cargo and its specialization. The methodology used are the Herfindahl Hirschman Index and the cargo specialization index. The results arise that ports with a high specialization, but lower volume cargo, would lose visibility, and could harm the specialization of the territory. •The heterogeneity of ports: the case of the Spanish system•Port governance reforms have an impact on port efficiency.•The specialization and concentration indexes are used to identify the hinterland and foreland.•Port Authorities with the highest degree of specialization need visibility in a new structure.