Research Upon The Development Of Port Coal Logistics

With economic globalization speeding up, the world economy and industrial structure are undergoing great changes; growing number of manufacturing and managing activities, as well as resource distribution are being carried out on a global scope, and international trade is gradually taking shape. Under this background logistics has emerged as a new industry ever since 1980s.As a window to the outside world and commercial activities, port is at the core through transport of highway, railway and waterway, and therefore a key node along the logistic chain. With the logistic era coming, besides its more traditional role as a center for storing, sorting, tallying, distributing, flipping, handling and processing, port is to take up all the information work concerning the supply chain. Conclusively, port, as an optimum joint of various production factors, will play a significant role in boosting regional economy and collecting the flow of people, goods and information.The rapid development of economy asks for an increasing demand for energy, and it is especially true with coal, as is a main energy source in China. It is estimated that by the year 2010, coal consumption in China will reach 2.8 billion ton. Since the majority of coal production bases are in western and northern China, while provinces in the southeast and those along the coast are actually the consumers, this inevitably brings the long-standing trouble of coal transportation from west to east and from north to south. Port logistics has just started in China, and their current situations are as follows. Firstly, port logistics equipment and facility are at low level, approximately like those in developed countries in the 1960s or 1970s, and the working efficacy is generally low. Secondly, port logistics activities are in disorder, and basically there is no coordination with relative departments, For instance, handling in the front and storage & transportation in the back. Especially worse is back storage, small in scale, extensive in management and outmoded in the administration of information and technological methods. Qinhuangdao Port, under the management of Qinhuangdao Port Group, is the largest hub port on the pathway of coal transportation from north to south, and it carries more than 50% of the total amount by water. However, the development of this port is still at the first stage, weak in technology and service, as well as awareness. Against this background, this paper intends to give a research on the following:1. From the perspective of influencing factors, the author has a discussion on the basic elements that may affect the development of port coal logistics, as well as its internal and external environment. This part serves as a theoretical foundation for further analysis of coal logistics of the Qingang Group.2. A general introduction about the physiographic conditions of Qinhuangdao Port is given and then an overall evaluation on the current development of coal logistics of the Qingang Group is made upon the thorough investigation into the throughput capacity of the port, information construction, human resource situation and management condition of the company.3. Some analyses are made on the external environment of the group concerning the development of coal logistics, as well as existing problems. With the support that comes from both central government and local authority, the group must withstand negative influences of the national energy policy and participate in the fierce competition. Finally enlightened by the result of SWOT analysis, the author comes to the conclusion that the Qingang Group shall concentrate on the development of coal logistics.4. Considering the above-mentioned problems, the author put forward some suggestions such as to construct a strategic alliance of supplying logistics chain, accelerate the construction of infrastructure, information and standardization, pay more attention to talent introduction and training, and develop coal blending, etc. As far as coal blending is concerned, the author gives his viewpoints on its feasibility, necessity and some precautions.By writing this article, the author hopes to promote the development of modern coal logistics of Qingang Group, bring forward regional economy and furthermore, do better service to the transportation of coal from north to south.