Port automation has long been seen as the domain of mega-hubs with deep pockets and deep stacks of cranes. But what if collaboration—not scale—is the real unlock?

In the ninth installment of his For the Beauty of Logistics series, Monument’s Dr. Paul Kent explores how three mid-sized ports collaborate on a shared Remote Operations Center (ROC). Through modular retrofits, shared digital infrastructure, and realistic growth projections, he illustrates how even smaller terminals can achieve first-year payback and generate strong long-term returns.

Beyond the financials, the paper highlights important governance and design considerations:

• Shared infrastructure with transparent revenue and cost allocation
• Procurement strategies to prevent vendor monopolies
• Flexible membership terms that allow scaling across multiple ports
• Strong service-level agreements (SLAs) and upgrade paths

This isn’t a substitute for rigorous due diligence—but it is a valuable early-stage analysis that shows whether more in-depth evaluation is warranted. For port authorities, operators, and PPP stakeholders, the message is clear: smart automation may not require large budgets—just a smart framework for cooperation.

Click here to read the full article.

Can you imagine paying for berthage at a port terminal with Bitcoin? In Dr. Paul Kent’s latest Beauty of Logistics article, he explores the potential for cryptocurrency payments in container terminal operations—and shows how multicriteria analysis (MCA) can help port managers weigh risks and rewards in an emerging, high-stakes environment. In the article, we follow “Maria,” the CEO of a terminal in Thailand, as she evaluates whether to accept crypto payments from a major shipping line. Her team’s structured decision-making process—grounded in MCA—demonstrates how tools typically used for planning and operations can also support innovation in finance and IT strategy.

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SMEs power local economies—but for many, global trade remains out of reach.

Despite making up over 90% of businesses worldwide, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face steep barriers to accessing international markets: regulatory complexity, high logistics costs, and limited visibility to global buyers.

That’s where our conceptual framework platform comes in; referred to as SMETradeX, the concept rethinks how SMEs can participate in global trade. More than just matchmaking, SMETradeX envisions an always-on, end-to-end digital system that supports the entire trade lifecycle—connecting SMEs with buyers, ensuring compliance, consolidating freight, and enabling access to trade finance.

Whether it’s María, a Salvadoran artisan seeking global customers, or GlobalTech, a U.S. company looking for trusted nearshoring partners, SMETradeX shows how smart systems can reduce friction and unlock opportunities for SMEs worldwide.

Curious how this concept could reshape SME participation in global trade? Explore the concept in the latest edition of Dr. Paul Kent’s For The Beauty of Logistics series, “Revolutionizing SME Trade – A Smart Platform for Global Partnerships.”

Click here to read the full article.

How do we know what a port is worth?

Beneath the cranes, containers, and capital-intensive infrastructure lies a story told in numbers—enterprise value, EBITDA, beta, and discount rates. In this latest article, we dive into the analytical foundations of port valuation and demystify how financial professionals, investors, and public authorities assess risk and opportunity.

Using two fictional but realistic marine terminal case studies, the piece walks through:

• How comparables and multiples (like EV/EBITDA) are applied
• How beta is unlevered and re-levered to reflect project risk
• How discount rates are calculated using a Capital Asset Pricing Model formula
• Why capital structure matters—and how context changes everything

If you’re working in port planning, investment appraisal, concession design, or infrastructure finance—this paper aims to equip you with both clarity and practical insight. Grateful acknowledgment is extended to Jonathan Schwartz, CFA (Vice President, Monument Economics Group) for his insightful comments and contributions to the development of this paper and to Ryan Beach (www.linkedin.com/in/ryanbeach3) for his thoughtful review and comments, which helped strengthen the clarity and analytical depth of this paper.

Click here to read the full paper.

Recent remarks by the U.S. President have brought renewed attention to the Panama Canal—raising concerns about rising tolls, treaty obligations, and foreign influence. Some have even suggested the U.S. should reassume control of the Canal.

In his latest piece for The Beauty of Logistics series, Monument Economics’ Dr. Paul Kent takes a closer look at the facts behind these claims:

• What does the Neutrality Treaty really say?
• Is Panama’s toll structure fair—or excessive?
• How does the Canal’s financial performance compare to other global infrastructure operators?
• And what about the oft-repeated claim of Chinese control?

Using public data, concession norms, and financial benchmarks, Dr. Kent’s article offers a grounded assessment of the Canal’s governance, pricing strategy, and strategic role.

Click here to read the full paper.

 

Comentarios recientes del Presidente de los Estados Unidos han vuelto a poner al Canal de Panamá en el centro del debate, generando preocupaciones sobre el aumento de los peajes, las obligaciones del tratado y la influencia extranjera. Algunos incluso han sugerido que EE. UU. debería retomar el control del Canal.

En su artículo más reciente de la serie The Beauty of Logistics, el Dr. Paul Kent, de Monument Economics, examina con mayor detalle los hechos detrás de estas afirmaciones:

• ¿Qué dice realmente el Tratado de Neutralidad?
• ¿Es justa la estructura tarifaria de Panamá, o resulta excesiva?
• ¿Cómo se compara el desempeño financiero del Canal con el de otros operadores de infraestructura global?
• ¿Y qué hay de la afirmación repetida sobre el control chino?

Utilizando datos públicos, normas internacionales de concesión y comparaciones financieras, el artículo del Dr. Kent ofrece una evaluación rigurosa sobre la gobernanza del Canal, la estrategia de precios y su papel estratégico en el comercio mundial.

Haga clic aquí para leer el artículo completo.