The Hybridization of Port-Industry-Logistics Systems: Strategic Resilience in an Era of Geopolitical Volatility

This paper analyses the structural evolution of ports, arguing that the traditional specialization of maritime nodes has transitioned into a complex era of hybridization. The hybridization results from the intersection of three major dynamics: (1) structural evolutions in port–city relations and spatial planning; (2) industrial transformations driven by nearshoring, reshoring, circular economy practices, and the industrial–logistics nexus; and (3) intense geopolitical volatility that is altering maritime routing, chokepoint security, and supply-chain geographies. The attention is here particularly drawn to the process of hybridization of industry and logistics functions, observing the evolution of port and port-related sites. The methodology involves a multi-scalar analysis of the "Anyport" model’s evolution towards regionalization and hybridization, with a focus on defined local case studies (the Port of Trieste, Italy). Key findings indicate that current trends ongoing at geoeconomic and geopolitical levels, draw reconfigurations of the global logistic chains, as well as influencing new industrial location patterns. The "Hybrid Port" is no longer a mere transport gateway but a critical industrial-logistical node essential for regional economies in a fragmented global order, integrating functions across transport, logistics, energy, and manufacturing, blurring traditional boundaries between “port” and “city,” between “industry” and “services,” and between “gateway” and “hub” functions. At the same time, the proliferation of dry ports and inland terminals redefines the hinterland and extends port governance and logistics corridors deep into terrestrial space.