Globalization processes determine the necessity to ascertain and use effectively the
competitive advantages of port logistics systems on national and international levels.
The purpose of the research is to analyse the impact of port logistics systems using the concept
of port-centric logistics systems in small countries with the aim to increase their competitiveness.
The use of the term “a logistics system” has been determined; therefore, it is expedient to
describe the comprehensive application of the term “a logistics system”, which by implication must
cover all elements of 8R principle. The authors ascertained competitiveness forms of port-centric
logistics systems, dictated by the levels of the competition between ports: between whole ranges of
ports or coastlines, ports in different countries, individual ports in the same country, operators or
providers of facilities within the same port and between different modes of transport. The activities
of port logistics systems must be investigated in a complex manner taking into account the factors
and levels of a country’s competitiveness. Considering the particularity of port logistics systems, its
functionality and effectiveness, a country’s economic growth and competitiveness are based on
logistic flexibility. However, the particularity of a country’s economy determines the forms and
nature of interconnections and processes in the structure of port logistics systems. Therefore, the
competitive advantage of a small country could be generated through the improvement of
effectiveness rates and indexes of the activities of port logistics systems.