Global Trends in Port Sustainability: A Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Review with Insights from the Port of Manzanillo, Mexico

Purpose: This study analyzes the evolution of global research on port sustainability and examines how these trends relate to the governance and development challenges of the Port of Manzanillo, Mexico, with implications for sustainable port transitions in emerging economies. Method: A combined Bibliometric and Systematic Review (BSR), following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, analyzed 307 Scopus-indexed documents (1999–2025) using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer, complemented by a documentary review of Manzanillo’s main planning instruments. Results: Scientific production accelerated after 2020 and remains concentrated mainly in China and Europe, with limited Latin American representation and 29.97% international co-authorship. Thematic evolution shows a shift from environmental management and sustainable development toward Smart Ports, digitalization, and decarbonization. In Manzanillo, sustainability follows a context-specific pathway characterized by infrastructure expansion, operational modernization, environmental management, and progressive technological adoption, while advanced Smart Port technologies remain emerging. Conclusion: The findings suggest that sustainable port transitions in emerging economies depend not only on technological innovation but also on governance arrangements, infrastructure priorities, and long-term planning. Manzanillo illustrates how global sustainability agendas can be progressively adapted to regional and local port contexts.