Performances and benchmarks of container ports using data envelopment analysis

Abstract

In this paper, data envelopment analysis (DEA), an effective tool for relative efficiency assessment, is utilised for measuring the performances and benchmarking of the 77 world container ports in 2007. The used approach in the current study considers four inputs (capacity of cargo handling machines, number of berths, terminal area and storage capacity) and a single output (container throughput). Variable returns to scale are assumed. The results for the efficiency and ranking are analysed. For each of efficient container port, a performance index related to the benchmarks are computed to rank them completely, while for inefficient container ports, a benchmark (virtual target) is provided for each of them, and the benchmarking results are also emphasised.