An assessment of operating efficiency for container terminals in a port – An empirical study in Kaohsiung Port using Data Envelopment Analysis

Existing studies in favor of comparing operating efficiency for different container ports often do not result in compelling results for port organizational policies, partly because the external environments those compared ports face are divergent. Instead, this study aims at examining the operating efficiency of container terminals (CTs) in a port by deploying a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. For validating the proposed model, the CT operators in the Kaohsiung port in Taiwan were empirically investigated. The findings may provide practical information for CT operators to improve their operating efficiency and achieve high-quality development. Besides, the research model might contribute an analytical reference for the practical applications of the DEA model in related port management. Especially, this research provides a methodological framework for terminal operators to assess CTs' operating efficiency inside a port.