ANALYSIS OF THE GLOBAL AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCIES OF MAJOR SPANISH CONTAINER PORTS

This study analyses the changes in the efficiency of the 13 Spanish ports with the most container traffic during the period 2008-2011. The main input and output variables analyzed are those used in many previous studies of port efficiency, and the methodology employed is Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Changes in efficiency are studied for each year of the period 2008-2011 using Constant Return to Scale (CRS/CCR) and Variable Return to Scale (VRS/BCC) DEA models returns to scale. The results suggest that the ports of Algeciras Bay and Seville are the most efficient in the Spanish port system, ahead of important ports such as Barcelona and Valencia. Moreover, high levels of technical efficiency are associated with transshipment as opposed to gateway ports.