Abstract
The aim of this paper is to apply the DEA method in assessing efficiencies of major ports in West Africa. Six ports were selected based on their container throughput levels, and the DEA model was used to determine their relative efficiencies and their efficiencies over time through window analysis. The DEA model was applied to a number of inputs of port production and a single output (container throughput). It was determined that the Port of Tema in Ghana was the most efficient West African port under study. Although Tema exhibited some inefficiency in its operations, the port was found to make good use of its resources for production. On the other extreme, the Port of Cotonou in Benin was found to be the least efficient port obtaining the lowest average efficiency rating over a seven year period. It was determined that the port exhibited a substantial waste in production. Generally, ports in West Africa could be said to exhibit high levels of efficiency con-sidering that four out of six ports had an average efficiency score of 76% or higher for the period under study.
Highlights
Containerization and container transportation has led to increased competition between ports worldwide
It is a useful tool that can relate multiple inputs to outputs, it requires that data are accurate and Decision-Making Units (DMUs) are comparable
The study finds that the Port of Cotonou is least efficient and exhibited substantial waste in production throughout the period under study
Summary
Containerization and container transportation has led to increased competition between ports worldwide. Hinterlands have become more shared due to better efficiency of ports and increased hinterland connectivity facilitated by containerization and multimodalism. The result of this intense inter-port competition in the container port sector is the interest in efficiency analysis by port operators [1] and port users. Ports in Western-Europe, NorthAmerica and East-Asia have, for many years, utilized efficiency analysis to improve operations by minimizing the use of resources for production. This has fuelled port growth and massive investment in port related activities
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