Evaluating Iberian seaport competitiveness using an alternative DEA approach

Maria Rosa Pires Da Cruz,João José De Matos Ferreira

doi:10.1007/s12544-015-0187-z

Maria Rosa Pires Da Cruz, João José De Matos Ferreira

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12544-015-0187-z

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Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate the competitiveness of Iberian seaports through efficiency using an alternative DEA approach (Data Envelopment Analysis) and identifies explicit causes of inefficiency. This paper applying an alternative DEA approach (three stage DEA model) to provide a more useful insight about the cause of efficiency or inefficiency of the seaports. The average efficiency score under CCR equal to 83.74 meaning that, on average, the seaports analysed could operate at 83.74 % of their current levels while still returning the same output value. Unlike the ranking in terms of cargo throughput, the most efficient Portuguese seaports are Leixoes and Setubal and their Spanish peers are Algeciras, Barcelona and Tarragona. This has proven what has been reported in other studies: that seaport efficiency is not necessary influenced by its cargo throughput.

Highlights

The globalization of the world economy has led to an increasingly important role for the transportation industry [14]
In terms of overall efficiency, the seaports of Leixões, Setúbal, Algeciras, Barcelona and Tarragona attain a 100 % efficiency score in the two models, meaning they performed the best amongst this group and represent benchmark reference seaports on the Iberian Peninsula
In an internationalized and competitive market, the positioning of seaports, constrained by some external factors - location, economic development of the region they serve, amongst others - are increasingly dependent on their ability to adapt and meet the operational conditions arising from the physical and technological means and the strategic choices made by the main players in the market

Summary

Introduction

The globalization of the world economy has led to an increasingly important role for the transportation industry [14]. Iberian seaports are no exception to this struggle for global market share. In this context, it becomes important to assess the Iberian seaport competitiveness by focusing on efficiency outputs. The Iberian seaports represent an important role in the world and maritime transportation acts as gateway for Europa and Asia. The Iberian seaports are important to the national economies of both Portugal and Spain as in 2009, 32 % of the goods in Portugal and 20 % of goods in Spain were carried through seaports [27, 28]

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