Assessment of Port Efficiency in West Africa Using Data Envelopment Analysis

George Kobina van Dyck

doi:10.4236/ajibm.2015.54023

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American Journal of Industrial and Busin... > Vol.5 No.4, April 2015

Assessment of Port Efficiency in West Africa Using Data Envelopment Analysis ()

George Kobina van Dyck

School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China.

DOI: 10.4236/ajibm.2015.54023 PDF HTML XML 4,716 Downloads 6,256 Views Citations

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.

Keywords

DEA Analysis, Port Efficiency, West-Africa, Hub Port, Window Analysis

Share and Cite:

van Dyck, G. (2015) Assessment of Port Efficiency in West Africa Using Data Envelopment Analysis. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 5, 208-218. doi: 10.4236/ajibm.2015.54023.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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