Efficiency evaluation of key ports along the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road based on the DEA–SCOR model

The twenty-first Century Maritime Silk Road is the economic trade corridor that uses seaways to connect dozens of countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe as an important component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Ports are important links, and the efficiency of port operations can influence the cooperation effect of the Road. This study analyzes relative operation efficiency of a series of key ports along the twenty-first Century Maritime Silk Road (ports of Qingdao, Ningbo Zhoushan, Shanghai Yangshan, Shenzhen, Rotterdam, Singapore, Piraeus, Hamburg and Colombo) on the basis of data envelopment analysis (DEA) model. Results show that Qingdao Port is substantially efficient and the ports of Ningbo Zhoushan and Shanghai Yangshan develop rapidly. The DEA–supply chain operations reference (SCOR) model is used as basis to analyze the port operating efficiency of ship inward–outward and stacking yard with Qingdao Port as the benchmark. Results indicate that ports with low relative efficiency suffer from input redundancy and inefficiency output, especially Rotterdam Port. This study could inform plannings and operations of seaports under the strategic background of BRI.