Evaluating Relative Efficiency of Major Cargo Ports in the Middle East: The Integrated DEA-AP Approach

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative efficiency of major cargo ports in Middle East over the three-year period of 2011-2013. The research data were collected from scientific resources and input and output data from statistical yearbook of the Iranian ports, maritime organization and formal website of each foreignport. Initially, the relative efficiency of ports was evaluated via two basic model of DEA-technique namely CCR-O and BCC-O and the ports were ranked accordingly using the 100% efficiency Anderson-peterson method. Based on the results of output- oriented CCR modelthatrepresents overall technical efficiency, Khorfakkan Port showed the highest and Bandar ImamKhomeini the lowest coefficient of efficiency during the given period. Based on the results of output- oriented BCC modelthatrepresents pure technical efficiency, Bushehr, Jebel Ali, KhorfakkanandAlexandria were found to have the highestandBandar ImamKhomeini the lowest coefficient of efficiency. Apart from Khorfakkan and Alexandriathat were underconstantreturns to scale, other ports were under variablereturns to scale. The scrutinized ports revealed an average of 54.3%, in technical efficiency and an average of 73% in pure technical efficiency during 2011-2013.