Efficiency of maritime container terminals in the Baltic Sea region using data envelopment analysis slack-based model

Abstract

The article aims at assessing the efficiency of 46 Baltic maritime container terminals using a Data Envelopment Analysis Slack-Based Model (DEA-SBM) of three inputs (quay length, terminal equipment, depth at the quay) and two outputs (throughput, short-sea shipping connections) and thus verifying two hypotheses regarding obtained efficiency. To facilitate analysis, the Baltic Sea was divided into three subregions: Southern, Central, and Northern. The study addresses a research gap by providing up-to-date information on the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). Industry reports often focus on individual port performance, neglecting the efficiency of their terminals. The findings indicate that Baltic terminals with an annual turnover exceeding 150 thousand TEU are more efficient than their smaller counterparts. However, no significant difference in efficiency was observed among terminals in different subregions of the Baltic Sea. The above statement implies that all maritime container terminals in the Baltic Sea have benefited equally from the recent restrictions imposed on Russia. However, a closer examination of the DEA-SBM efficiency and benchmark results provides a new perspective that may influence the decisions of container terminal operators in the BSR.