Comparative analysis of container ports performance in West Africa

Abstract Maritime transport is crucial for global trade and economic development: port efficiency and productivity boost trade competitiveness and growth. Improving port efficiency speeds the transportation of goods and reduces logistics costs and delays. West African ports have recently handled mor...

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Main Author: Felix Ibeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Shipping and Trade
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-025-00202-6
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author Felix Ibeh
author_facet Felix Ibeh
author_sort Felix Ibeh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Maritime transport is crucial for global trade and economic development: port efficiency and productivity boost trade competitiveness and growth. Improving port efficiency speeds the transportation of goods and reduces logistics costs and delays. West African ports have recently handled more containers, indicating their growing significance in global trade. Despite this expansion, West African ports need to enhance their performance. This article applies the DEA-SBM model and Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) to six West African (Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, and Senegal) ports from 2010 to 2022 to evaluate operational efficiency and productivity. The DEA-SBM model reveals that Tema (Ghana), Lome (Togo), and Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) ports have optimal efficiency at different periods, unlike Apapa (Nigeria), Cotonou (Benin Republic), and Dakar (Senegal). On average, operational efficiency scores range from 0.6 to 0.8, indicating resource overuse and inconsistency. The DEA-MPI shows that most ports have experienced improvements in total factor productivity (TFP), mainly due to technological and efficiency advancements. Ports such as Tema, Cotonou, and Apapa have shown significant increases in TFP, while others, like Abidjan, have seen declines. While some ports have grown slowly, overall development is crucial. This study recommends strategic planning and collaboration between port management bodies and governments to preserve efficiency and productivity, including setting practical requirements.
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spelling doaj-art-cd4e904bb0aa4d109894da2a0e670e382025-08-20T03:52:19ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Shipping and Trade2364-45752025-05-0110111610.1186/s41072-025-00202-6Comparative analysis of container ports performance in West AfricaFelix Ibeh0College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Maritime UniversityAbstract Maritime transport is crucial for global trade and economic development: port efficiency and productivity boost trade competitiveness and growth. Improving port efficiency speeds the transportation of goods and reduces logistics costs and delays. West African ports have recently handled more containers, indicating their growing significance in global trade. Despite this expansion, West African ports need to enhance their performance. This article applies the DEA-SBM model and Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) to six West African (Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, and Senegal) ports from 2010 to 2022 to evaluate operational efficiency and productivity. The DEA-SBM model reveals that Tema (Ghana), Lome (Togo), and Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) ports have optimal efficiency at different periods, unlike Apapa (Nigeria), Cotonou (Benin Republic), and Dakar (Senegal). On average, operational efficiency scores range from 0.6 to 0.8, indicating resource overuse and inconsistency. The DEA-MPI shows that most ports have experienced improvements in total factor productivity (TFP), mainly due to technological and efficiency advancements. Ports such as Tema, Cotonou, and Apapa have shown significant increases in TFP, while others, like Abidjan, have seen declines. While some ports have grown slowly, overall development is crucial. This study recommends strategic planning and collaboration between port management bodies and governments to preserve efficiency and productivity, including setting practical requirements.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-025-00202-6EfficiencyProductivityDEA-SBMDEA-MPIWest African ports
spellingShingle Felix Ibeh
Comparative analysis of container ports performance in West Africa
Journal of Shipping and Trade
Efficiency
Productivity
DEA-SBM
DEA-MPI
West African ports
title Comparative analysis of container ports performance in West Africa
title_full Comparative analysis of container ports performance in West Africa
title_fullStr Comparative analysis of container ports performance in West Africa
title_full_unstemmed Comparative analysis of container ports performance in West Africa
title_short Comparative analysis of container ports performance in West Africa
title_sort comparative analysis of container ports performance in west africa
topic Efficiency
Productivity
DEA-SBM
DEA-MPI
West African ports
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-025-00202-6
work_keys_str_mv AT felixibeh comparativeanalysisofcontainerportsperformanceinwestafrica