• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.349-361
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• 2008

There has been abundant empirical research undertaken on the technical efficiency of Korean ports. Most studies have focused on the use of parametric and non-parametric techniques to analyse overall technical efficiency. This paper utilizes data for the period 2000-07 to offer a heterogeneous perspective on the overall efficiency of Korean ports. The framework assumes that ports use one input to produce one output; the output and input include port export(import) and regional export(import). This paper also employs panel analysis and heteroscedastic Tobit model to show the effect of the explanatory variables on the port efficiencies. The panel analysis shows that the regional export/total export has negative effect on the export efficiency while the regional import/total import has not any relations with the import efficiency. The heteroskedastic Tobit model shows that both regional export ratio and regional import ratio have negative effects on the efficiency while the gross regional domestic product has not any significant relations with the import efficiency.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.87-118
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• 2024

Coastal ports play an essential role in developing a country and a city. Port efficiency is an important factor affecting port trade, and the importance of port efficiency for port performance has been recognized in previous literature. DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) and SFA (Stochastic Frontier Analysis) are widely used in this field of research. However, these two methods are limited in selecting input and output variables. In addition, the literature studies on Chinese coastal ports mainly focus on the study of port clusters in local areas, which lacks a holistic approach and generally lacks up-to-date data. Therefore, to fill the gap in this area of research, this paper introduces a model combining principal component analysis and data envelopment analysis to analyze the operational efficiency of the top 17 coastal ports in China in terms of throughput based on the most recent data available in 2021. This paper identifies container throughput as the output variable, and 13 second indicators are selected as input variables from four primary indicators: land, capital, labor, and infrastructure. Four principal components were selected from 13 second indicators using PCA.After that, DEA (BBC) and DEA (CCR) were used to analyze the 17 ports, among which five were Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Xiamen, and Dongguan, respectively, DEA efficient, and the remaining 12 ports were non-DEA efficient. Finally, improvement directions for each port are derived, and brief suggestions are made. This paper provides some reference value for developing and constructing coastal ports in China.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.29-58
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• 2016

The purpose of this paper is to show the clustering trend and the comparison of empirical results and is to choose the clustering ports for 3 Korean ports(Busan, Incheon and Gwangyang Ports) by using the bootstrapped DEA(Data Envelopment Analysis) and game Cross-efficiency models for 38 Asian ports during the period 2003-2013 with 4 input variables(birth length, depth, total area, and number of cranes) and 1 output variable(container TEU). The main empirical results of this paper are as follows. First, bootstrapped DEA efficiency of SW and LT is 0.7660, 0.7341 respectively. Clustering results of the bootstrapped DEA analysis show that 3 Korean ports [ Busan (6.46%), Incheon (3.92%), and Gwangyang (2.78%)] can increase the efficiency in the SW model, but the LT model shows clustering values of -1.86%, -0.124%, and 2.11% for Busan, Gwangyang, and Incheon respectively. Second, the game cross-efficiency model suggests that Korean ports should be clustered with Hong Kong, Shanghi, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Port Klang, Singapore, Kaosiung, Keelong, and Bangkok ports. This clustering enhances the efficiency of Gwangyang by 0.131%, and decreases that of Busan by-1.08%, and that of Incheon by -0.009%. Third, the efficiency ranking comparison between the two models using the Wilcoxon Signed-rank Test was matched with the average level of SW (72.83 %) and LT (68.91%). The policy implication of this paper is that Korean port policy planners should introduce the bootstrapped DEA, and game cross-efficiency models when clustering is needed among Asian ports for enhancing the efficiency of inputs and outputs. Also, the results of SWOT(Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat) analysis among the clustering ports should be considered.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.187-205
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• 2011

In considering the size of container logistic flow of Korea, one-port as a hub port is desirable in Busan Port, but as development of Busan Port and Gwangyang Port began as two-ports, they are good as mega hub ports. In case when ports of other regions such as Incheon Port are additionally developed, it is very likely that they become feeder ports rather than mega hub ports. As capital area uses Incheon Port and Pyeongtaek Port for transportation, fierce competition arises due to excessive facilities of terminal companies and it is not easy to be profitable. Therefore, it is more profitable to develop regional hub ports centering on near-sea routes of Korea China Japan rather than local ports such as Incheon Port and Pyeongtaek Port for intensive trade and transportation in the capital area. To mitigate excessive competition between container terminal companies, we need administrative guidance to maintain adequacy through comparing tariffs between ports of Japan and China which are in competitive relations with Korean ports. This study analysed efficiency of container terminal companies in Gwangyang Port, Busan Port and Incheon Port using data for five years from 2006 to 2010. As analytical variables, length of quay, floor area of yard, the number of cranes and employees were analytical variables and a total freight volume was a productive factor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.203-207
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• 2004

Yangtze River channel is in natural condition for a long time. There are more to be done in grade of navigation and transport. Since 1980's the rate of vessel in JiangSu channel is going up every year, especially for ocean vessels. Meanwhile, the serious factors such as no sailing at night have become a battlement causing the long period for vessels, high cost for shipowners, lower competitiveness for JiangSu ports along the Yangtze River. It also can not meet the port logistic development. After the Ships' Routeing in JiangSu has been carried out. It has improved the safety of navigation in JiangSu area and reduced the risk of pollution or other damage to the marine environment caused by ships colliding or anchoring in or near JiangSu channel. By analyzing, compareing, calculating and model forecasting. The main focus of the paper is put on the study the development of port, channel in JiangSu and efficiency in many fields. Navigation efficiency of the sailing at night; Safety efficiency of reducing the risk by ships; More efficiency of the higher cargo volumes of the other ports in Yangtze River with the increase cargo volume of JiangSu ports along Yangtze River. The purpose of this study is: To get the social and economical efficiency after the Ships' Routeing in JiangSu has been carried out. Also the role of the Ships' Routeing of JiangSu in the development of Port and Channel.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.121-148
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• 2023

The rapid melting of Arctic sea ice has increased interest in the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as a viable alternative trade route between Europe and Asia. While extensive research has examined its competitiveness in terms of technical feasibility, safety, profitability, and environmental impact, the topic of the NSR ports remains relatively underrepresented in the literature. Hence, this study aims to contribute to the existing research by assessing the efficiency of 17 NSR ports to gain insights into their operations and identify areas for improvement using models of Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA). The obtained results show that efficient ports mainly belong to the western NSR region, with ports like Murmansk and Varandei consistently demonstrating high efficiency and constant returns to scale. Several ports, such as Onega, Arkhangelsk, Naryan-Mar, and Khatanga, showed inefficiencies in the utilization of berths and quay lengths. The findings not only contribute to academic knowledge but also offer practical implications for NSR port authorities, assisting them in making well-informed decisions regarding infrastructure development plans.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.23-55
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• 2014

The purpose of this paper is to show the clustering trend and to choose the clustering ports for 3 Korean ports(Busan, Incheon and Gwangyang Ports) by using the self organizing maps based on neural network(SOM) and Tier models for 38 Asian ports during 11 years(2001-2011) with 4 input variables(birth length, depth, total area, and number of crane) and 1 output variable(container TEU). The main empirical results of this paper are as follows. First, clustering results by using SOM show that 3 Korean ports[Busan(26.5%), Incheon(13.05%), and Gwangyang(22.95%) each]can increase the efficiency. Second, according to Tier model, Busan(Hongkong, Sanghai, Manila, and Singapore), Incheon(Aden, Ningbo, Dabao, and Bangkog), and Gwangyang(Aden, Ningbo, Bangkog, Hipa, Dubai, and Guangzhou) should be clustered with those ports in parentheses. Third, when both SOM and Tier models are mixed, (1) efficiency improvement of Busan Port is greater than those of Incheon and Gwangyang ports. (2) Incheon port has shown the slow improvement during 2001-2007, but after 2008, improvement speed was high. (3) improvement level of Gwangyang port was high during 2001-2003, but after 2004, improvement level was constantly decreased. The policy implication of this paper is that Korean port policy planner should introduce the SOM, and Tier models with the mixed two models when clustering among the Asian ports for enhancing the efficiency of inputs and outputs.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.151-168
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• 2014

The purpose of this paper is to show the brief efficiency and clustering measurement way by using the game cross-efficiency model which is newly introduced in this paper for 13 container ports during 3 years(2009, 2010, and 2013) with 3 input variables(depth, total area, and number of crane) and 1 output variable(container TEU). The main empirical results are as follows. First, the average rankings of game cross-efficiency model are Ningbo, Hongkong, Shanghai, Dubai, Singapore, Qingdao, Kaosiung, Busan, Tokyo, Incheon, Nagoya, Manila, Gwangyang ports in order. Second, according to ANOVA analysis, three models show the similar results in terms of the efficiency rankings. Third, in the clustering analysis using dendrogram, group A(Shangahi and Busan), group B(Ningbo and Nagoya), and group C(Incheon and Manila) show the common clustering ports during 3 or 2 years. The policy implication of this paper is that Korean port policy planner should introduce the game cross-efficiency method when measuring the individual port efficiency. Also port authority should consider the merits of the clustering ports for improving the port management and operations.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2021

The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) is an important part of Belt and Road Initiative(BRI). As an economic and trade corridor for dozens of countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, and the port as an important link node, the efficiency of port operation directly affects the implementation of BRI's strategy. On the basis of combining BRI and related evaluation methods of port efficiency, this paper uses DEA-BCC model to select port production berth number and production berth length as input index container throughput and cargo throughput as output index to analyze the port efficiency of 14 ports in China. The results show that: (1) The overall efficiency level of the ports along the MSR is relatively low. Most of the ports have not reached the DEA efficiency and there are different degrees of problems in scale investment and technological improvement. However, this situation is accompanied by the implementation of China's maritime cooperation strategy and becoming better year by year. (2) The low operating efficiency of ports along China's MSR is mainly due to the lack of coordination between scale efficiency and technical efficiency, which is caused by insufficient scale investment in the port itself, weak economic linkage between the hinterland and the port, (3) Whether a port has a strong comprehensive strength does not entirely depend on the cargo throughput or scale but also includes the port's operating efficiency.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.17-29
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• 2019

Purpose - This study examines the relationship between public-private partnerships and the performance of ports based on three factors: the quality of the port infrastructure, container throughput, and logistic performance in three Latin American countries, Mexico, Panama, and Brazil, for the period of 1994-2017. Design/methodology - The selected countries are top ranked in terms of container throughput in Latin America. The methodology employs secondary data from the World Bank (Quality of Port Infrastructure, Logistics Performance Index, and Private Participation in infrastructure database). Findings - Overall, the results revealed that the private investment of these countries varies significantly over the past couple decades. Panama, with the least public-private investment over the study period, performs better than Mexico and Brazil with regards to port quality infrastructure and container throughput. For ports in the selected countries to keep up with global competition, there is a need to enhance efficiency. Originality/value - Compared with ports in Asia, Latin American ports are lagging behind with respect to container throughput and efficiency. This study suggests greater collaboration from the private sector, academia, and other organizations, as well as a review of the regulatory framework to ensure better transparency and project allocation. Throwing more light on the public-private investment environment of Mexico, Brazil, and Panama, this study offers policy makers and regulators insightful information on port infrastructure.