Efficiency Evaluation of China's Major Ports (2010–2020) under the Belt and Road Initiative Using Super-Efficiency DEA

This study employs the Super-Efficiency Data Envelopment Analysis (SE-DEA) model to evaluate the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on the operational efficiency of 15 major Chinese coastal ports-namely Dalian, Yingkou, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Rizhao, Tangshan, Lianyungang, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Zhanjiang, and Beibuwan-over the period from 2010 to 2020.SE-DEA was selected for its capacity to rank efficient ports by extending the traditional DEA framework, thereby offering clearer differentiation among high-performing units.The model incorporates three input indicators (berth length, operating cost, and number of employees) and two output indicators (cargo throughput and operating income).The data for this analysis were primarily obtained from the China Statistical Yearbook, the China Port Yearbook, and official reports issued by individual port authorities.The results reveal that although most ports exhibit high levels of pure technical efficiency, limited scale efficiency significantly constrains their overall performance.Ports in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions generally demonstrate higher overall efficiency than those in southeastern and southwestern coastal areas, highlighting distinct regional disparities.Furthermore, considerable variation exists within port clusters.For example, within the Pearl River Delta cluster, Shenzhen Port achieved a mean SE-DEA score of 2.06, reflecting superior performance driven by infrastructure investment and improved management practices.In contrast, Zhuhai Port consistently underperformed due to outdated facilities and persistent scale mismatches.While the BRI has generally enhanced port efficiency through increased investment and improved connectivity, these benefits have not been equally realized across all ports.This disparity highlights the importance of effective internal management and strategic resource allocation.To address inefficiencies, ports should align capacity with actual demand, strengthen regional coordination to minimize redundancy, and adopt development strategies tailored to local economic conditions.Supporting underperforming ports with targeted investments and governance reforms is also essential.Future research should adopt dynamic efficiency models and incorporate environmental or macroeconomic variables to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the relationship between these variables.These insights offer practical guidance for enhancing port competitiveness and promoting sustainable growth in the face of evolving global trade dynamics.