A Competitive Analysis of Chinese Container Ports Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process

Song, Dong-Wook; Yeo, Gi-Tae

Abstract

Over 20% of the world's container traffic occurs from Asian ports. China's entry into the market has significantly stimulated this process. Since China adopted its liberalised economic policy in the 1970s, its economy has grown at an average rate of 10% or more per annum. In particular, the efforts and investments that have been poured into its container ports are conspicuous, since approximately 90% of the country's international trade (in volume terms) is handled through maritime transport. Chinese ports (especially container ports), however, have a number of problems, such as bureaucratic administration, insufficient facilities, the lack of service and commercial orientation and inefficient operations. This paper aims to identify the competitiveness of container ports in China including Hong Kong from the outsiders' perspective, using the framework of the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and to provide managerial and strategic implications. As expected, the findings reveal that, in terms of competitiveness, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yantian rank first, second and third, respectively.

Citation

Song, D., & Yeo, G. (2015). A Competitive Analysis of Chinese Container Ports Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process. In H. Haralambides (Ed.), Port Management (339-359). London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137475770_16

• Publication Date: 2015
• Deposit Date: Feb 25, 2015
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 339-359
• Series Title: Palgrave Readers in Economics
• Book Title: Port Management
• Chapter Number: 32
• ISBN: 9781137475763; 9781137475770
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137475770_16
• Keywords: Competitiveness; analytic hierarchy process; container port; China
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/7639