The 2013 study of the The Journal of Commerce (JOC) covers 483 ports and 771 terminals. In particular, the whitepaper says that eight of the ten most efficient ports can be found in Asia. Tianjin (China) jumped from fifth place in 2012 to become the most productive port in the world with 130 moves per ship per hour on average in 2013. It is followed by Qingdao and Ningbo (China), Jebel Ali and Khor al Fakkan (United Arab Emirates), Yokohama (Japan), Yantian and Xiamen (China), Busan (South Korea) and Nansha (China).
The proportion is the same for the top ten terminals. APM Terminals Yokohama (Japan) retains its number one position, but is now sharing it with Tianjin Xingang Sinor Terminal, which came second in 2012. Both facilities registered a berth productivity of 163 moves per ship per hour in 2013. They are followed by seven Chinese terminals and two UAE terminals.
The Asian superiority can be attributed to ports and gates being open 24 hours a day, a high level of automation, as well as large transhipment volumes in the region.
Source: Port Finance International
