Port Efficiency Metrics: How to Evaluate Port Performance?

The efficiency of port operations directly impacts a country’s competitiveness in international trade, influencing goods transit time, the overall supply chain cost, and the predictability of product purchasing operations across society.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), countries with efficient ports can reduce their total logistics costs by up to 15%, increasing the competitiveness of their products in the international market.

The factors that most influence this efficiency include:

• Modern infrastructure and operational capacity
• Digitalization and automation of operations
• Integration with different logistics modes
• Efficient inventory and terminal management
• Environmental and regulatory compliance
• Operational security and cybersecurity

Analyzing these variables is crucial to understanding how ports can become more productive and strategic for global economies.

In this article, you will learn about the main port efficiency metrics and indicators, market best practices, and examples of their application in both domestic and international markets. Enjoy your reading!

1. Waiting Time and Vessel Stay Time

Average waiting time refers to the period a vessel waits to dock, while stay time (turnaround time) considers the total time the vessel spends in the port, including loading, unloading, and other services.

• Global benchmark: In highly efficient ports like Singapore and Rotterdam, the average stay time is under 24 hours.
• Regional challenges: In ports with limited infrastructure, this time can exceed 3 days, increasing operational costs for shipowners.

2. Infrastructure Utilization Rate

This indicator measures the ratio between the total terminal capacity and the actual cargo movement. Congested ports operate above 85% of their capacity, which can lead to logistical bottlenecks and reduce efficiency.

3. Equipment Productivity

The productivity of cranes and internal vehicles is a critical factor. The container movement rate per hour (MPH – Moves Per Hour) is a key indicator:

• High-efficiency ports: Perform 35 to 40 moves per hour.
• Less efficient ports: Operate with fewer than 20 moves per hour, directly affecting total operational time.

4. Maritime Connectivity Index

A port’s connectivity relates to the number of regular maritime services and the frequency of large vessel calls. The Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI), published by UNCTAD, is a global reference for evaluating this metric.
Asian ports dominate the global ranking, with Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore leading the connectivity indices.

Best Practices to Maximize Port Efficiency with Examples from Around the World

The most efficient ports in the world adopt innovative strategies to optimize their operations. Some of the main practices include:

• Automation and Digitalization
  Automation has significantly reduced processing time and operational costs at terminals.
  • Port of Los Angeles: Implemented a digital traceability system, reducing cargo handling time by 40%.
  • Port of Rotterdam: Adopted autonomous cranes, significantly increasing productivity.

• Integration with Inland Modes
  Port efficiency depends not only on terminal operations but also on connectivity with highways, railways, and waterways, a logistics operation known as intermodal.
  • Port of Antwerp: More than 50% of the cargo uses rail and waterway modes, reducing dependence on road transport.

• Smart Inventory Management
  The adoption of big data and artificial intelligence allows for demand pattern prediction and optimization of cargo storage.
  • Port of Singapore: Uses predictive algorithms to optimize yards and inventories, reducing congestion.

• Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
  Ports investing in dock electrification and sustainable fuels reduce costs and improve their reputation.
  • Port of Hamburg: Implemented dock electrification, reducing CO₂ emissions by 30%.

Brazilian Examples of Port Efficiency

In Brazil, two terminals stand out in terms of port efficiency due to their adoption of innovation, sustainability, and governance in their operational plans. Below are their highlights:

Northeast Region

Tecon Salvador, located in Bahia, is one of the main container terminals in the Northeast. It is the first port in the region to receive ships of category 366, with a high standard of safety and efficiency.
Highlights:

• State-of-the-art equipment, including STS (Ship-to-Shore) cranes.
• Automated operations, increasing productivity.
• Significant reduction in waiting times, improving regional logistical efficiency.

South Region

Tecon Rio Grande, located in Rio Grande do Sul, plays a strategic role as a hub port in the Plata Basin, serving Argentina and Uruguay, and also exporting national products.
Highlights:

• Efficient integration with waterways, through the Lagoa dos Patos, facilitating cargo distribution with a lower carbon footprint.
• Infrastructure prepared to handle large vessels, ensuring global competitiveness.
• High level of digitalization, optimizing inventory and cargo management.

These terminals show how modernization and automation are essential to boosting port efficiency in Brazil.

Strengthened Management Ensures Efficiency

Port efficiency is one of the main pillars of competitiveness in foreign trade. Investing in digitalization, automation, sustainability, and multimodal integration is essential to ensuring safer, more predictable, and profitable operations.

Ports that adopt these practices not only reduce costs but also attract investments and strengthen their logistics chains. Tecon Salvador and Tecon Rio Grande are examples of how port modernization can enhance Brazil’s competitiveness in the international arena.

With emerging trends in sustainability and technological innovation, ports that prioritize operational efficiency and sustainability will be at the forefront of global trade in the coming years.