The significant exodus of containers inland due to the container revolution has increased the salience of inland terminals for efficient freight distribution. Further, the migration of containers gradually inland has forced seaports to depend on these inland terminals to determine their competitiveness and offer a mechanism for competitive freight price to the consumer. The performance of dry ports need to be improved along with the dynamic nature of maritime business, to efficiently fulfil the demand all the key players in the container seaport system, provide economies of scale and scope to their respective clients and enhances the importance of inland networks to improve and consistently elongate the competitiveness of container seaports. Predicated to these importance, this paper aims to enhance dry port performance by adapting a process benchmarking strategy among the Malaysian dry ports. Prior to the adaptation of the process benchmarking approach, a grounded theory had been conducted as a method of analysis among the key players of the Malaysian container seaport system in order to provide essential inputs for the benchmarking. Through this paper, the outcome shows all four Malaysian dry ports need to improve their transportation infrastructure and operation facilities, container planning strategy, competition, location and externalities in order to assist all the key players in the container seaport system efficiently and effectively.

Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Motivation for a process benchmarking inMalaysian dry ports
3. Methodology and conceptual framework
4. Role of Malaysian dry ports in the containerseaport system
    4.1 Objectives of dry ports
    4.2 Functionalities of dry ports
5. Synthesising the process benchmarking inMalaysian dry port operations
    5.1 Strength of Malaysian dry ports
    5.2 Weaknesses of Malaysian dry ports
    5.3 Opportunities for Malaysian dry ports
    5.4 Threats for Malaysian dry ports
6. Implications of process benchmarking on dryports
    6.1 Lesson for PBCT
    6.2 Lesson for ICT
    6.3 Lesson for NIP
    6.4 Lesson for SIP
7. Conclusion
Reference

• J. JEEVAN(School of Maritime Business & Management, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu) Corresponding author
• NHM. SALLEH(School of Maritime Business & Management, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu)
• K.B LOKE(School of Maritime Business & Management, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu)
• A.H. SAHARUDDIN(School of Maritime Business & Management, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu)