Container　ports　play　an　important　role　in　international　maritime　trade.　However,　the　rapid　growth　of　the　port　and　terminal　industry　has　caused　many　environmental　pollution　problems.　This　paper　intends　to　develop　an　inverse　data　envelopment　analysis　(IDEA)　model　for　measuring　container　ports＇　efficiency　and　analyzing　their　resource　consumption　by　considering　undesirable　outputs.　Statistical　data　from　16　main　ports　are　empirically　examined　using　the　proposed　method　in　accordance　with　the　13th　Five-Year　Plan　in　China.　The　results　indicate　that　the　proposed　IDEA　is　a　feasible　approach　for　performance　evaluation,　and　provides　policymakers　with　insights　into　resource　optimization　of　container　ports.　A　comparative　study　with　another　DEA　model　is　also　discussed.　©　2019　by　the　authors.