Exporting Barriers Perceived by Manufacturing SMEs: Evidence from Emerging and Advanced Markets

Abstract

This paper explores the exporting barriers perceived by the Saudi Arabian and Australian Small and Medium-Sized (SME) businesses considering (or engaged in) exporting within manufacturing. Currently there is a paucity of research comparing and examining exporting barriers and obstacles facing exporting Saudi Arabian and Australian SMEs within manufacturing settings. Moreover, this is one of the first examination of these barriers within these contexts (Saudi Arabia and Australia). A total of 35 interviews (21 interviews from Saudi Arabia and 14 Australian) with SMEs mangers/owners within manufacturing industries were completed. The results suggest that SMEs managers’ perceived a total of 19 exporting barriers, influence their exporting decision and commitment. We recommend the use of a large scale survey to clarify the appropriateness of the barriers identified in this study so as to arrive at more generalisable results.

Keywords: exporting barriers, exporting SMEs, perceived risk, Saudi Arabia, Australia manufacturing.

DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-12-17

Publication date: April 30^th 2019