Exploring the Factors Influencing the Export Performance of Manufacturing SMEs in Türkiye

Öz

This study investigates the factors influencing export performance among manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises in Türkiye. Situated at the intersection of Europe and Asia, Türkiye has increasingly prioritized exports as a central component of its economic development strategy, with particular emphasis on integrating small and medium-sized enterprises into global markets. Despite their importance to the national economy, many of these enterprises continue to face challenges in achieving sustained export growth.

Drawing on internationally recognized theories of internationalization, such as the gradualist Uppsala Model and Born Global Model, this study examines how firm-level characteristics, such as firm age and innovation capacity, are associated with export behavior. The empirical analysis is based on the most recent wave of the World Bank Enterprise Survey for Türkiye, which provides nationally representative firm-level data. The focus is placed exclusively on manufacturing firms to ensure sectoral consistency.

To capture the dual structure of the export decision process, a two-stage econometric approach is applied. A Probit model is used to estimate the probability of a firm participating in export activities, whereas a Tobit model assesses the intensity of export sales among exporting firms.

The results reveal that firm age, labor productivity, innovation activities, quality certifications, research and development investments, and website ownership are all statistically significant determinants of export performance. These findings indicate that enhancing innovation capabilities and digital presence, along with promoting internationally recognized quality standards, may strengthen the competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises in Türkiye’s export markets.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• SMEs
• Export Performance
• Manufacturing Industry
• Probit
• Tobit

Kaynakça

1. Akhan, N. N., Dönmez, A., Erzan, R., & Kuzubaş, T. U. (2018). Exchange rates and export behavior: Firm-level evidence from Turkey. Boğ aziç i University Department of Economics Working Paper Series, 2018/02. google scholar
2. Andersson, S., Wictor, I. (2003). Innovative internationalisation in new firms: Born globals–the Swedish case. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 1(3), 249–275. google scholar
3. Bangwayo-Skeete, P., Moore, W. (2015). ICT adoption and the export performance of firms in developing countries. Journal of International Development, 27(7), 1196–1210. google scholar
4. Bell, J., McNaughton, R., & Young, S. (2003). Born-again global firms: An extension to the born global phenomenon. Journal of International Management, 173–189. google scholar
5. Bernard, A. B., Jensen, J. B. (2004). Why some firms export. Review of Economics and Statistics, 86(2), 561–569. google scholar
6. Cassiman, B., Golovko, E. (2011). Innovation and internationalization through exports. Journal of International Business Studies, 42(1), 56–75. google scholar
7. Cavusgil, S. T., Knight, G. (2015). The born global firm: An entrepreneurial and capabilities perspective on early and rapid internationalization. Journal of International Business Studies, 46(1), 3–16. google scholar
8. Chetty, S., Blankenburg Holm, D. (2000). Internationalisation of small to medium-sized manufacturing firms: A network approach. International Business Review, 77–93. google scholar

9. Coviello, N. E., Munro, H. J. (1997). Network relationships and the internationalisation process of small software firms. International Business Review, 361–386. google scholar
10. European Commission. (2019). 2019 SBA Fact Sheet: Türkiye. Brussels: European Commission. google scholar
11. Eurostat. (2020). SMEs go digital: Trends and challenges. From https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat google scholar
12. Ferguson, S., Henrekson, M. (2021). Getting the facts right on born globals. Small Business Economics, 57(2), 883–900. google scholar
13. Ganitsky, J. (1989). Strategic orientations of born global companies and the internationalization process. Journal of International Business Studies, 20(3), 69–83. google scholar
14. Ganotakis, P., Love, J. H. (2012). Exporting, innovation and productivity in the UK: Evidence from a matched firm-level data set. Economics Letters, 117(3), 508–511. google scholar
15. Grant, R. M. (1996). Towards a knowledge-based theory of the firm. Strategic Management Journal, 17(Winter Special Issue), 109–122. google scholar
16. Johanson, J., Vahlne, J.-E. (1977). The internationalization process of the firm: A model of knowledge development and increasing foreign market commitments. Journal of International Business Studies, 23–32. google scholar
17. Johanson, J., Vahlne, J.-E. (2009). The Uppsala internationalization process model revisited: From liability of foreignness to liability of outsidership. Journal of International Business Studies 40(9), 1411–1431. google scholar
18. Knight, G. A. (1997). Emerging paradigm for international marketing: The born global firm (Doctoral dissertation). East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University. google scholar
19. Knight, G. A., Cavusgil, S. T. (1996). The born global firm: A challenge to traditional internationalization theory. Advances in International Marketing, 11–26. google scholar
20. Love, J. H., Roper, S. (2015). SME innovation, exporting and growth: A review of existing evidence. International Small Business Journal, 33(1), 28–48. google scholar
21. Majocchi, A., D’Angelo, A., Forlani, E., & Buck, T. (2018). Internationalisation, cultural distance and firm performance: A meta-analysis of the institutional and resource-based views. Management International Review, 58(6), 855–888. google scholar
22. Melitz, M. J. (2003). The impact of trade on intra-industry reallocations and aggregate industry productivity. Econometrica, 71(6), 1695–1725. google scholar
23. Morgan-Thomas, A., Bridgewater, S. (2004). Internet and exporting: Determinants of success in virtual export channels. International Marketing Review, 21(4/5), 393–408. google scholar
24. Oviatt, B. M., McDougall, P. P. (1994). Towards a theory of international new ventures. Journal of International Business Studies, 25(1), 45–64. google scholar
25. Penrose, E. T. (1959). The theory of the growth of the firm. Oxford: Oxford University Press. google scholar
26. Preece, S. B., Miles, G., & Baetz, M. C. (1999). Explaining the international intensity and global diversity of early-stage technology-based firms. Journal of Business Venturing, 14(3), 259–281. google scholar
27. Rennie, M. W. (1993). Global competitiveness: Born global. The McKinsey Quarterly, 45-68. google scholar
28. Rodríguez‐Serrano, M. Á., Martín‐Armario, E. M. (2017). Born-global SMEs, performance, and dynamic absorptive capacity: Evidence from Spanish international new ventures. Journal of Small Business Management, 56(3), 447–464. google scholar
29. Salomon R., Jin B. (2010). Do leading or lagging firms learn more from exporting? Strategic Management Journal, 31(10), 1088–1113. google scholar
30. Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization of Turkey (KOSGEB). (2023). From https://www.kosgeb.gov.tr google scholar
31. Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization of Turkey (KOSGEB). (2023). SME Statistics and Policy Outlook 2023. Ankara: Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization of Turkey. google scholar
32. Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509–533. google scholar
33. Turkish Statistical Institute. (2021). Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Statistics, 2021. Ankara: Turkish Statistical Institute. google scholar
34. Wagner, J. (2007). Exports and productivity: A survey of the evidence from firm-level data. The World Economy, 30(1), 60–82. google scholar
35. Weerawardena, J., Mort, G. S., Liesch, P. W., & Knight, G. A. (2007). Conceptualizing accelerated internationalization in the born global firm: A dynamic capabilities perspective. Journal of World Business, 42(3), 294–306. google scholar
36. World Bank. (2020). Türkiye 2019 Country Profile. From Enterprise Surveys: https://www.enterprisesurveys.org google scholar
37. Yalçınkaya, İ., Tiryakioğlu, M. (2024). ICT and export performance: Firm-level evidence from Türkiye. Journal of Business, Economics and Finance, 13(2), 124–141. google scholar