Investigating the Export Barriers of Honey in Iran Using DEMATEL Method

The rapid world economic growth have stimulated the businesses towards involvement in international marketplaces due to their low business risks, low commitment of resources and high flexibility. However, the evidence indicates barriers to export are thought to vary across different stages of internationalization. Therefore, this empirical study was carried out to explore export barriers of agricultural products especially honey in Iran. Based on an explorative literature review, several factors were considered as export barriers of agricultural products. These barriers were sent to a sample of 20 honey exporters in Ardebil province in form of a questionnaire. Having collected the questionnaires and analyzing the responses, 21factors were identified as more important barriers to honey export. A graph theory based technique (DEMATEL) with feedback structure was used to explore the direct and indirect effects of barriers on the other barriers and the whole system. The results indicate that adjusting export promotion activities, lack of home government assistance/incentives, shortage of working capital to finance exports, high tariff and nontariff barriers, different foreign customer habits/attitudes, respectively, are the most critical barriers.