Iranian Journal of Trade Studies

Iranian Journal of Trade Studies

Examining the Role of Imported Inputs in Export Development of Manufacturing Companies in Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Amir Zakery 1
Yaser Sobhanifard 2
Vida Ansari 3
1 Assistant Prof., Faculty of Management, Economics and Progress Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran. (Corresponding Author)
2 , Associate Prof., Faculty of Management, Economics and Progress Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.
3 MSc. in MBA Management, Faculty of Management, Economics and Progress Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/ijts.2025.2049182.4087
Abstract
This research was conducted to examine the role of imported inputs in the export development of Iranian manufacturing firms. Despite the undeniable impact of specialized imports on export capacity, domestic research literature has paid limited attention to this relationship, and under the dominance of import substitution policies, this issue has been neglected. The present study, employing a descriptive-survey method, collected the required data through questionnaires from a statistical sample of 98 manufacturing firms active in foreign trade (import-export). The analyses were performed using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that "the value of imported inputs," "supply sources," and "types of inputs" have a positive and significant impact on the export development of Iranian manufacturing firms. "The value of imported inputs," through the technology and know-how embedded in them, "imports sourced from advanced, reputable, and efficient suppliers", due to their ability to provide continuous and high-quality inputs, and "the types of imported inputs," by enhancing production capacity and final product quality, play an effective role in improving the international competitiveness of firms. The main innovation of this research lies in its dual perspective on foreign trade (the import-export nexus), demonstrating that targeted imports can serve as a
Keywords
driver for export development. The findings of this study are useful for firm managers seeking to leverage specialized imports and the associated knowledge and networks as a pathway to enter export markets, and for policymakers to consider the import

Subjects

 
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  • Receive Date 28 December 2024
  • Revise Date 10 April 2025
  • Accept Date 19 April 2025