Empirical study on improving international dry port competitiveness based on logistics supply chain integration: evidence from China
The International Journal of Logistics Management
ISSN: 0957-4093
Article publication date: 29 January 2021
Issue publication date: 9 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The importance of international dry port integration in the supply chain has received a great deal of attention and been widely discussed in the literature. This study empirically examines the relationship among dry port logistics supply chain integration (DPLSCI), its operational performance (OP) and dry port competitiveness (DPC) in the context of China.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors developed a structured questionnaire based on the supply chain integration (SCI) theory and resource-based view, and collected data from the dry port operation enterprises and their stakeholders in central and western China. A structural equation model (SEM) is used to test the research hypotheses.
Findings
The results demonstrate that DPLSCI has a positive effect on logistics cost performance (LCP) and service quality performance (SQP), which further improves DPC. Meanwhile, OP (LCP and SQP) is a full mediator between DPLSCI and DPC.
Practical implications
This paper provides guidelines for dry port operators and their stakeholders to integrate supply chain resources and develop the OP for improving the overall competitiveness of an international dry port. The government could also invest in physical infrastructure and system platform to strengthen the OP of a dry port and further enhance its competitiveness.
Originality/value
The authors emphasise that the international dry port is a proactive and integrated system in providing a supply chain logistics service. This study fills up a research gap in the extant literature on theoretically proposing and empirically testing a new theoretical model. It also contributes to dry port stakeholders by providing useful guidelines to enhance OP and dry port competitiveness.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section “Impact of technology on supply chains in emerging and informal markets”, guest edited by Raja Usman Khalid, Muhammad Shakeel Sadiq Jajja, Philip Beske-Janssen and Daiane Mülling Neutzling.This research was supported by National Social Science Foundation of China (Nos 19CGL004), Shaanxi Natural Science Foundation (Nos 2019JQ-692), Shaanxi Education Department Foundation (Nos 19JZ011), Central Universities Fundamental Research Foundation for Chang’an University (Nos 300102231603, 300102231615). They would also like to thank the two anonymous reviewers of the International Journal of Logistics Management for their comments on this paper.
Citation
Li, Q., Yan, R., Zhang, L. and Yan, B. (2022), "Empirical study on improving international dry port competitiveness based on logistics supply chain integration: evidence from China", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 33 No. 3, pp. 1040-1068. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-06-2020-0256
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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