A Comparative Study on the Impact of Transportation Mode Selection on the Competitiveness of Thailand's Export Fruit Market to China

Abstract

This paper conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis, focusing on the transportation of fruits from Thailand to China, to evaluate the impact of different transportation modes—sea, land, and air—on the competitiveness of Thailand's fruit export market. The study employs a mixed-method research approach, combining quantitative analysis of export statistics (e.g., 2023 China import data showing Thailand accounts for 62.8% of major fruit imports) and logistics reports with qualitative in-depth interviews of 15+ key industry stakeholders (Thai exporters, Chinese importers, logistics managers, and government officials). The findings indicate that sea transport, accounting for approximately 51% of total exports, has an average transit time of 4–10 days but suffers a 5% daily spoilage rate for mangoes; land transport offers 2–7 days transit but experiences 2–3 hours border delays due to customs procedures; air transport ensures 6-hour delivery but costs 10 times more than sea transport. Strategic recommendations include constructing an integrated multimodal logistics framework with IoT-enabled cold chain systems and enhancing cross-border processes through Sino-Thai policy coordination. The comparative analysis offers empirical guidance for exporters to strike a balance between cost efficiency and freshness, thereby contributing to both academic research and industry practice.