ABSTRACT

The main aim of this study was to examine export barriers and their effect on export performance of leather products SMEs’ in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; examine the effect of foreign language on export sales growth of leather products SMEs in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria; ascertain the effect of export sanctions on export intensity of leather products SMEs in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria; determine the effect of export tariff on export sales growth of leather products SMEs in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria; examine the effect of foreign language on export intensity of leather products SMEs in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria; examine the effect of export sanctions on export sales growth of leather products SMEs in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria; and ascertain the effect of export tariff on export intensity of leather products SMEs in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. The research design used for the study was the survey method. The population of this study comprised 8,620 operators of leather products SMEs in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. Convenience sampling method was adopted for the study. Convenience sampling method offered the researcher the opportunity to select respondents for the study. The presentation of data from the field survey were according to the stated objectives of this study. All hypotheses were analyzed with simple regression model. All analyses were tested using the SPSS software version 20.0. Regression result showed that foreign language was negative and a significant factor that affects export sales growth of the studied leather products manufacturers in Aba, Abia State. This implies that export sales growth of the studied leather products manufacturers in Aba, Abia State is greatly affected by foreign language which they struggle with. It was revealed in the study that export sanction was a negative and significant factor affecting export intensity of leather products SMEs in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. This indicates that the export intensity of leather products SMEs in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria is greatly affected by export sanctions faced by the leather products manufacturers. The study revealed that export tariff was a negative and significant factor affecting export sales growth of leather products SMEs in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. This implies that export sales growth of leather products SMEs in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria is greatly affected by export tariff. The study made the recommendations that there is dare need by the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) and Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to enlighten the SMEs on export marketing barriers.