Unabridged Analysis of Global Knowledge Network on MSME Export Performance: Trends, Clusters and Future Research Avenues

Abstract

This article reviews scholarly literature on the export performance of MSMEs, using bibliometric analysis to map the evolution, intellectual structures and emerging themes. A total of 333 articles published between 1983 and 2025 were extracted from the Scopus database and subsequently analysed using the Biblioshiny package in R. The results show an annual growth rate of 8.6% in publications, reflecting substantial academic interest and the growing importance of MSMEs in international trade. The analysis of authorship trends, citation patterns and journal contributions shows that export performance is a multidisciplinary field that incorporates viewpoints from marketing, international business and entrepreneurship. Science mapping techniques, such as factorial analysis and trend analysis, have identified five major clusters centred on export performance and entrepreneurial orientation, innovation and competitive advantage, internationalisation and export markets, emerging market export contexts, SME performance and strategic capabilities. Thematic analysis has revealed a shift towards digitalisation, knowledge transfer and competitiveness, highlighting technological and structural changes in international markets. Additionally, the study identifies gaps in methodologies and areas that have not been much focused on in the literature yet, such as sustainability, digital adaptation and mixed-method approaches for research. The study provides suggestions for future research directions and offers meaningful insights for policymakers, academicians and practitioners.