Capabilities and SME Export Performance in Southern Albania: Evidence from a Resource-Based Analysis in an Emerging Economy

In transition economies, SMEs face great challenges, and thus it is critical for them to identify the internal capabilities which will drive export performance. These capabilities are the main source of competitive advantage for SMEs. Hence, this research, based on the Resource-Based View, aims to find out how the product adaptation capability, export planning capability, human capital for export and digital infrastructure capability affect the export performance of SMEs in southern Albania. A structured Likert-scale questionnaire was used to collect survey data from 338 exporting firms. Construct reliability and validity were verified through Confirmatory Factor Analysis, while Structural Equation Modelling was used to test the hypothesised relationships. The measurement model demonstrated a very good fit (CFI = 0.992; RMSEA = 0.0318). All four internal capabilities positively and significantly influenced export performance, collectively explaining 67.8% of its variance, with export planning capability being the strongest predictor. The evidence supports the RBV model, indicating that strategic, technological, and human capabilities have a major role in SMEs’ export outcomes. The study offers valuable theoretical and practical insights for exporting SMEs operating in southern Albania. The findings should be interpreted cautiously, as the purposive sampling design and regional concentration of the sample limit broader generalizability.