Cold chain transportation modes for seafood supply chain : a case study of Vietnam-China trade

Abstract

The study aims to assess the factors that influence the choice of cold chain transportation modes for seafood exports from Vietnam to China. We propose a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework using three different modes of transportation as alternatives and seven criteria for competitive evaluation. A Best-Worst Method (BWM) is utilized to evaluate the most and the least important criteria in seafood exports and the most suitable mode of transport of seafood from Vietnam to China, considering a period in which supply chain disruptions, port congestion, and low reliability of the transport network seem to be the new normal. The findings reveal that, among the three modes of transport (air, sea, and land), land transport is prioritized for exporting seafood from Vietnam to China. Furthermore, in terms of transport seafood via road, it is found that ‘equipment’ and ‘facility’ are prioritized.