The Competitiveness of the Transport Sector in Service Exports: A Decision Model Application Supported by Multi-Dimensional Methods for Türkiye and EU Countries

The transport services sector has become one of the key elements determining strategic competitiveness in service trade. This study aims to analyze the competitiveness of the transport sector within the scope of service exports for Türkiye and the European Union (EU) countries by utilizing multi-dimensional indicators and advanced decision-making methods. The study takes into account revealed competitiveness indicators such as RCA, RXA, RMA, RTA, and RC for the period 2016–2023, and applies country rankings using four different Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods: TOPSIS, VIKOR, COPRAS, and MOORA. In addition to the main evaluation, a composite competitiveness index was developed to provide a consolidated overview of countries’ structural positioning in the transport services sector. The results indicate that Türkiye demonstrates a relatively strong competitiveness level in transport service exports, often surpassing several EU countries, particularly in terms of sectoral concentration and regional orientation. This paper contributes to the literature by proposing an integrated, multi-method decision model tailored to assess sectoral competitiveness in international service trade. It also offers practical implications for policy-makers, logistics strategists, and researchers seeking to deepen their understanding of trade competitiveness beyond single indicator approaches.