Abstract

Exporting agricultural products requires strict compliance with regulatory standards, careful transportation monitoring, and efficient risk management. This study examines the risks within the cold chain system for agricultural products, focusing on Thailand’s durian industry. The data collection methods consist of two parts: (1) risk identification through semi-structured interviews with five stakeholder groups: packing houses, export associations, logistics providers, insurance firms, and governmental agencies; and (2) risk assessment from the packing house perspective, using a survey of 86 packing houses. The findings reveal two key results: (1) Sixteen risk factors were identified from five stakeholder groups, categorized into operational (e.g., inexperienced workers, quality control issues, improper loading), supply (e.g., supply shortages, invalid GAP certifications), and logistical risks (e.g., container and trailer shortages, outdated and malfunctioning temperature control equipment); and (2) The risk assessment conducted with packing houses identified six medium-risk factors, including invalid GAP certification, supply shortages, container shortages, malfunctioning temperature control equipment, outdated temperature control equipment, and vehicle breakdowns, with invalid GAP certification being the most critical risk. These findings were used to develop mitigation strategies and contribute to the cold chain logistics literature by identifying key risks in the durian export process. Additionally, the study provides valuable insights into risk perceptions from packing houses, enhancing the understanding of risk management in this context.