IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jrpoli/v90y2024ics0301420724000941.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The evolution of global zinc trade network: Patterns and implications

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Wei
  • Dai, Yiyang
  • Liu, Zhigao
  • Zhang, Haipeng

Abstract

Zinc plays a vital role in developing strategic emerging industries and the national economy. Given the global disparities in zinc resources and their production-consumption imbalance, an examination of the global zinc trade network is essential for understanding the global zinc resource supply and demand patterns and enhancing supply chain security. This study aims to characterize the patterns and evolution of the global zinc trade and reveal the topology of the global zinc trade network, to provide valuable insights for an in-depth comprehension of the global zinc trade dynamics and connectivities. The findings are as follows: (1) The global zinc trade has undergone three distinct stages of development since 2000. (2) The global zinc trade has exhibited growing interconnectivity, evolving from a sparse network reliant on a few nodes to a multi-core Pacific Rim-Western Europe trade network. The expansion of emerging economies has extended the global zinc trade network into the hinterland of the Asia-Europe continent and several African countries, establishing a network encompassing the Asia-Pacific region, Asia-Europe-Africa continent, and Western Europe. (3) At the macro level, network size, density and efficiency have shown an ascending-then-declining trajectory, while the transitivity demonstrated a persistent upward trend; at the meso level, backbone structures in global zinc trade have distinctly evolved into hub-and-spoke organizational patterns, transitioning from regional concentration to a more globalized distribution, highlighting the growing importance of emerging economies; at the micro level, China has assumed a central role, with the USA, Australia, South Korea, and Peru constituting the core countries in the Pacific Rim. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy serve as vital trade hubs in Western Europe, and India functions as the central hub within South Asia and even globally. Finally, this paper offers policy recommendations to ensure zinc supply chain security and develop zinc resource strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Wei & Dai, Yiyang & Liu, Zhigao & Zhang, Haipeng, 2024. "The evolution of global zinc trade network: Patterns and implications," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:90:y:2024:i:c:s0301420724000941
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104727
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301420724000941
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104727?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dong, Di & Gao, Xiangyun & Sun, Xiaoqi & Liu, Xueyong, 2018. "Factors affecting the formation of copper international trade community: Based on resource dependence and network theory," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 167-185.
    2. Thomas Chaney, 2014. "The Network Structure of International Trade," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(11), pages 3600-3634, November.
    3. Xiaoyu Niu & Wei Chen & Nyuying Wang, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Topological Evolution of the Global Crude Oil Trade Network," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-18, February.
    4. Linbin Tang & Peng Wang & Zijie Ma & Stefan Pauliuk & Wei‐Qiang Chen & Tao Dai & Zipeng Lin, 2023. "Exploring the global trade networks of the tungsten supply chain: Insights into the physical and monetary mismatch among countries," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(1), pages 323-335, February.
    5. Yan, Lingyu & Wang, Anjian & Chen, Qishen & Li, Jianwu, 2013. "Dynamic material flow analysis of zinc resources in China," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 23-31.
    6. Ge, Jianping & Wang, Xibo & Guan, Qing & Li, Weiheng & Zhu, He & Yao, Min, 2016. "World rare earths trade network: Patterns, relations and role characteristics," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 119-130.
    7. Chang, Lei & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad & Mohsin, Muhammad, 2023. "Role of mineral resources trade in renewable energy development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    8. Zheng, Shuxian & Zhou, Xuanru & Zhao, Pei & Xing, Wanli & Han, Yawen & Hao, Hongchang & Luo, Wenbo, 2022. "Impact of countries’ role on trade prices from a nickel chain perspective: Based on complex network and panel regression analysis," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    9. Zhu, Xuehong & Ding, Qian & Chen, Jinyu, 2022. "How does critical mineral trade pattern affect renewable energy development? The mediating role of renewable energy technological progress," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    10. Yang, Jingluan & Chen, Wei, 2023. "Unravelling the landscape of global cobalt trade: Patterns, robustness, and supply chain security," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    11. Zhang, Hongwei & Wang, Xinyi & Tang, Jing & Guo, Yaoqi, 2022. "The impact of international rare earth trade competition on global value chain upgrading from the industrial chain perspective," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    12. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/7an8r1ubqs93caeqs80puld0tp is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Chen, Wei & Niu, Xiaoyu & Ke, Wenqian & Yu, Zhaoyuan, 2023. "Investigating the energy trade networks in the Belt and Road regions: Structures and evolution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    14. Meylan, Grégoire & Reck, Barbara K., 2017. "The anthropogenic cycle of zinc: Status quo and perspectives," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-10.
    15. Di, Jinghan & Wen, Zongguo & Jiang, Meihui & Miatto, Alessio, 2022. "Patterns and features of embodied environmental flow networks in the international trade of metal resources: A study of aluminum," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Esangbedo, Moses Olabhele & Taiwo, Blessing Olamide & Abbas, Hawraa H. & Hosseini, Shahab & Sazid, Mohammed & Fissha, Yewuhalashet, 2024. "Enhancing the exploitation of natural resources for green energy: An application of LSTM-based meta-model for aluminum prices forecasting," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Wei & Zhang, Jianing & Yu, Zhaoyuan & Zhao, Xiquan, 2024. "Structure and evolution of global lead trade network: An industrial chain perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    2. Xia, Qifan & Du, Debin & Cao, Wanpeng & Li, Xiya, 2023. "Who is the core? Reveal the heterogeneity of global rare earth trade structure from the perspective of industrial chain," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    3. Chen, Jinyu & Luo, Qian & Sun, Xin & Zhang, Zitao & Dong, Xuesong, 2023. "The impact of renewable energy consumption on lithium trade patterns: An industrial chain perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    4. Zuo, Zhili & McLellan, Benjamin Craig & Li, Yonglin & Guo, Haixiang & Cheng, Jinhua, 2022. "Evolution and insights into the network and pattern of the rare earths trade from an industry chain perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    5. Li, Yingli & Huang, Jianbai & Zhang, Hongwei, 2022. "The impact of country risks on cobalt trade patterns from the perspective of the industrial chain," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    6. Zhao, Guimei & Li, Wenxiu & Geng, Yong & Bleischwitz, Raimund, 2023. "Uncovering the features of global antimony resource trade network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    7. Ren, Shuai & Li, Huajiao & Wang, Yanli & Guo, Chen & Feng, Sida & Wang, Xingxing, 2021. "Comparative study of the China and U.S. import trade structure based on the global chromium ore trade network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    8. Zhang, Hongwei & Wang, Ying & Yang, Cai & Guo, Yaoqi, 2021. "The impact of country risk on energy trade patterns based on complex network and panel regression analyses," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    9. Yu, Yu & Ma, Daipeng & Zhu, Weiwei, 2023. "Resilience assessment of international cobalt trade network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    10. Fikru, Mahelet G. & Kilinc-Ata, Nurcan & Belaïd, Fateh, 2024. "Climate policy stringency and trade in energy transition minerals: An analysis of response patterns," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    11. Shao, Liuguo & Hu, Jianying & Zhang, Hua, 2021. "Evolution of global lithium competition network pattern and its influence factors," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    12. Kang, Xinyu & Wang, Minxi & Wang, Taixin & Luo, Fanjie & Lin, Jing & Li, Xin, 2022. "Trade trends and competition intensity of international copper flow based on complex network: From the perspective of industry chain," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    13. Chen, Wei & Niu, Xiaoyu & Ke, Wenqian & Yu, Zhaoyuan, 2023. "Investigating the energy trade networks in the Belt and Road regions: Structures and evolution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    14. Song, Yi & Bai, Wenbo & Zhang, Yijun, 2024. "Resilience assessment of trade network in copper industry chain and the risk resistance capacity of core countries: Based on complex network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    15. Tang, Qianyong & Li, Huajiao & Qi, Yajie & Li, Yang & Liu, Haiping & Wang, Xingxing, 2023. "The reliability of the trade dependence network in the tungsten industry chain based on percolation," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    16. Liu, Haiping & Li, Huajiao & Qi, Yajie & An, Pengli & Shi, Jianglan & Liu, Yanxin, 2021. "Identification of high-risk agents and relationships in nickel, cobalt, and lithium trade based on resource-dependent networks," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    17. Zheng, Huiling & Zhou, Jinsheng & Gao, Xiangyun & Xi, Xian & Liu, Donghui & Zhao, Yiran, 2021. "Global impacts of the topological structure of industrial driving networks on energy intensity," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    18. Xia, Qifan & Du, Debin & Cao, Wanpeng & Wang, Shengpeng & Li, Xiya, 2024. "The paradox of waste geography? Dynamic evolution and quality evaluation of the global rare earth recycling trade network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    19. Hao Xu & Niu Niu & Dongmei Li & Chengjie Wang, 2024. "A Dynamic Evolutionary Analysis of the Vulnerability of Global Food Trade Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-17, May.
    20. Markus Brueckner & Ngo Van Long & Joaquin L. Vespignani, 2020. "Non-Gravity Trade," Globalization Institute Working Papers 388, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:90:y:2024:i:c:s0301420724000941. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/30467 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.