Analysis of the global tuna trade network and the change of China’s tuna trade pattern

Abstract:

With the changes in tuna supply and demand pattern， trade policy， resource endowment and other factors in the world， the tuna trade relationship is undergoing a period of diversification. Understanding the characteristics of the global tuna trade network and the changes in China’s tuna trade pattern is important for China to optimize its tuna trade policies. In this study， the trade networks of fresh or chilled and elaborate tuna are researched using the complex network analysis method. Changes in the global tuna trade network pattern and the characteristics of China’s tuna trade network are investigated. In addition， the Hubness measures index （HMI） is employed to measure the degree of China’s reliance on its principal tuna export trading markets. Results are as follows： （1） From 2002 to 2020， the global fresh or chilled tuna trade network density increased from 0.027 to 0.030. The United States， Japan， and Spain had comparatively high betweenness centrality， whereas China’s node degree， betweenness centrality， and strength were all small. （2） The network density of elaborate tuna trade increased from 0.049 to 0.063. Thailand’s betweenness centrality ranked first in the world. China’s node degree， betweenness centrality and strength all increased significantly， but its betweenness centrality ranked relatively low. （3） With the exception of a few countries （regions）， the HMI of China’s primary tuna export markets are all low and generally declining. Thailand is China’s greatest export market for tuna， but the average proportion of Chinese-origin tuna in Thailand’s total tuna imports is only 6.9%. Conclusions are as follows： （1） The density of world tuna trade network is low with an overall rising trend. In trading network for fresh or chilled tuna， the United States， Japan and a few European countries maintain prominent positions and exert considerable influence over the industry. In the elaborate tuna trade network， Thailand is the most influential country； （2） The pattern of China’s tuna trade network has changed significantly， and its status is progressively rising； however， its overall influence does not correspond to the ranking of trade scale； （3） China still has great potential for trade collaboration with major tuna import markets.