Network feature and influence factors of global nature graphite trade competition

With the application of graphite materials in aerospace, new energy and other emerging industries, the contradiction between the supply and demand of graphite resources strengthens the competition among graphite importers. In this paper, a complex network theory is adopted to analyze the trade competition of the global nature graphite based on trading data from 2007 to 2016. First, the overall structure features and the evolutionary law of the graphite trade competition network are analyzed. The results show that the competition intensity of the graphite trade is increasing and the importers are gradually integrating. Secondly, the role of the countries and the relationships between countries in the graphite trade competition network are analyzed. We find that Japan is always in a dominant position; the competitiveness of both the Republic of Korea and Malaysia is rising; and countries with greater competition intensity are concentrated in Asia. Finally, the influence factors of competition intensity are analyzed by using the extended gravity model. It is found that a country's GDP, technology and graphite consumption can drive the competition intensity between countries and the distance impede the competition between them. According to the above analysis, the graphite importers can understand the current development trend of the graphite trade competition and what cause this competitive situation, therefore, the corresponding trade policies should be formulated to adapt to the graphite trade's current competitive environment.