Analysis of China’s Iron Trade Flow: Quantity, Value and Regional Pattern

Abstract

Iron is an important metal material that supports the development of society and national economies. Due to the uneven distribution of resources, there is frequent trade around the world. Therefore, mastering the global flow path and trade pattern provides an essential basis for the sustainable utilization of iron and related products. Based on the artificial flow of iron in international trade, this study used the material flow analysis method to investigate this flow. Based on the data of China’s international iron trade from China Customs and the United Nations trade administration, this study systematically analyzed the structure, type, quantity, and value of iron-containing commodities in 2018. The results were as follows: (1) China was a net importer of iron and formed a trade structure of “import raw materials and export products.” (2) There was a large trade surplus in China’s iron international trade. The quality of iron exported by China was high, and the price is relatively low; therefore, countries around the world have a great dependence on the iron imported from China. (3) Compared with developed countries, China is in urgent need of high-end technologies and can only import high-tech iron products from abroad. Therefore, the value of China’s exports of iron-containing commodities is relatively low, while that of its imports is relatively high.