Rare earth elements constitute a critical strategic mineral resource, and the stability of the global rare earth industry chain has emerged as a focal point of international concern amid geopolitical dynamics. Utilizing data on China’s rare earth import and export trade spanning from 2013 to 2023, this study examines the evolution of China’s trade dependence on rare earth products, the changing patterns of the trade dependence network, and the primary influencing factors. The findings reveal significant disparities in the product structure of China’s rare earth import and export activities, characterized by a trade pattern of “low-value imports and high-value exports.” From the perspective of trade dependence, China’s dominant position in the global rare earth trade has been reinforced. In terms of degree centrality, node connection intensity, and betweenness centrality within the global rare earth trade dependence network, China has progressively ascended in ranking and has emerged as one of the core countries in the network of trade dependence for rare earth products. Furthermore, factors such as trade partnerships, levels of economic development, trade dependence, economic proximity, and institutional frameworks significantly influence the majority of rare earth products. In light of these findings, several recommendations are proposed: to optimize the import patterns of resource-based products at the upstream segment of the rare earth industry chain, to strengthen the technical advantages in smelting and separation processes at the midstream segment, and to fully leverage the scale advantages of magnetic material products at the downstream segment of the industry chain.
经济邻近性对中国稀土出口贸易依赖大多产生了反向作用,即对于经济发展水平与中国不接近的国家,中国稀土产品出口贸易依赖强。这与经济邻近性会促进商品贸易流动的结论(Hou et al,2023;吴康等,2025)相反,表明中国稀土资源的贸易流动存在特殊性。进口贸易依赖中,不同稀土产品产生不同影响效果。稀土原矿、稀土铈化合物和稀土铈铁合金的主要进口依赖国为澳大利亚、日本、法国和美国等发达国家,故呈现负相关关系;稀土化合物和稀土钕铁硼合金的进口贸易依赖国主要为缅甸、马来西亚和巴西等发展中国家,故呈现正向影响。
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