Comparative study on the international coal trade network before and after COVID-19 outbreak

COVID-19 that broke out at the end of 2019 made countries to implement strict blockade measures to curb the spread of the virus. These measures have seriously disrupted the coal import and export trade, causing a significant impact on the coal trade network. This study aims to investigate the dispar...

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Main Authors: Jingying Zhao, Hui Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Energy Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2023.1230191/full
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author Jingying Zhao
Hui Huang
author_facet Jingying Zhao
Hui Huang
author_sort Jingying Zhao
collection DOAJ
description COVID-19 that broke out at the end of 2019 made countries to implement strict blockade measures to curb the spread of the virus. These measures have seriously disrupted the coal import and export trade, causing a significant impact on the coal trade network. This study aims to investigate the disparities between coal trade networks before and after COVID-19 outbreak. First, using complex network theory, we constructed global coal trade networks for the years 2019 and 2020. Subsequently, utilizing a cascading failure model, we developed a coal supply risk propagation framework. Through an analysis of network topology and theoretical supply risk propagation, we explored the similarities and differences of the coal trade networks during these 2 years. In terms of network topology structure, our findings reveal a decrease in trade tightness in the coal trade network of 2020 compared to 2019. Moreover, the Netherlands no longer retains its significance as an important trade hub country in 2020. Looking at the theoretical perspective of supply risk transmission, we observed that in 2020, COVID-19 resulted in a higher number of countries experiencing crisis outbreaks compared to 2019. However, it is noteworthy that the core countries within the coal trade network have remained consistent, and their roles as either net importers or net exporters have not changed. This indicates that the position of coal core countries is very stable. Therefore, no matter what happens, the country should pay timely attention to the dynamics of core countries. Interestingly, in 2020, the risk associated with coal supply did not conform to the spatial patterns typically seen in trade. For instance, the Russian Federation, identified as a country facing a crisis outbreak, transmits supply risks to geographically distant regions in West Asia, including countries like Ghana and Western Sahara.
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spelling doaj.art-6424ef309a5d41d6aad95c043045539c2023-09-29T15:58:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Energy Research2296-598X2023-09-011110.3389/fenrg.2023.12301911230191Comparative study on the international coal trade network before and after COVID-19 outbreakJingying ZhaoHui HuangCOVID-19 that broke out at the end of 2019 made countries to implement strict blockade measures to curb the spread of the virus. These measures have seriously disrupted the coal import and export trade, causing a significant impact on the coal trade network. This study aims to investigate the disparities between coal trade networks before and after COVID-19 outbreak. First, using complex network theory, we constructed global coal trade networks for the years 2019 and 2020. Subsequently, utilizing a cascading failure model, we developed a coal supply risk propagation framework. Through an analysis of network topology and theoretical supply risk propagation, we explored the similarities and differences of the coal trade networks during these 2 years. In terms of network topology structure, our findings reveal a decrease in trade tightness in the coal trade network of 2020 compared to 2019. Moreover, the Netherlands no longer retains its significance as an important trade hub country in 2020. Looking at the theoretical perspective of supply risk transmission, we observed that in 2020, COVID-19 resulted in a higher number of countries experiencing crisis outbreaks compared to 2019. However, it is noteworthy that the core countries within the coal trade network have remained consistent, and their roles as either net importers or net exporters have not changed. This indicates that the position of coal core countries is very stable. Therefore, no matter what happens, the country should pay timely attention to the dynamics of core countries. Interestingly, in 2020, the risk associated with coal supply did not conform to the spatial patterns typically seen in trade. For instance, the Russian Federation, identified as a country facing a crisis outbreak, transmits supply risks to geographically distant regions in West Asia, including countries like Ghana and Western Sahara.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2023.1230191/fullcoal tradecascading failurerisk propagationCOVID-19coal supply risk
spellingShingle Jingying Zhao
Hui Huang
Comparative study on the international coal trade network before and after COVID-19 outbreak
Frontiers in Energy Research
coal trade
cascading failure
risk propagation
COVID-19
coal supply risk
title Comparative study on the international coal trade network before and after COVID-19 outbreak
title_full Comparative study on the international coal trade network before and after COVID-19 outbreak
title_fullStr Comparative study on the international coal trade network before and after COVID-19 outbreak
title_full_unstemmed Comparative study on the international coal trade network before and after COVID-19 outbreak
title_short Comparative study on the international coal trade network before and after COVID-19 outbreak
title_sort comparative study on the international coal trade network before and after covid 19 outbreak
topic coal trade
cascading failure
risk propagation
COVID-19
coal supply risk
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2023.1230191/full
work_keys_str_mv AT jingyingzhao comparativestudyontheinternationalcoaltradenetworkbeforeandaftercovid19outbreak
AT huihuang comparativestudyontheinternationalcoaltradenetworkbeforeandaftercovid19outbreak