Trade pattern evolution of global REEs and analysis of China's trade network

REEs trade patterns and network are of great strategic importance for world-wide cooperation and industrial security. Based on the trade data of the global REEs from year 2000 to 2022, the paper analyzes its trade pattern evolution in terms of trade value, trade network and network influence. It further examines the correlation between REEs trade and economic development, and analyze Chinese trade network from the viewpoint of trade partners and trade concentration. The paper reveals that China, Japan, US, and Germany have consistently ranked as the top 4 in the trade values over the last two decades, while Australia is gradually becoming an increasingly important partner. China, Germany, US and France have always maintained high node degrees. Notably, Netherlands has exhibited a marked rise in node degree. 126 economic entities fall into four groups. Some recommendations have been put forward to better serve the global trade.