Evolution of global lithium competition network pattern and its influence factors

Abstract Lithium, as a key mineral resource, is widely used in the electric vehicles industry, leading to competition among importers of lithium. Based on the trade data from 2009 to 2018, complex network theory is adopted to analyze the global lithium import competition pattern. Moreover, a panel regression model is used to analyze the impact of lithium trade network characteristics on lithium import competition pattern. The results show that: Firstly, the average competition intensity among the global lithium importing countries increases year by year, and the competition among the lithium industries tends to be integrated gradually. Secondly, before 2012, Japan played a leading role in the global lithium import competition network, but by 2015, South Korea gradually replaced Japan to play a leading role in the competition network, and the main competitive relationships are concentrated in within Asia, Europe and Asia. Finally, a country's in-degree centrality, betweenness centrality and eigenvector centrality in the trade network will drive the competition intensity among countries. Based on the above analysis, this paper puts forward corresponding policy recommendations to help lithium importers adapt to the current competitive environment.