Natural gas trade network of countries and regions along the belt and road: Where to go in the future?

Abstract

Based on a broad sample of 66 countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) covering 1992–2016, this study constructs the pipeline natural gas (PNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade networks using complex network theory to analyze the evolutionary characteristics of the natural gas trade network for countries and regions along the BRI. Also, this study forecasts the future performances of the BRI area's natural gas trade pattern from a panoramic perspective up to the year 2030. Overall, the results indicate that LNG trade along the BRI develops rapidly, while the development of PNG trade is relatively stable. Moreover, both PNG and LNG trade networks along the BRI tend to be more compact, implying that the trade link between countries and regions along the BRI is deepening. In addition, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, such as China and India, is accelerating to become the high-speed development area for natural gas trade along the BRI, especially since the BRI proposed in 2013. Finally, several policy implications for helping the later construction of BRI and promoting growth in this area's natural gas trade are provided.