Abstract
Abstract. China has dramatically increased its virtual water import over recent years. Many studies have focused on the quantity of traded virtual water, but very few go into analysing geographic distribution and the properties of China's virtual water trade network. This paper provides a calculation and analysis of the crop-related virtual water trade network of China based on 27 major primary crops between 1986 and 2009. The results show that China is a net importer of virtual water from water-abundant areas of North America and South America, and a net virtual water exporter to water-stressed areas of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Virtual water import is far larger than virtual water export, and in both import and export a small number of trade partners control the supply chain. Grain crops are the major contributors to virtual water trade, and among grain crops, soybeans, mostly imported from the US, Brazil and Argentina, are the most significant. In order to mitigate water scarcity and secure the food supply, virtual water should actively be incorporated into national water management strategies. And the sources of virtual water import need to be further diversified to reduce supply chain risks and increase resilience.
Highlights
Studies on virtual water trade have been carried out at different scales
Hoekstra and Hung (2005) calculated the volume of crop-related international virtual water flows from 1995 to 1999 and found that, conservatively, 13 % of the water used in crop production is for export in virtual water form
Their findings support the argument that global virtual water trade associated with international food trade has increased global water use efficiency and contributes to global water resource saving, both regional and national virtual water trade patterns have changed a lot
Summary
Studies on virtual water trade have been carried out at different scales. At a global level, Hoekstra and Hung (2005) calculated the volume of crop-related international virtual water flows from 1995 to 1999 and found that, conservatively, 13 % of the water used in crop production is for export in virtual water form. Chapagain et al (2005, 2006) estimated that virtual water trade has saved 6% of global agricultural water use, which equals 28% of the total amount of virtual water flows associated with international agricultural trade. Chapagain et al (2005, 2006) estimated that virtual water trade has saved 6% of global agricultural water use, which equals 28% of the total amount of virtual water flows associated with international agricultural trade. Dalin et al (2012a) used a network approach to analyse the evolution of the global virtual water flows from 1986 to 2007. Their findings support the argument that global virtual water trade associated with international food trade has increased global water use efficiency and contributes to global water resource saving, both regional and national virtual water trade patterns have changed a lot. Despite efficiency improvements, global and in many cases regional water withdrawals continue to increase in absolute terms, due to the combined effect of population growth and increasing affluence (Ozkaynak et al, 2012)
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