ANALYSIS ON THE COMPETITIVE PATTERNS AND INFLUENCING FACTORS OF GLOBAL AEROSPACE TRADE

Xi-ya LI, De-bin DU, Yu-ling CHEN, Zi-wei JIANG, Qi-fan XIA

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2026

PDF(32642 KB)
PDF(32642 KB)
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2026

ANALYSIS ON THE COMPETITIVE PATTERNS AND INFLUENCING FACTORS OF GLOBAL AEROSPACE TRADE

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Abstract

This paper constructs global trade competition networks, portraying the evolution of the multi-scale global competition patterns and structure from global to regional to national levels, and exploring the influencing factors. The results show that: 1) From 2000 to 2019, global aerospace trade competition intensity and density increased, with aircraft and core subsystems exhibiting polarized competition, non-core subsystems characterized by large scale and high density. The outbreak of COVID-19 caused a sharp decline in competition. 2) Trade competition between Europe and North America, as well as within Europe, is particularly intense, with a trend to transfer towards Asia, especially in the engine segment. Asian countries exhibit diverse competition relationships with low intensity but rapid growth. 3) Global competition is dominated by a few countries with entrenched hierarchies. The US occupies the absolute core, forming a stable "hub-and-spoke" structure in supply chain competition. The second-tier France and Germany hold advantages in final product competition and are moving towards efficient competition in aircraft segment. China has grown rapidly in the parts competition but faces significant competitive pressure. 4) The trade breadth and trade control capacity exhibit positive effects on trade competition. Intense trade competition tends to take place between closer countries with similar economic levels and amicable political relations, as well as between countries with large technology gaps and firm gaps in the aerospace sector.

Key words

aerospace / trade competition / spatio-temporal pattern / influencing factor

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Xi-ya LI , De-bin DU , Yu-ling CHEN , et al . ANALYSIS ON THE COMPETITIVE PATTERNS AND INFLUENCING FACTORS OF GLOBAL AEROSPACE TRADE[J]. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY. 2026

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