IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v27y2025i5d10.1007_s10668-023-04304-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Technology structure of China’s export of agricultural products: empirical analysis based on technical complexity

Author

Listed:
  • Jingjing Wang

    (Xinjiang Agricultural University)

  • Yujia Deng

    (Xinjiang Agricultural University)

  • Zeeshan Mustafa

    (Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna)

  • Yan Zhang

    (Xinjiang Agricultural University)

  • Maurizio Canavari

    (Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna)

Abstract

Growing labour costs, increasing resources and environmental constraints and a desire to emphasize high-quality trade have promoted China to prioritize upgrading the agricultural export structure. This brings forth a need for further research on agricultural export technology. We measure the technical complexity and height based on the sample of 178 countries over the 2002–2020 period. The results are then compared with those of the world’s major exporters of agricultural products (APs). We find that China’s APs export exhibited a pattern of medium-technology products and slowly transitioned towards medium–high and high technology levels. The technology structure of China’s APs export was significantly lower than that of the major global AP exporters (except Brazil). The overall technical level of China’s APs exports slightly fluctuated near the medium technology grade. The evolutionary trend of the technology structure of China’s APs export differs from its export scale, showing a tendency towards a more downmarket in 2002–2012 but some improvement since 2013. There is a widening gap in the technology structure of APs export between China and major developed exporters. China’s APs export is losing competitiveness overall, and the upgrading of the technology structure of China’s APs export was slower. Therefore, the technology structure of China’s APs export can be escalated by raising standards of quality, concentrating on the export of higher technical complexity products, promoting the advances and innovations in agricultural science and technology, and further exploring the trade potential hidden behind the differences between China and other countries in export technology structure.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingjing Wang & Yujia Deng & Zeeshan Mustafa & Yan Zhang & Maurizio Canavari, 2025. "Technology structure of China’s export of agricultural products: empirical analysis based on technical complexity," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 10109-10138, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04304-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04304-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-04304-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-023-04304-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kong, Qunxi & Chen, Afei & Shen, Chenrong & Wong, Zoey, 2021. "Has the Belt and Road Initiative improved the quality of economic growth in China's cities?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 870-883.
    2. Jingjing Wang & Yan Zhang & Zeeshan Mustafa & Maurizio Canavari, 2022. "Changes in Agri-Food Export Competitiveness Based on the Sophistication Analysis: The Case of Xinjiang, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Jarreau, Joachim & Poncet, Sandra, 2012. "Export sophistication and economic growth: Evidence from China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 281-292.
    4. Zhu, Shujin & Fu, Xiaolan, 2013. "Drivers of Export Upgrading," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 221-233.
    5. Ricardo Hausmann & Jason Hwang & Dani Rodrik, 2007. "What you export matters," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-25, March.
    6. Jesus Felipe & Utsav Kumar & Norio Usui & Arnelyn Abdon, 2013. "Why has China succeeded? And why it will continue to do so," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 37(4), pages 791-818.
    7. Pavitt, Keith, 1984. "Sectoral patterns of technical change: Towards a taxonomy and a theory," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 13(6), pages 343-373, December.
    8. Anwar, Sajid & Sun, Sizhong, 2018. "Foreign direct investment and export quality upgrading in China's manufacturing sector," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 289-298.
    9. Shunli Yao, 2009. "Why Are Chinese Exports Not So Special?," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 17(1), pages 47-65, January.
    10. repec:hal:pseose:hal-00649282 is not listed on IDEAS
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Poncet, Sandra & Starosta de Waldemar, Felipe, 2013. "Export Upgrading and Growth: The Prerequisite of Domestic Embeddedness," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 104-118.
    2. Sandra Poncet & Felipe Starosta, 2013. "Export upgrading and growth in China: the prerequisite of domestic embeddedness," PSE - G-MOND WORKING PAPERS halshs-00960684, HAL.
    3. Haini, Hazwan & Wei Loon, Pang & Li Li, Pang, 2023. "Can export diversification promote export upgrading? Evidence from an oil-dependent economy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    4. Song Zhang & Chunlai Chen, 2020. "Does Outward Foreign Direct Investment Facilitate China's Export Upgrading?," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 28(5), pages 64-89, September.
    5. repec:hal:pseose:halshs-00960684 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Nazlioglu, Saban & Huseyni, İbrahim & Tunc, Ahmet & Payne, James E., 2024. "Productivity convergence in international trade: The role of industrial-based policies," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 1-19.
    7. Huiying Zhang & Xiaohui Yang, 2016. "Intellectual Property Rights and Export Sophistication," Journal of International Commerce, Economics and Policy (JICEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 7(03), pages 1-19, October.
    8. Baliamoune-Lutz, Mina, 2019. "Trade sophistication in developing countries: Does export destination matter?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 39-51.
    9. Xuewei Wang & Fayyaz Ahmad & Jie Wang & Hongzhen Luo & Abbas Ali Chandio & Salim Khan, 2025. "Environmental regulation and export sophistication impact on Chinese firms: a global value chain perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 4203-4223, February.
    10. Faqin Lin & Ermias O. Weldemicael & Xiaosong Wang, 2017. "Export sophistication increases income in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from 1981–2000," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 1627-1649, June.
    11. Lectard, Pauline & Rougier, Eric, 2018. "Can Developing Countries Gain from Defying Comparative Advantage? Distance to Comparative Advantage, Export Diversification and Sophistication, and the Dynamics of Specialization," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 90-110.
    12. Dang Luu Hai, 2021. "Aid for trade and export sophistication in recipient countries," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(4), pages 530-548, May.
    13. Changqing Lin & Shengpeng Xiao & Pingjuan Tang, 2024. "Does Artificial Intelligence Improve Export Technical Complexity Upgrade of Manufacturing Enterprises? Evidence from China," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, July.
    14. Trinh, Vu Quang & Nguyen, Anh Thi Quynh & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2022. "Export quality upgrading and environmental sustainability: Evidence from the East Asia and Pacific Region," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    15. Faheem Ur Rehman & Ejaz Ahmad & Muhammad Asif Khan & József Popp & Judit Oláh, 2021. "Does Trade Related Sectoral Infrastructure Make Chinese Exports More Sophisticated and Diversified?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-21, May.
    16. Naima Chrid & Sami Saafi & Mohamed Chakroun, 2021. "Export Upgrading and Economic Growth: a Panel Cointegration and Causality Analysis," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(2), pages 811-841, June.
    17. Jingjing Wang & Yan Zhang & Zeeshan Mustafa & Maurizio Canavari, 2022. "Changes in Agri-Food Export Competitiveness Based on the Sophistication Analysis: The Case of Xinjiang, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.
    18. Burak Sencer Atasoy, 2021. "The determinants of export sophistication: Does digitalization matter?," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 5135-5159, October.
    19. Taylan Yenilmez, 2024. "Finding the right products for export diversification," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 151-167, February.
    20. Naoki Sekiguchi, 2019. "Steel trade structure and the balance of steelmaking technologies in non-OECD countries: the implications for catch-up path," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 32(3), pages 257-285, November.
    21. Zou, Zongsen & Zhang, Yu & Li, Xin & Wang, Xiuling, 2023. "The nexus between product sophistication and export survival: Evidence from China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 480-502.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04304-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.