The Global Pharmaceutical Trade Network: Spatiotemporal Evolution, Driving Forces, and China’s Evolving Role

The trade in pharmaceutical products is critical for national health security and human health. However, the dynamics of the global trade in pharmaceutical products and their driving forces are yet to be clarified. Our study first analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of the global pharmaceutical trade network from 2000 to 2019. We then identify changes in the status of 187 countries (regions), especially China, in the trade network and investigate the factors influencing network evolution. The results show that global pharmaceutical trade is highly concentrated among a limited number of countries in both import and export trade, with relatively loose network connections mainly consisting of one-way trade. The results also indicated that the core and sub-core export countries are mainly Western Europe, North America, and India. Although China has become a sub-core country in the global trade network, the trade deficit is gradually widening and the concentration of importing countries is increasing annually, indicating a higher trade risk. Additionally, our results suggest that GDP differences and Free Trade Agreement have a significant positive impact on the formation of the pharmaceutical trade network. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the global network of pharmaceutical products and facilitating targeted strategies for pharmaceutical product development.