A Dynamic Network Comparison Analysis of Iran’s Crude Oil International Trade

This research conducts a quantitative comparative analysis of the dynamic international crude oil trade network of Iran by using the network connectedness measures of Diebold and Yilmaz (2015) and also the asymmetric short-term and long-term impact of the increasing and decreasing key driving factors and obstacles in the crude oil trade development through the gravityrelation and by using the nonlinear panel auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) model during 1980–2017. Results indicated the dynamic spillover flow of the crude oil trade of Iran during the investigated period of time. Moreover, the crude oil trade flow of Iran is a net shock transmitter to Middle East and a net shock receiver from the crude oil trade flow in countries of America, Eastern Europe- Eurasia, Africa, Western Europe, and Asia Pacific, respectively. The focus on the divided regional trade scheme and adopting the biased foreign trade policies by Iran may not lead to the vulnerability reduction of its economy from crude oil trade flow volatilities. Findings also reveal the asymmetric behavior of the crude oil bilateral trade flow in response to the increasing and decreasing of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita variables in both crude oil exporting and importing countries and international crude oil transportation costs in the short-term and long-term period that it can be used in identifying the effective factors on the volatility transmission to adjust the crude oil trade flow. Therefore, concerning the high degree of the integration in the international crude oil trade network of Iran, it seems that it is necessary to prioritize cooperative over competitive behavior in the crude oil trade of Iran and respond appropriately to market shocks and volatilities during the time (risk management) in the economic plan of the country.