Position of Iran in the International Natural Gas Trade Network: Graph Theory Approach

Increasing growth in demand for natural gas and its dispersal in the world will causes to the growing dependence of countries with natural gas consumption on international natural gas trade, thus increasing competition among natural gas exporters in terms of volume and scope. therefore, a complex network of trade relations between countries has been created and the interactions between them have been developed. The aim of this study is to analyze the position of countries in the international natural gas trade network by using graph theory. In this research, the international natural gas trade network in 2018 has been examined separately by two HS codes. The distinguishing feature of this article is that all countries are included in the international natural gas trade network. Analysis of the network based on various indicators shows that although Iran is the second largest holder of natural gas resources in the world and has a special position in the transit of natural gas, but is not an important player in the international trade network of natural gas. In addition, according to the Closeness Centrality Index, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Italy have the highest Closeness Centrality Index, and as a result, have been more successful in establishing trade relations with other countries in the network. Also, countries like Norway and Russia as the largest exporters of natural gas, have less Closeness.  Therefore, other criteria, such as having diverse trade relationships, are decisive in the natural gas trade network. The results also show that in the liquid natural gas trade network, the network density is relatively higher than the network density through the pipeline because the pipeline infrastructure is located under geographic constraints, diplomatic relations and political factors while natural gas trade has a relatively more flexibility. With the increasing demand and supply resources in international natural gas trade supply in the future, liquefied natural gas is likely to become the most important form of natural gas trade.