Title: International production networks: the automobile industry in East Asia

Authors: Shahrun Nizam Abdul-Aziz; Paul Allanson; Dennis Petrie

Addresses: University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, UK ' University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, UK ' Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia

Abstract: This study investigated the East Asia's automobile production network and its evolution from 1990 to 2010. A network analysis identified the major automobile trade links for parts and components (P&C) and final automobiles (FG), and changes in roles, trading partners and network patterns for the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010. The results show that while the role of Malaysia and Singapore remained unchanged, China, Indonesia and Philippines expanded from importers to exporters of auto P&C. Thailand's role changed dramatically from an importer to an exporter of auto P&C and FG. Japan played a major role in the transformation of the industry during this period, as it started to import P&C from its East Asian partners and exported P&C to Thailand. Korea has followed in Japan's footsteps but with a focus on the industry's development in Vietnam and China.

Keywords: international production networks; automobile industry; East Asia; automotive parts and components; trading partners; network patterns; supplier roles; imports; exports; Malaysia; Singapore; China; Indonesia; Philippines; Japan; Thailand; Korea.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2013.056731

International Journal of Trade and Global Markets, 2013 Vol.6 No.4, pp.356 - 373

Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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