The Dynamics Of International Competitiveness On Citrus Industry In China

Citrus is the third largest trade agricultural products, followed by wheat and corn. Before1978, China’s citrus production was about300000tons annually. Then the production increased for years running. In2009, China’s citrus production,25million tons, exceeded that of Brazil, which was the largest citrus producing country for decades. However, production increasing does not stand for competitiveness upgraded. Since2004, agricultural production materials price and labor cost have been increasing constantly. There still exists a gap in comparison with other big citrus producing countries in terms of exporting and cost. Therefore, it is meaningful to completely evaluate, analyze the international competitiveness of China’s citrus industry and propose countermeasure in view of exporting and cost.This paper applies International Economics, International Trade and Industrial Economics to establish the research frame of international competitiveness then completely evaluates and analyzes the international competitiveness of China’s citrus. The innovations of this paper possibly go as follows. Firstly, this paper evaluates and analyzes the international competitiveness of China’s citrus industry from the angle of competitive performance, competitive strength and competitive potential, which is specific and perfect. Secondly, in the process of evaluating and analyzing, this paper makes a comparison with other big citrus producing countries, and finds out the gap and weakness of China’s citrus industry. It is new to some extent to reflect dynamic development of international competitiveness of China’s citrus industry for last10to15years.This paper is composed of7chapters in logic order. The research contents and conclusions are as follows.In the first chapter, we clarify the research purpose and meaning, summarize the research achievement at home and abroad, introduce the frame and method, and point out the innovation and the possible insufficient. In the second chapter, we introduce the theory of comparative advantage and competitive advantage, and straighten out the method and some indicators, which will be used in this paper.In the third chapter, the exporting situation of Chinese citrus is described with total export, exported varieties structure, export flow and export price. We select competitiveness evaluation index and model, such as international market share, Revealed Comparative Advantage Index and fixed market share model to analyze international competitiveness situation of China’s citrus and discuss the dynamic development. Then we can conclude that Chinese loose-skin mandarins and citrus others have certain export competitiveness advantage, but there still exists a gap in comparison with other exporting countries. Other several citrus varieties have weak competitiveness advantage. On the whole, competitiveness of fresh citrus industry has been increased dramatically with China’s entry into WTO since2001.In the fourth chapter, cost structure of Chinese citrus production is analyzed. Then we analyze Chinese citrus production cost from2000to2009, study the dynamic development and reach a conclusion that there are some defects regarding the production cost in comparison with other big citrus producing countries. The production cost per acre has been on the rise for last10years. Material and service charges and labor cost are the main part of citrus production cost. Labor cost presents ascendant trend, and material and service charges are high due to the large input of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Cost competitiveness evaluation index is selected to compare China’s citrus production cost with America’s. We find that there are some defects, for example, unreasonable structure of material input, and citrus-producing enterprises are dispersed and backward in management with weak economic strength, weak marketing consciousness and there is much labor work in citrus-producing process with little mechanical investment.In the fifth chapter, evaluation index system, which includes26indexes, is designed to analyze international competition potential and its dynamic development. We can conclude that international competition potential of Chinese citrus has increased for last10years, but in comparison with other big citrus producing countries, such as America and Spanish, there still exists an obvious gap, for example, insufficient cultivated land per capita, lack of researchers,backward transportation and communication facilities,low economic development level and urbanization level,weak international compatitiveness of citrus material production, low socialized service level for citrus, low intensification of citrus production, low mechanization level, weak education background and low quality of Chinese workersIn the sixth chapter, we propose some suggestions in terms of industrial organization, science and technology input, mechanical work, setting up cooperation organization, multi-channel marketing network and government support.