Global Marine Product Space and Coastal Countries’ Productive Capabilities, 1995–2021

Abstract

Coastal countries’ productive capabilities are significantly influenced by the structure, dynamics, and evolution of marine products. In this study, we examined the market development dynamics of marine products across 156 coastal countries from 1995 to 2021, utilizing product space and economic complexity frameworks. We constructed and analyzed the product space of 106 marine products across six major marine industries, investigating the positioning and potential of various coastal countries within this space over three decades. The key findings were as follows: (1) global marine product exports exhibited substantial growth and increased geographical diversification. (2) The marine product space exhibited a core–periphery structure, with high-complexity marine shipbuilding products at the core and resource-based primary products at the periphery. (3) Coastal countries’ positions in the product space could be clustered into four distinct types: (i) complex diversified economies with constrained development potential, (ii) developed and industrialized countries with coexisting complexity and diversification, (iii) small island and developing countries with coexisting specialization and potential, and (iv) single-resource-dependent countries in the Middle East and Gulf of Guinea in Africa. (4) Each type faced unique development opportunities and challenges. We recommend that all economies continually leverage their comparative advantages in complex products. Specifically, type (i) and (ii) countries should focus on strengthening inter-product technological and knowledge networks and developing more integrated industrial chains. Type (iii) and (iv) countries should capitalize on their resources and geographical advantages to develop new, more complex products that align closely with their existing product baskets.