In this article, we utilize complex network models to represent the extraction, refining, and processing chain of copper on a global scale between 2017 and 2021. For each year, we examine the import-export relationship network of raw copper minerals, processed copper, waste products, and machinery for the metallurgical industry. By approximating the trade networks with multilayer blockmodel models, we annually identify 5 groups of nations based on their roles in the copper supply chain and reconstruct the major annual changes in global trade. Finally, using a deep learning algorithm, we obtain a representation of each nation's position in the global copper trade, identifying the existence of a densely connected core of nations at the center of international trade.
By Lorenzo Federico, Ayoub Mounim, Pierpaolo D’Urso, and Livia De Giovanni