Inter-Regional Virtual Water Trade Model and Its Application in Shanxi Province
区域间虚拟水贸易模型及其在山西省的应用

Virtual water trade is one of the important ways to achieve spatial optimal allocation of water resources. Analysis of virtual water trade in different regions can provide basis for strategy formulation of water use. Inter-regional virtual water trade model is designed to simulate virtual water trade pattern, which is based on inter-regional trade model and industrial water consumption coefficient. In this study, Shanxi Province was selected as the case area. We have calculated the direct water use coefficients of industries in Shanxi based on the Chinese Environmental Statistical Yearbook and Almanac of Chinese Second Economic Census, estimated the total amount of virtual water trade of Shanxi and other provinces according to the inter-regional trade relations and revealed the spatial pattern of virtual water trade. The main conclusions are: 1) In 2007, the total amount of water consumption of Shanxi Province was 5.871 billion cubic meters, and 153 million cubic meters of virtual water was imported from other regions of China through industrial and agricultural products trade; 2) Virtual water imported through agricultural trade was 489 million cubic meters, mainly from Xinjiang, Shaanxi, Hebei and Anhui. Virtual water exported to other regions of China through industrial products trade was 336 million cubic meters, mainly to Hebei, Jiangsu, Shandong, Hubei, Zhejiang and Guangdong; 3) Virtual water sources of Shanxi are west region and northeast region of China while the target areas are mianly east coastal provinces, which goes against the traditional virtual water strategy; 4) The main export sectors of virtual water in Shanxi are energy and energy-related industries, while the main import sectors are agriculture and manufacturing industries. Terefore, we should actively promote virtual water policy in Shanxi Province to form sustainable water use spatial pattern, including developing water saving industries and importing virtual water from other water-rich regions through commodity trade.