China material stocks and flows account for 1978–2018

Lulu Song, Ji Han, Nan Li*, Yuanyi Huang, Min Hao, Min Dai & Wei-Qiang Chen

Sci Data 8, 303 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-01075-7.

Abstract:
As the world’s top material consumer, China has created intense pressure on national or global demand for natural resources. Building an accurate material stocks and flows account of China is a prerequisite for promoting sustainable resource management. However, there is no annually, officially published material stocks and flows data in China. Existing material stocks and flows estimates conducted by scholars exhibit great discrepancies. In this study, we create the Provincial Material Stocks and Flows Database (PMSFD) for China and its 31 provinces. This dataset describes 13 materials’ stocks, demand, and scrap supply in five end-use sectors in each province during 1978–2018. PMSFD is the first version of material stocks and flows inventories in China, and its uniform estimation structure and formatted inventories offer a comprehensive foundation for future accumulation, modification, and enhancement. PMSFD contributes insight into the material metabolism, which is an important database for sustainable development as well as circular economy policy-making in China. This dataset will be updated annually.

**Fig.2** National material stocks during 1978–2018. (a) Development of national material stocks by 13 material groups. (b), (c) Per-capita material stocks in 2018 including uncertainty ranges. (d), (e) Composition of 13 material stocks in 1978 and 2018.

**Fig.3** Provincial material stocks during 1978–2018. The upper bar graph is sorted by average stocks in 2018 from the highest to the lowest, which can be divided 31 provinces into five groups from I to V.

**Fig. 4** Material demand and scrap dynamics in China (a) and five groups (b–f) during 1978–2018. The five groups from I to V are divided according to stocks level.

**Fig.5** Material scrap supply by sectors in China (a) and five groups (b–f) during 1978–2018. The five groups from I to V are divided according to stocks level.

For full text, please visit: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-021-01075-7

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