Shifts in pattern of specialisation of Lithuania’s agri-food products export

Abstract

The article focuses on the evolution of Lithuania’s Agri-Food products’ market shares in the world exports and main markets over the period of 2001-2012. Since the authors are interested in the shift of export of Lithuania within the main markets’ context, this study aims to analyse shifts in specialisation of Lithuania’s Agri-Food products’ export and to investigate the link between competitiveness in major markets and specialisation. A world market share methodology was used for this purpose: changes of share in the main partners’ markets and two specialisation indices – RCA, proposed by Ballasa (1965) and Local competitiveness, proposed by Imagawa (2004). The shift level in pattern of geographical and product specialisation was calculated as ratio of Local competitiveness (LCI) and RCA indices.