Abstract: Drawing on city-level multi-regional input-output (MRIO) tables for China, a framework is developed to decompose inter-city manufacturing value added through forward and backward linkages, considering both direct transfers and multi-path flows via national value chains (NVCs). The study analyzes the stylized facts of urban manufacturing development and export capacities. The main findings are as follows: (1) Forward and backward linkages of urban manufacturing value added are mainly realized through domestic value chains, which play a critical role in circulating local value added among cities and facilitating flows between imported intermediates and domestic markets. (2) Municipalities, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and regional central cities function as central hubs for the transfer of city manufacturing value added via the NVC, while coastal cities serve as key gateways connecting urban manufacturing value added to international markets. (3) Flows of manufacturing value added exhibit clear upstream and downstream linkages across the entire industrial chain. (4) Measuring cities' exports by value added more objectively reflects their export capacities, and manufacturing value added exports via the NVC underpin the true export capability of urban manufacturing.

Key words: urban manufacturing, value added decomposition, NVC, export capability