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Data Services > Data Access by Subject > Trade Statistics: International & U.S. > Trade by Country

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Trade by Country

Introduction | By Country | By Commodity | U.S. | Historical | Surveys | Classifications

UN Sources | Sources With Relatively Current Data | Sources With Greater Product Detail

UN Sources

The UN Statistics Division has compiled data on the trade of UN members since the 1950s and has issued statistical series in various formats over the years. UN sources are a good place to begin research on international trade.

UN COMTRADE - UN Commodity Trade Statistics Database (Internet)
Covers: 274 countries
Years / Currency: 1962- , to within the last year, depending on classification and reporting country
Trade classification: Data presented in six classifications (SITC1, SITC2, SITC3, HS92, HS96, HS02)
What it offers: Time depth, product detail, and currency to within the last year, depending on classification and country
Access: UN COMTRADE (MIT only)

UN Common Database (Internet)
Covers: 64 series extracted from COMTRADE, IMF, and WTO sources
Years / Currency: Varies by series
Trade classification: Several series available in SITC2
What it offers: Exports and imports of countries expressed in aggregate US$, national currencies, and unit values
Access: UN Common Database (MIT only)

PC/TAS - Trade Analysis System on Personal Computer (CD-ROM)
Covers: 157 reporting countries and their partners
Years / Currency: Five-year time series, 1996/2000-1997/2001
Trade classification: HS88 at 2-6-digits
What it offers: Derived from COMTRADE; less time depth but extensive product detail (5000+ items)
Access: HF1016.P322 | Dewey Reserve Stacks

International Trade Statistics Yearbook (Print)
Covers: 200+ countries
Years / Currency: Annual, 1950- , to within last three years
Trade classification: SITC2 at 3-digits
What it offers: Time depth in a continuous classification
Access: HF91.Y39 | latest year, Dewey Reference; 1983- previous year, Dewey Stacks; 1950-1982, Dewey Basement

Commodity Trade Statistics (Print & Microfiche; superseded by COMTRADE)
Covers: 200 countries
Years / Currency: Annual, 1951-1998 (ceased)
Trade classification: SITC3 at 4-digits
What it offers: Time depth; cross tabulates trade partners
Access: HF91.U53a | 1995-1998, Dewey Microforms (FICHE); 1990-1994, Dewey Reference; 1951-1989, Annex

Sources With Relatively Current Data

The following sources provide very current data on trade flows. (Note that the OECD is selective, covering only developed countries and a few emerging market countries.

IMF - Direction of Trade Statistics (Print)
Covers: 180 countries
Years / Currency: Annual & quarterly, 1948- , to within last six months
Trade classification: Trade expressed in aggregate US$; no commodities listed
What if offers: Very current data on trade flows, by partner, in aggregate US$ for most countries and regions.
Access: HF91.D572 | Yearbook, latest year, Dewey Reference; previous years, Annex | Quarterly issues, Dewey Journals

OECD - Monthly Statistics of International Trade (Internet)
Covers: OECD countries and their trading partners
Years / Currency: Annual, quarterly, monthly, 1960- , to within last year
Trade classification: SITC, 5 major sectors only.
What if offers: Very current data on trade, by very general product categories for OECD countries and their partners.
Access: Via OECD Statistical Databases in SourceOECD (MIT only). Print analog is available at HF91.O67a | latest year, Dewey Reference; previous years, Dewey Stacks.

Sources With Greater Product Detail

The following sources display trade data at detailed levels of product breakdown, but with a corresponding lag in currency. They report on developed countries and partners.

OECD - International Trade by Commodity Statistics (Internet)
Covers: OECD countries and their partners
Years / Currency: Annual, 1960- , to within last four years
Trade classification: 1960-1990 (SITC2), 1990- (SITC3 and HS88), 1996- , (HS96); level of detail depends on classification chosen
What if offers: Time depth, and detailed product data of trade by OECD countries and their partners
Access: Via OECD Statistical Databases in SourceOECD (MIT only). Print analog (1994/1999 -) available at HF91.O67c | Dewey Reference; previous years, Annex. Print edition does not contain the same content as the online version.

EU - Intra- and Extra-EU Trade (CD-ROM)
Covers: EU countries and their trading partners (approximately 200 countries)
Years / Currency: Annual, monthly. Library has 1999-2001 only
Trade classification: HS at 8-digits
What it offers: Detailed product information on trade of EU countries for different time sequences
Access: HA1107.5.A1.E98 CD-ROM | Dewey Reserve Stacks