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Historical Trade

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

Because trade is a source of revenue, many governments began to collect trade data during the 18th and 19th centuries. Economic historian B.R. Mitchell has culled early national sources to create three sets of historical statistics, including trade data.

International Historical Statistics: Africa, Asia, & Oceania
Covers: 29 African, 25 Asian, and 3 Oceanic countries
Years: 1750-2000
Trade classification: None; basic commodity groupings
What it offers: Three series; external trade expressed by aggregate value in national currencies, by value with main trading partners, and by value of exports of basic commodity groups
Access: HA4675.M552 | current edition, Dewey Reference; previous editions, Dewey Stacks

International Historical Statistics: The Americas
Covers: 26 Latin American countries, Canada, and the US
Years: 1750-2000
Trade classification: None; basic commodity groupings
What it offers: Three series; external trade expressed by aggregate value in national currencies, by value with main trading partners, and by value of exports of basic commodity groups
Access: HA175.M55 | current edition, Dewey Reference; previous editions, Dewey Stacks

International Historical Statistics: Europe
Covers: 24 European countries
Years: 1750-2000
Trade classification: None; basic commodity groupings
What it offers: Two series; external trade expressed by aggregate value in national currency and by value with main trading partners.
Access: HA1107.M5 | current edition, Dewey Reference; previous editions, Dewey Stacks