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Home » Knowledgebase » UN Merchandise Trade » UN Comtrade Data » General » Metadata » Subcategories do not add up to higher level codes (Part I)

Subcategories do not add up to higher...

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Subcategories do not add up to higher...


Subcategories do not add up to higher level codes (Part I)

Q: I have the necessary software and hardware to deal with the data. I would like to know, though, if it is possible to find cases where subcategories of SITC do not add up the next higher category level.

A: Yes, it is possible. The table below gives an example of exports of Brazil in 2006 in SITC code 676 (Iron and steel bars, rods, angles, shapes and sections) with all available detail at 4-digit level. The reasons why this can happen are

(1) that the data are collected and reported by Brazil in the HS-2002 classification and

(2) that the correlation between the HS-2002 codes and the SITC, Rev.3 codes is such that only for a sub-set of codes a good correlation can be found at the detailed level of SITC; all other HS-2002 codes in this area can only be allocated to the aggregated 3-digit code 676.

The result is – as is shown in the table – that the full amount of trade value for code 676 is correctly reflected, and that only for some 4-digit 676 x codes trade can be reproduced.



Subcategories do not add up to higher level codes (Part II)

Values on different levels of HS Classification

Q: We have noticed that, in the Comtrade HS database, total values for a particular chapter do not always correspond to sum of values at HS level 6 or 4 within that chapter. Differences are sometimes considerable. You will find below 2 examples.

We have also noticed that, at least in the examples we have looked at, the following computations give the same results:
- sum of values of all products at HS level 6
- sum of values of all products at HS level 4
- sum of values of all products at HS level 2
- value mentioned for the "TOTAL" product

This would let us think that all products are reported at all levels. The problem could thus possibly be that some products are reallocated to other chapters in HS level2 data.

Could you explain the reason of the observed differences in HS level 2 data ? How are aggregated data at level 4, 2 and TOTAL constructed? Does this situation also occurs in Comtrade SITC databases ?

First example: The extraction of 

   Year=2006 
   Flow=2(Export) 
   Reporter=376(Israel) 
   Partner=400(Jordan) 
   Product=all products at all levels within chapter 71

gives the following data: 

   Product=71 => value=29639000 
   Product=7102 => value= 436000 
   Product=710239 => value=436000 
   Product=7108 => value= 10932000 
   Product=710812 => value=10932000 
   Product=7113 => value= 1200000 
   Product=711311 => value=22000 
   Product=711319 => value=1178000

If you sum values at level 6 of HS you get 436000 + 10932000 + 22000 + 1178000 = 12568000.
If you sum values at level 4 of HS you get the same amount : 436000 + 10932000 + 1200000 = 12568000.
This is not the value which is reported for chapter 71 : 29639000.

Second example: The extraction of 

   Year=2006 
   Flow=2(Export) 
   Reporter=376(Israel) 
   Partner=400(Jordan) 
   Product=all products at all levels within chapter 99:

gives the following data: 

   Product=99 => value=105000 
   Product=9999 => value=23291000 
   Product=999999 => value=23291000

If you sum values at level 6 of HS you get 23291000.
If you sum values at level 4 of HS you get the same amount : 23291000.
This is not the value which is reported for chapter 99 : 105000.

A: Please note that countries often provide non-standard codes which we need to assign to so called memorandum items on the 2-digit level (to the respective HS chapter if possible or to chapter 99). This essentially means that this information is deleted from the detailed 6-digit data (from which the 4-digit data is aggregated) but maintained on the 2-digit level. In order to allow the detailed data to sum up to the overall total we create item 999999=Total-(Sum of 6 digit data).

As a result you find that the detailed data for chapters 01-97 is not necessarily adding up to the total of individual chapters (whenever there are non-standard codes) while chapter 99=<999999. For SITC data, this is what is essentially happening at least for the most recent data: Any recently published SITC data is based on a data conversion of the detailed HS data provided by the country. In this conversion on the detailed level the issue of memorandum items plays no rule. Yet, for the SITC data there is the issue that not all HS sub-headings are converted to the most detailed level of SITC because of the lack of correspondence. Hence, some 3-digit groups might not have any or only partial 4-digit data. The 4 digit level add the difference to code 9310.

Related Question:

Q: Why are quantity units not given at higher levels?
A: Weight or other quantity figures are not given at the higher levels of the classification tree because it would contain too many estimates. The quantity information is given at the 3-, 4- and 5-digit level of the SITC classification. To obtain quantity information at the 2-digit level of the SITC classification, you would need yourself to extract the 3-digit information and aggregate it, adding estimates where necessary.



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Last Modified:Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Last Modified By: comtrade_admin
Type: INFO
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