Trade Statistics Branch
Newsletter
   
International Merchandise Trade Statistics
  Methodology IMTS
UNSD-OECD Joint System
UN Comtrade
International cooperation and workshops
Workshop, Addis Ababa 2004
  Workshop, Abuja 2005
     
Statistics of International Trade in Services
  Methodology SITS
  UN Service Trade
  Task Force on SITS
    Calendar of Events
    Newsletter of Task Force
  International cooperation and workshops
  Workshop, Panama City 2005
   
Distributive Trade Services
  Methodology DTS
  International cooperation and workshops
  Expert Group on DTS
 
ST/ESA/STAT/IMTS/NCRP, Rev.2/WWW Date of release: 7 April 2003

International Merchandise Trade Statistics
National Compilation and Reporting Practices 


The purpose of this site is to make available information on national compilation and reporting practices in international merchandise trade statistics. The information contained on the site was initially obtained as a result of a survey conducted between 1992 and 1995 by the International Trade Statistics Branch of the United Nations Statistics Division, and is periodically updated.

A series of 156 questions was sent to countries asking them what they include in trade statistics (e.g., postal items, products mined from the seabed), which trade system they use (general, special), which classification system they use (e.g., SITC, HS), what sources they use (e.g., customs declarations), how quickly they report their data, and so on. For 52 of the 156 questions there is a UN recommendation on what countries should do (see: International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Concepts and Definitions, United Nations publications, Sales number: 98.XVII.16). The data included here covers 148 countries.

Searches can be made by country or by question.
  • A search by country produces a series of tables showing (by question) what the international merchandise trade statistics practices are.
  • A summary statement at the beginning of each table indicates the number of answers which comply with UN recommendations.
  • A click on a given question number transfers the user to a second set of tables providing lists of countries by type of answer.
  • A note at the top of each of these tables indicates whether there is a UN recommendation for the question and, if so, tells what it is.
  • A search by question provides a full list of questions included in the survey, and users may click on any question number to be transferred to the tables which show countries grouped by type of answer.