| Version | Revision 4 |
| Valid from | 2003 |
| Previous versions | BEC (1971)
BEC Rev.1 (1976)
BEC Rev.2 (1986)
BEC Rev.3 (1988) |
| Description | The purpose of the classification is to analyze international trade statistics by large economic classes of commodities, distinguishing food, industrial supplies, capital equipment, consumer durables and consumer non-durables in order to supplement the summary data already compiled on the basis of the sections of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC).
The BEC was developed in such a way as to provide elements which enable the construction of aggregates approximately comparable to those for the three basic classes of goods in the 1968 SNA. A number of sub-categories were established to supplement these main categories. The sub-categories reflect the various end-uses of commodities. |
| Maintenance organization | United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) |
| Statistical domains | 2.1 Macroeconomic statistics, 2.6 International trade and balance of payments, 3.4 Yearbooks and similar compendia, 4.2 Classifications |
| Type of standard | Classifications |
| Reference | http://unstats.un.org/unsd/trade/BEC%20Classification.htm |
| http://unstats.un.org/unsd/cr/registry/regcst.asp?Cl=10 |
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| Languages | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish |
| Information last updated | 09/09/11 |