United Nations Commodity Trade
Statistics Database
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Overview
Database System
– Collection and
Processing
– Management of Usage
and Data
– Dissemination
• Key elements
• Key features
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Collection and Processing
Joint UN/OECD Data Collection
and Processing System (COPRA)
– Joint collection = Reduced response burden
– Joint standards = Increased Quality
– Joint processing = Full harmonization of data
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Management Dashboard
• Daily Usage Statistics
– Who are the Users?
– What is their interest?
• Performance of System
• Information on collection
and processing
Daily Download in
millions of records
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
UN Comtrade
HOME PAGE
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Dissemination database
•
•
•
•
•
•
Imports, Exports, Re-exports, Re-imports
Commodity by Trading Partner
Annual data
Value in US dollars
Net weight and secondary quantities
Over 150 reporters per year (>95% of the World Trade)
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Key elements
• Classifications and
Commodity Codes
– Harmonized System
– SITC
• Reporter country
• Partner country
• Trade Flow
• Year
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Data Selection
•
•
•
•
•
•
Frankfurt
October 2006
Shortcut Query
Basic Selection
Express Selection
Comtrade Explorer
Data Search
Via Data Availability
United Nations Statistics Division
Express Selection
Text sensitive search of
commodities and countries
• Auto convert from text to code
• More features than Basic Selection
• Expert User
Possibility to execute
data requests off-line
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
EXAMPLE
Comtrade Explorer
•
•
•
•
“Google like” search
Data results in table and graph
Modification in Basic or Express Selection
For data mining and overviews
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
EXAMPLE
Summary of data request
EXAMPLE
View Map
Germany =
main exporter of cars
over the last 4 years
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Map shows World Exports of
motor vehicles :
Germany and Japan are leaders
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Data Availability
•
•
•
•
•
•
Frankfurt
October 2006
Interactive
In Graph
Reporters
Commodities
Years
By Date of Loading RSS
United Nations Statistics Division
Data Availability by Reporter
• Click to get all data
• Drill down possibility
• Modify with Express Selection
EXAMPLE
Commodity
Classification
Years available
Iceland =
Reporting Country
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Data Availability by Year
•
•
•
•
Overview per year and classification
Click to get all data
Drill down possibility
Modify with Express Selection
Classification =
HS-2002
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
EXAMPLE
All the Reporters
available for
Year = 2005
For Subscribers,
not for Guest User
Data Download
• Direct Download
– Max. 150,000 records to CSV output file
– Instant extraction. Uncompressed file.
• Batch Download
– Max. 20,000,000 records to CSV output file
– Background extraction. Compressed file
– Notification of completion via e-mail.
• Output format can be customized
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Personalization
•
•
•
•
•
•
Favorites
Saved Queries
FrontPage
Download Format
Automated Data Extraction
E-mail alerts
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
For Subscribers,
not for Guest User
Favorites
• Country Groups (as reporter
or partner)
• Commodity Groups
Commodities
• Reporters
• Partners
• Years
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Metadata & Reference
• Commodity List
– HS, SITC, Data Availability and
Snapshot
• Countries List
– Data Availability, Snapshot,
National Practices and ITC Country
Profile
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
Knowledge Base
• HOW TO
– Manuals and examples on use of all
functions
• FAQ
– Explanation of terminology and codes;
Interpretation of data
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
UN Comtrade
Support Information
Frequently Asked
Questions
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division
UN Comtrade Summary
• Over 1 Billion merchandise trade data
• Coverage of reporting countries not
available anywhere else
• Data extraction and Data mining
• Personalization of your requirements
• Comprehensive Help and Support in
Knowledge Base
Frankfurt
October 2006
United Nations Statistics Division