Skip to content
UN Comtrade Help Center

UN Comtrade Help Center

  • UN Comtrade website

Getting Started

  • Welcome to UN Comtrade
  • Read Me First (Disclaimer)
  • Use Cases
  • How to Access UN Comtrade data?
  • Subscription Plans
  • UN Comtrade Data Processing and Dissemination Pipeline
  • Policy on use and re-dissemination
  • Premium Subscribers
  • How to create an account
  • Acquiring API Subscription Keys
  • Who do we contact for support?
  • Can I book a demo of the UN Comtrade platform?

FAQ

  • Policy on use and re-dissemination
  • FAQs on Use and Re-dissemination
  • List of References & Parameter Codes
  • Exports from one country may not always align perfectly with the imports of its trading partners.
  • Bilateral asymmetries
  • Issues with UN Comtrade Website?
  • Annual totals vs sum of monthly data
  • Can I book a demo of the UN Comtrade platform?
  • Why are some converted datasets not accessible in the UI?
  • What is “SITC LTS”?
  • Why does the commodity description for some HS codes differ slightly from the official WCO version?
  • Trade valuation
  • How to Access UN Comtrade data?
  • Mode of Transport and Trade Routes
  • Does UN Comtrade provide buyer/supplier-level data?
  • How should I interpret and use quantity data in UN Comtrade?
  • What is bulk file download?
  • How do I use wildcards to query data?
  • How to use UN Comtrade via World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS)
  • What are the data sources for UN Comtrade?
  • Which new data items have been added to UN Comtrade datasets?
  • How to retrieve data for “World” exports to a country in UN Comtrade?
  • What is data preview?
  • What is data delivery?
  • Conversion factors and current/constant value
  • Supplementary Quantity Units
  • Are 6-digit commodity codes included in 4-digit commodity codes or are they separate?
  • Reported and Converted Data: Commodity Conversion Issues
  • Premium Trial Subscription
  • Who do we contact for support?
  • Showcases in Visualization Labs

Premium

  • Premium Subscribers
  • UN Comtrade Tools
  • Menu: Bulk Files

Metadata

  • Seaborne Trade Estimates – Archive
  • Country nomenclature and groupings
  • Historical Data 1900-1960 on IMTS
  • Correlation between ISIC and SITC codes (or Commodity and Industry)
  • Conversion factors and current/constant value
  • Which new data items have been added to UN Comtrade datasets?
  • What are the data sources for UN Comtrade?
  • Supplementary Quantity Units
  • Reporters and Partners
  • Taiwan, Province of China Trade Data
  • Data Conversion
  • Intermediate Goods in Trade Statistics
  • HS 2017 code 3002.19 and HS 2022 code 3822.19
  • HS 2007 code 2916.36
  • Monetary and Non-Monetary Gold in Trade Classifications (SITC, HS)
  • Areas not elsewhere specified
  • Why are China’s re-imports so high?
  • Second Partner Country
  • UN Comtrade and UNData
  • Tariffline product code description
  • Shuttle Trade
  • Trade with itself
  • Reporter country codes and their custom areas
  • Reported and Converted Data: Commodity Conversion Issues
  • Quantity unit information in detailed level data
  • Data Confidentiality in UN Comtrade
  • EU in UN Comtrade
  • Definition of luxury goods
  • Exports from one country may not always align perfectly with the imports of its trading partners.
  • Changes in trade reporting practices of countries with colonies
  • Reporting Period – Calendar Year
  • Measurement of iron trade, specifically in used cars
  • Leasing of aircraft – financial leasing
  • Hong Kong trade with China
  • Historical data on International Merchandise Trade Statistics (1900-1960)
  • Free Zones and Bunkers
  • Food provided on airlines – Transportation Services
  • Country Codes
  • China: Data availability before 1984
  • Italy: Change in Statistical Territory

Definitions

  • Trade valuation
  • Bilateral asymmetries
  • Special Trade System
  • Modes of Supply
  • Economic Territory and Statistical Territory
  • Distinction between Exports and Re-exports / Imports and Re-imports

Do more

  • UN Comtrade Tools
  • Developer tools for UN Comtrade Data

User Guide

  • How to create an account
  • Home page
  • Menu: Data
  • Menu: Data Availability
  • Menu: Bulk Files
  • Menu: Metadata
  • UN Comtrade Tools
  • UN Comtrade API
  • Showcases in Visualization Labs
  • Premium Trial Subscription
  • What is data preview?
  • What is data delivery?
  • What is tariffline data?
  • How to query data
  • How do I use wildcards to query data?
  • Downloading all data by period
  • How to use UN Comtrade via World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS)

Methodology and Manuals

  • Concepts and definitions of International Merchandise Trade Statistics
  • Concepts and definitions of Statistics of International Trade in Services
  • UN Comtrade Data Processing and Dissemination Pipeline
  • Compilation Methodology
  • Historical Data 1900-1960 on IMTS
  • IMTS Publication List
  • HS, SITC, BEC conversion and correspondence tables
  • Quantity and Weight Data in UN Comtrade

Trade in Services

  • Negative values in trade in services
  • Modes of Supply
  • EBOPS 2002: Extended Balance of Payments Services Classification
View Categories
  • Home
  • Docs
  • User Guide
  • How to query data

How to query data

4 min read

The Data menu links all types of data available in the UN Comtrade database. Each link directs the user to the standard query page for the selected type of data.

The query page maintains a consistent structure across various data pages, ensuring a standardized approach to data retrieval.

Querying Data #

Standard Query Page: For illustration purposes, see the example below for Trade Data:

Query parameters: Each query parameter features a drill-down list that allows users to select and submit either single or multiple values for their queries. Additionally, users can enter a search term, and the drill-down list will provide matching values based on the input text or string.

For the query parameter “Periods,” users can expand the list by clicking the chevron or expansion symbol on the right. This action reveals additional values for the parameter, allowing users to scroll through and select one or more options by clicking on the available values.

Additionally, users can manually input search text into the query field. The drill-down functionality will then retrieve matches based on this entered text.

The maximum number of periods that you can submit is 12.

Parameter value “ALL” #

The parameter value ALL is available under the reporter, partner, 2nd partner, trade flows, modes of transport, and customs codes criteria. Passing ALL will return all individual values under the data item. For partners and 2nd partners, passing ALL will return all individual partners and the WORLD aggregate.

Parameter value “WORLD” as partner and 2nd partner #

Passing WORLD as a partner and 2nd partner returns the world the aggregate value. “World” as a partner is the same as the sum of individual partners.


Saving Parameters and Searches #

As a standard feature, users can save full queries and their parameters for future use. This is particularly useful for those who frequently retrieve data using the same parameters. This functionality is available at both the parameter (field) level and the query level. Note: To enable aggregation for specific parameters, you must select those parameters in the “Aggregate By” option.

Saving Parameters #

You must be logged in to save your parameters. Once you have defined a list or group, click the Save Group icon to the right of each parameter field. This will save the current values selected in the parameter field.

In this example, ASEAN member countries were selected as trade partners. The user clicks on the Save Group icon.

A window will pop up and ask the user to provide a search name. A user provides “ASEAN Partners.” The user clicks on “Submit,” and the partner grouping is saved.

The saved partner group will now appear under the Partners query field and be available for future queries.


Saving Queries / Searches #

A window will pop up and ask the user to provide a search name. A user provides the search name, “USA Imports From ASEAN.” The user clicks on “Submit,” and the query is saved

First, construct your query by selecting a value for each parameter to save your full query. Click on the Save Query icon on the bottom right.

Saved parameters and queries can be found under your My Comtrade profile.


Query Options #

In addition to specifying selection criteria, the system offers two options for querying: 

  • Breakdown Mode

Accepted values: Plus or Classic. The Plus enables the breakdown of new data items in Comtrade+ notably detailed trade flow, mode of transport, customs procedure codes, and the 2nd partner (when reported by countries). Whereas the Classic, the selection criteria are automatically set to the following values: trade flows to exports, imports, re-imports, and re-exports), mode of transport to total, customs procedure codes to total, and the 2nd partner to World. The classic mode returns the same dataset as the legacy Comtrade.

  • Aggregate By

Accepted values: None, or any combinations of Commodity Code, Period, Reporter, Partner, 2nd Partner, Mode of Transports and Customs Procedure Codes. If the Aggregate By is active, then the trade values, netweight and gross weight will be aggregated along the selected combination. For example, the following selection will return four records because all reporters will be aggregated into single code.

And by adding the Period in the Aggregate By, the query will return two records.


Viewing and saving query results #

Users can choose Preview, Download, or Deliver options to receive the requested data. See the table below for the differences.

Data Extraction ModeDescriptionAccess
PreviewThe data will be shown on screen and be limited to 500 records (regardless of the actual results)Public (no-registration)
DownloadThe data will be downloaded directly and limited to 100K and 250K records for registered users and subscribers, respectivelyRegistration required
DeliverThe data will be prepared in the background, and the link will be sent to the email. The data is limited to 2.5M recordsSubscription required

Share This Article :
  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
What is tariffline data?How do I use wildcards to query data?
Table of Contents
  • Querying Data
    • Parameter value "ALL"
    • Parameter value "WORLD" as partner and 2nd partner
  • Saving Parameters and Searches
    • Saving Parameters
    • Saving Queries / Searches
  • Query Options
  • Viewing and saving query results
© 2025 UN Comtrade Help Center • Built with GeneratePress