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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
  • FAQ
  • Premium Trial Subscription

Premium Trial Subscription

3 min read

Explore the UN Comtrade database—it’s accessible for free, and no subscription is required. However, registering for a free and basic individual UN Comtrade account is necessary to access more features. Sign up using your email address at https://comtrade.un.org

Registered users with a free and basic individual account seeking more extensive data or considering a paid subscription may apply for a trial subscription. A UN Comtrade premium trial subscription allows them to assess its features without cost or commitment.  It is intended to showcase the enhanced capabilities of our premium service and allow users to make an informed decision before purchasing a premium subscription.   Trial accounts offer the same features as premium subscriptions, such as an intuitive interface, customization options, and download capabilities, albeit with a restricted daily usage quota. In addition, trial accounts have access to the bulk download feature but are limited to a set of pre-defined bulk files. It gives the user an idea of how the bulk download facility would work if they had a premium subscription. The trial does not provide access to all bulk data files.

To qualify for the trial, users must have previously engaged with the fundamental functionalities offered within UN Comtrade through the free and Basic Individual account. Consequently, users can request a trial subscription only after 15 days of creating their account. This initial duration allows users sufficient time to familiarize themselves with UN Comtrade features and may lead them to discover that the Basic Individual account (free) adequately meets their requirements.

  1. Login to your account at UN Comtrade.
  2. Under your My Comtrade Free menu, select Premium Trial Request.

Trial subscriptions have access to the UN Comtrade API with a limited daily quota.  

UN Comtrade Premium API Trial (subscription key required)

  • Limited set of bulk data files
  • Limited API calls with results up to 250k records per call
  • Limited API calls using Async/Deliver option

Once your trial account request has been approved and established, trial users can request a subscription key separately through the UN Comtrade Developer portal. To obtain a subscription key, please see steps below:

  1. Visit the UN Comtrade Developer Portal at https://comtradedeveloper.un.org. Use your UN Comtrade account (registered email address in UN Comtrade) to sign in.
  2. Browse through the products page: https://comtradedeveloper.un.org/products.
  3. Select and click on the product: Premium Trial APIs
  4. In the next screen, provide a subscription name and click Subscribe.
  5. After clicking “Subscribe,” the state would change to “Submitted.” You will receive a notification at your registered email confirming your request for a subscription key. Please give us one (1) business day to issue the subscription key.
  6. Once subscription keys are issued, the status of your request will change to “Active.” The keys will be available under your user profile: https://comtradedeveloper.un.org/profile. Click on the ‘Show’ link for the primary key, and your subscription key will be shown.
  7. Please review the API documentation for information on constructing your API requests and exploring the available data fields.
  8. Begin using your API key to place requests and access the data you require.
  9. You are invited to explore Developer tools for UN Comtrade provided “as-is” by the community:
    • UN Comtrade API Python Package For API examples at Github ComtradeAPICall.  
    • ComtradeR

The trial subscription is strictly for 15 business days.  To purchase a subscription, please visit https://shop.un.org/databases or email subscriptions@un.org.

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