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Supplementary Quantity Units

1 min read

IMTS 2010 recommendations regarding units of quantity. IMTS 2010 (para. 5.5) recommends that countries collect or estimate, validate and report quantity information in the WCO standard units of quantity and in net weight[1] on all trade transactions.[2]

In addition to net weight (kg), all detailed UN Comtrade data also have supplementary quantity units. These units of measurement are based on the standards of quantity recommended by the World Customs Organization (WCO):

UN Comtrade CodeWCO AbbreviationDescription
1–No quantity
2m2Area in square meters
31000 kWhElectrical energy in thousands of kilowatt-hours
4mLength in meters
5uNumber of items
62uNumber of pairs
7lVolume in liters
8kgWeight in kilograms
91000uThousand of items
10U (jeu/pack)Number of packages
1112uDozen of items
12m3Volume in cubic meters
13caratWeight in carats

[1] Information on net weight is useful for economic analysis, such as the calculation of unit values. To the extent that gross weights (including packaging) are also desired by a country, they should be collected directly. However, given that collection of gross weight data presents difficulties in many countries, countries may wish to obtain gross weights from net weights through sampling and estimation.

[2] A few exceptions may be noted: e.g., net weight does not apply to HS subheading 271600 “Electrical energy”.

Please see: A. An overview of the World Customs Organization standard units of quantity

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Conversion factors and current/constant valueAre 6-digit commodity codes included in 4-digit commodity codes or are they separate?
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