New York,
30 April 2013
According to the data available in UN Monthly Comtrade (beta version), world trade in January 2013 showed a year-on-year increase of 4 percent as measured by total exports, and of 3.4 percent as measured by total imports, based on an estimated coverage of 64.7 percent of world trade. In December 2012, world trade showed a year-on-year decrease of 1.6 percent as measured by total exports, and of 1.3 percent as measured by total imports, based on an estimated coverage of 66.4 percent of world trade. Data for February 2013 have been already included for multiple countries.
These figures reflect the development of trade in the countries that provided their data up to 24 April 2013 and whose data were processed and uploaded. For further information on data availability by country, please refer to the full table below on total exports and imports containing year-on-year growth rates for all countries for which these can be calculated (meaning data for the months of both the current and previous years are available). The next release of updated data is planned for the end of May.
The data made available on UN Monthly Comtrade (beta version) have been provided by countries (or areas) or downloaded from their official websites. The data are provided as is, except for the required standardization of trade flow and partner information, as well as conversion to U.S. dollars. Hence, responsibility for the data themselves rests with the data source/provider and users are advised to visit the website of the data providers for further information and metadata. The United Nations Statistics Division/Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNSD/DESA) does not guarantee or make any express or implied representations regarding the accuracy, reliability, correctness, fitness for use for a particular purpose, or otherwise, whatsoever, of any data in UN Monthly Comtrade (beta version).
UN Monthly Comtrade (beta version) is the first release of a monthly international merchandise trade statistics processing and dissemination system, developed by UNSD/DESA. As such, UNSD/DESA welcomes reports from users of any issues they may find, as well as any suggestions regarding additional features that should be available in the final version (please send your feedback to comtrade@un.org). However, UNSD/DESA cannot provide any guarantees for the ongoing or reliable operation of the current beta version. While some improvements will be implemented on an ongoing basis, a full version of a data processing and dissemination system for monthly merchandise trade data will only be implemented as part of the upgrade of the entire UN Comtrade system, which is scheduled to be completed by 2013/2014.
The designations employed and the presentation of material on UN Monthly Comtrade do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitations of its frontiers or boundaries. Where the designation “country or area” appears on this internet site, it covers countries, territories or areas.
Under no circumstances shall the United Nations be liable for the use of this website. Its usage implies the recognition and acceptance of the limitations specified in this disclaimer and in the disclaimer for UN Comtrade as applicable for monthly data. Further, the usage of this website implies agreement with the UN Comtrade License Agreement.
Purpose, data source and data request, data availability. In May 2010 the United Nations Statistics Division/Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNSD/DESA) started the initiative to establish a data collection for detailed monthly merchandise trade data in order to address the need to make these data available in a standardized format at the global level
(see our initial data request). Numerous countries (and areas) responded positively to this initiative and started to provide their detailed monthly trade data to UNSD. The current data availability by country is indicated in the long version of the table on exports and imports (please note that the display of the year-on-year growth rate requires data for the months of both the current and previous years).
Methodology. All countries broadly follow the international recommendations for merchandise trade statistics as contained in International Merchandise Trade Statistics, Concepts and Definitions 2010 (IMTS2010). For further details on trade system, valuation, and partner country please refer to the
detailed metadata.
Data items and data processing. UN Monthly Comtrade (beta version) follows, compared with the annual data available on UN Comtrade, highly simplified processing procedures. Most notable, the edition of the Harmonized System is not identified anymore, only net weight is processed (but not supplementary quantity) and no data conversion into other classification takes place. The processing of monthly data entails data standardization in respect to trade flow and partner information, conversion to U.S. dollars, and basic validation.