1. LIBRARY CATALOG
  2. DATABASES
  3. JOURNAL FINDER
  4. SUBJECT GUIDES
  5. LIBRARY SERVICES

The University Libraries

MKT 426: International Marketing

Feb. 18 Trade Data Workshop (PC-TAS)

Other Export Odyssey research topics:

  1. Finding host companies (ReferenceUSA, etc.)
  2. Financial ratios for your host company (Duns, RMA)
  3. Industy in the US (IBIS, etc.)
  4. Articles & market research
  5. Country research for business & marketing (EIU, etc.)
  6. Trade tariffs, duty rates, & barriers
  7. Customers & competitors
  8. U.S. trade flows for your Executive Summary (U.S. ITC)
  9. APA citations for business databases

Steve Cramer
Business Librarian
smcramer@uncg.edu
336-256-0346
AIM: stevebizlib

globe


trade data searchingTrade Data Workshop:

  1. Introduction to commodity codes
    1. Harmonized
    2. SIC (industry codes)
    3. NAICS (industry codes)
    4. Cross classification table
  2. The two types of trade data
  3. PC-TAS (trade data cd-rom)
    1. Description
    2. How to access it
    3. Flash demos
    4. Basic steps to create a search
  4. Comtrade (for the latest data)

 1. Introduction to Commodity Codes

 Introduction

It's vital to have the proper commodity codes
before retrieving trade data! 
Take your time with this.

For details, see my Trade Data guide.

 a. Harmonized System (HS)

HS Export Codes ("Schedule B"): browse, search, or download codes

Examples of HS codes:

61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted
6103 Men's or boys' suits, ensembles, suit-type jackets....knitted or crocheted
610319 Of other textile materials
61031920 Of cotton
6103192010 Jackets imported as parts of suits

 b. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
Search or browse the online SIC Manual (industry descriptions are provided.)

Examples of SIC codes:

23 Apparel made from fabrics and similar materials
232 Men's and boys' furnishings, work clothing, and allied garments
2325 Men's and boy's separate trousers and slacks

 c. North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS)

NAICS Search and Tables

Examples of NAICS codes:

51 Information
513 Broadcasting and Telecommunications
5133 Telecommunications
51332 Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
513322 Cell phones and cell phone service

 d. Cross-Classification Table

HS to SITC and SIC cross-classification table

 2. The Two Types of Trade Data

 Summary Global Trade (country to world)

The total exports of a commodity from one country to the rest of the world, OR total imports of a commodity from the rest of the world to one country. 

Examples: 

  • how much cotton the U.S. exports to all other countries.
  • how much crude oil the U.S. imports from all other countries.

United States Exports 2001-2006

Product: HS 52 - COTTON; in US$ '000
Reporter 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
USA,PR,USVI 2,798,533 2,765,349 2,615,981 1,040,959 1,947,245 2,217,379

 Bilateral Global Trade (country to country)

Trade between two countries (sometimes called trading partners), or between one country and a country group. 

Examples:

  • how much cotton the U.S. exports to Mexico.
  • how much crude oil the U.S. imports from South America.

HTS - 52: COTTON, INCLUDING YARNS AND WOVEN FABRICS THEREOF
FAS Value by HTS Number and FAS Value, For Mexico, 

U.S. Total Exports

HTS Number Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Percent Change
2004 - 2005
In 1,000 Dollars
52 Mexico 466,715 598,627 937,510 991,839 1,453,447 1,226,894 -15.6%

The Trade Data guide lists databases available for each type of trade data.


 3. How to Use PC-TAS CD-ROM

You'll use this for your split-share analysis.

a. Description

  • Provides summary and bilateral global trade data, covering over 125 countries.
  • Supports up to 6-digit HS codes.
  • Covers 2001-2005.
  • Data can be exported into a spreadsheet and presented as graphs.
  • The data is from the COMTRADE database of the United Nations Statistics Division.
  • Detailed user's guide

b. How to access PC-TAS 

United Nations Trade Analysis System (UN PC/TAS) is a networked CD-ROM available in IRC computer labs (including the Super Lab and the Bryan School labs).

  1. Open "All Programs"
  2. Open "TAS Personal"
  3. Select "PC-TAS HS "


c. Flash demos show me (flash demo)

  1. Searching for your summary global trade data (523K)
  2. Searching for your bilateral trade data (526K)

d. Basic steps to to create a search

  1. From the View menu, choose Screening.
  2. Click the button labeled Product.
  3. In the box labeled Codes beginning with, type the HS code.
  4. Click the List button (in the upper-right area of the window).
  5. Click on the product code to select it.
  6. Click the button labeled Copy (in the middle of the window).
  7. Click the button labeled Done (in the lower-right area of the window).
  8. Click the button labeled Reporter (in the upper-left area of the window).
  9. Select the country(s) or country group(s) you need. CTRL-click to select more than one.
  10. Click the button labeled Done  
  11. Click the button labeled Partner Country (in the upper-left area of the window).
  12. Select the country(s) or country group(s) you need. CTRL-click to select more than one.
  13. Click the button labeled Done
  14. Choose "Import" or "Export".
  15. Click the button labeled Run (in the upper-right area of the window) to display the data
  16. To export the data into Excel, select the View menu, and then Export.
  17. To display graphs of the data, select the View menu, and then Graph.

4. Comtrade (use if you need the most recent data)

This is the web-version of the PC-TAS CD-ROM.

Description 

  • From the United Nations, the main source of world trade data.
  • Covers 1962-near present
  • Uses up to 5-digit SITC codes, and 6-digit harmonized codes.
  • Data can be downloaded into Excel.

Searching Comtrade

1. You can also get to Comtrade from the library database lists.
2. Select the "Basic Selection" option from "Data Query."

Comtrade basic selection

3. Select HS2002 as the classification. Also select the proper classification under the "Commodities" tab before you search for a code.

Comtrade: basics

4. To select a commodity code, follow these steps:

Comtrade: adding your code

5. As you go through the tabs, don't forget to "Add" each selection.

6. To select more than one country or year from the menus, use Ctrl-click (hold down the Ctrl key with you click with mouse). Use Shift-click to select a range of countries or years.

7. Finally, select "Submit Query" to run the search. 

Comtrade: submit

Working with the Results

1. The results are sorted alphabetically by country name. Change the sort to trade value, and select "Refresh".

Comtrade: sorting

2. Notice these options to download to a spreadsheet and create graphs.

Comtrade: graphs and downloads

Steve Cramer
Business Librarian