International Merchandise Trade Data by Commodity Classification

Question

In the process of providing datasets from this source to a graduate student, we discovered what appears to be an anomaly  with the import file for 2004. This file is much smaller (at 13MG) than its equivalents for all other years (over 50 MG in general). The data is missing for all merchandises with an HS10 code above 4707300090 (part of 4707300090 is also missing). The files on FTP server and on the DLI Web server seem to be identical in that respect.

Is there any reason for that or is just a deficient file? More importantly, can the complete import data be obtained for 2004?

Answer


The author division has agreed to rerun the 2004 import file and provide the DLI with a corrected copy. As soon as the corrected version is available on our site I will send out an announcement.

Annual data for Automobile/Auto Parts Exports and Imports

Question

A student here is hoping to get data back to 1961 for Canada - United States trade in automobiles and auto parts (North American Industrial
Classification System codes 3361 through 3363). He would like annual data for these.

We can go back to 1980 with the World Trade Database - it uses the Standard International Trade Classification codes: the student is going to try to
identify the codes comparable to the NAICS.

Any ideas on earlier data? If someone had happened to digitize the back issues of Canadian international merchandise trade, (and they all have what the earliest electronic copy does) I think the student's life would be made much easier.

Answer

You may want to have a look at the trade data available through the UNs Comtrade database (http://comtrade.un.org/db/default.aspx). Comtrade has commodity based trade data for a number of reporting countries, including Canada, and some of their data goes back to 1962. The trade data won't be industry based however, it will be commodity based. Some helpful Comtrade user guides are available on the right side of Comtrade's home page (http://comtrade.un.org/db/default.aspx) and on the Basic Query Screen (http://comtrade.un.org/db/dqBasicQuery.aspx).

After checking with the International Trade Division, they stated that: "On a cost-recovery basis, we could produce automobile data by SEG (Summary Export Goods) (1966 to present) but it's not necessarily limited to manufacturing and it could become extremely costly. For your information, here are the SEG codes that cover the automobile industry:
51110 Passenger automobiles and chassis
51120 Trucks, truck tractors and chassis
51131 Other motor vehicles
51132 Motor vehicle engines and parts
51139 Motor vehicle parts, except engines".

They also told me that we started using NAICS in 1992 and that we had SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) prior to that. They mentioned that Industry Canada's Trade Data Online (http://www.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrkti/tdst/engdoc/tr_homep.html) would give you NAICS based data back to 1992 but that it would be difficult for the student to find NAICS data going back further than that.

Destination port and top exporter by commodity data

Question

I have a student who wants BC forest product export data to China. She wants it broken down by type of product. I was able to help her with the Trade Analyser from CHASS, but she would like more detailed data if she can get it. What she is looking for is a breakdown by Chinese destination port as well as the top BC exporters (companies) for the different products. Does anyone have suggestions for this more detailed data?

Answer

Our International Trade Division has provided me with the following information in response to your request for export data for BC forest products.

The exporter names they have are confidential and they can not disseminate any company name and/or business number.

The information they have on ports would be for Canadian ports only and is available only as a customized tabulation (on a cost-recovery basis). None of the export documentation they capture contains the port names for the country of destination i.e., Chinese ports.

They indicated that Industry Canada's online trade data (formerly known as Strategis -
http://www.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrkti/tdst/engdoc/tr_homep.html)
would have information on exports to China originating from BC by commodity up to the 6 digit level from 1996 to present day.

The World Trade Atlas (available on this page
http://www.statcan.ca/english/Dli/Data/Ftp/cantrade.htm)
would provide you with exports to China for commodities at the HS10 level broken down by Province of Origin (BC) for the same timelines. Province of Origin is defined as the province the goods were grown, mined, or manufactured.

The International Trade Division has indicated that they would be available to provide you with assistance identifying the HS codes associated with forestry products if you need any help.

Imports / Exports by commodity

Question

The latest issue of both Imports by commodity and Exports by commodity have been released by Stats Can in the last few days. In the SC online catalogue "Information for libraries" says that the Export by commodity CD-Rom is available to DLI.

On the other hand, Imports by commodity is apparently not available to DLI.

Are both these statements correct? If so, why can we get Exports but not Imports?

Answer

I just received an e-mail from Tony Moren explaining that there was an error in the DLI yes/no flags in the catalogue. According to Tony, the product flag should state DSP-yes, DLI -no.

Both imports and exports products will be made available through the DSP program.