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INTERNATIONAL TRADE: STATISTICS


The sites discussed in this guide are exclusively or primarily concerned with international trade statistics. Links to sites for trade statistics may also be included as a component of comprehensive sites which deal with international business or international trade. All sites discussed here are free-of-charge.


Foreign Trade Statistics

•  Maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division (FTD)
•  Issues monthly statistical report on U.S. trade
•   “Statistics” links to data for current trade information, including trade by commodity/product, export data by state, balance of trade by country, top trading partners, historical data on trade (1960 through the present)
•  Provides information regarding FTD’s events, programs, news, export regulation forms, FAQs
•  The best official source for the most recent U.S. trade statistics and related news


globalEDGE: Resource Desk: Research: Statistical Data Sources

•  Created and maintained by the University of Michigan State University Center for International Business & Research (MSU-CIBER), globalEDGE is one of the most outstanding resources for international business and trade
•  Links to 61 sites concerned with facets of statistical data for international business which impact on trade directly or indirectly (demographics, development, energy, labor, etc.); includes links to the IMF, OECD, UNCTAD, World Bank, additional regional/international sites
•  Links to 116 official statistical agencies/offices for 98 countries (includes 14 sites for the U.S.)
•  Some sites provide retrospective coverage of trade statistics
•  Excellent annotations accompany each link; sites are also rated for usability/content
•  Outstanding; with over 170 sites, this page is one of the best places to research international trade statistical data, because of the depth of its offerings and its excellent annotations


International Business Statistics

•  Maintained by the Cole Library, Rensselaer at Hartford
•  A directory of Internet, database and print resources for conducting research on international business statistical data, much of which is concerned with trade statistics
•  Categories examined include exchange rates, import/export statistics, balance of payments, competitiveness indicators, international stock market indices
•  Print sources cited may be found in academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Databases included on this page are restricted to the Rensselaer at Hartford academic community; they may be found in academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Annotations accompany most citations/links
•  Last revised June 2006
•  Links to other Cole Library subject guides for other business topics
•  Outstanding; comprehensive in scope, well-structured in its organization, and inclusive of many of the best websites and print resources currently available


International Trade Statistics

•  Maintained by Shmuel Ben-Gad for the Gelman Library, George Washington University
•  Guide to the print, web and database resources of the library
•  Print resources include federal reports, UN publications, region-specific handbooks, statistical yearbooks, journals; these may be found in many academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Links to Internet sites for federal agencies, international agencies, professional associations/organizations
•  Databases are restricted to the George Washington University community; they may be found in many academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Annotations accompany most links
•  Excellent; not extensive but it does an admirable job covering “the basics;” great place to begin research


International Trade Statistics (ITS)

•  Maintained by the World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic and Statistics Division
•   “Comprehensive, comparable and up-to-date statistics on trade in merchandise and commercial services for an assessment of world trade flows by country, region and main product groups or service categories”
•  Utilizes 250 tables/charts to provide analysis for the following categories: “leading traders,” trade by region, trade by sector/product, “long-term trends”
•  Annual ITS reports archived from 1998 to the present
•  Entire 2005 report (274 pp.) may be downloaded in its entirety or by chapter
•  Outstanding; one of the best resources online for detailed global trade statistics from the pre-eminent international trade organization


International Trade Statistics: A Selected Guide to Resources

•  Maintained by Bobray Bordelon, Pliny Fisk Library of Economics & Finance, Princeton University
•  Discusses Internet and print resources for the following categories: trade classification schedules, trade data in electronic format, major international trade surveys, U.S. trade surveys, additional statistical resources
•  Print resources should be available in many academic libraries or large public libraries
•  Annotations accompany most citations/links
•  Outstanding; one of the best academic library guides for trade statistical data; trade surveys are especially useful


Statistical Resources on the Web: Foreign Trade

•  Maintained by Grace York for the University of Michigan Documents Center (UMDC)
•  Links to international trade statistical sites for the following: classification systems, foreign investment, guide to foreign trade statistics, government sites, regulations, NAFTA, U.S. trading partner data
•  Excellent annotations accompany most links
•  Outstanding; like all UMDC pages, this site is one of the best of its kind for clarity, comprehensiveness, and navigability


Trade and Economic Statistics

•  Part of the Federation of International Trade Association (FITA)’s “Really Useful Links”
•  Links to 30 “gateways” to international economics/trade resources from “think tanks,” academic research centers, international organizations
•  Also links to region-specific and country-specific trade/economic resources (including an excellent section on the U.S.)
•  Annotations accompany each link
•  Overwhelming majority of sites (but not all) are free-of- charge
•  Outstanding; a great place to begin research, covering most of the essential sites; easy-to-navigate


UNCTAD Statistics

•  Maintained by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UCTAD)
•   “Releases statistics that are relevant for the analysis of international trade, foreign direct investment and commodities”
•   “Based on existing national and international data sources”
•  Produces the “UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics,” an annual compendium of trade data and analysis; may be downloaded in its entirety (2005 edition is 485pp) or by chapter
•  Provides “Statistical Databases” for a variety of international business/economic/trade issues, including “International Trade” (which has an emphasis on developing countries’ trade issues)
•  Includes information on UCTAD’s initiatives, programs, publications and resources
•  Also available in French and Spanish
•  Outstanding; this is the UN’s primary statistical resource for international trade; a tremendous resource for a wealth of statistics on the international economy and its trade manifestations


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh, 9/04; updated 8/07

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