📊 UN Comtrade Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev. 3) - Related Materials Indicators
The Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), specifically Revision 3 (SITC Rev. 3), is a classification system developed by the United Nations to categorize all goods entering international trade for statistical purposes. While the UN Comtrade database provides detailed trade data using SITC Rev. 3, there isn't one single, universally defined "Materials Indicator" used by all organizations.
Instead, the SITC structure itself allows for the aggregation of commodity trade data into broad categories, which are often used to define Primary Commodities/Materials and Manufactured Goods. These groupings serve as crucial indicators for economic analysis, reflecting a country's trade composition and stage of industrial development.
Understanding the SITC Rev. 3 Structure
SITC Rev. 3 organizes all traded merchandise into 10 main Sections (0 through 9), which are then broken down into Divisions (2-digit codes), Groups (3-digit codes), and further sub-levels. The classification groups goods based on criteria like the material used in production, the stage of processing, and the principal use of the product.
Key SITC Sections Related to Materials
The primary categories within SITC Rev. 3 that relate to Raw Materials and Goods Classified by Material are Sections 2, 3, 4, and 6.
Section 2: Crude Materials, Inedible, Except Fuels (Primary Commodities - Non-Fuel)
This section includes materials that have undergone little or no processing.
Examples: Raw hides, raw rubber, wood in the rough, pulp and waste paper, textile fibers (cotton, wool), crude minerals, and metalliferous ores/scrap.
Section 3: Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials (Primary Commodities - Fuel)
This section covers energy-related raw materials and their primary derivatives.
Examples: Coal, crude petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas.
Section 4: Animal and Vegetable Oils, Fats and Waxes (Primary Commodities)
Examples: Animal oils and fats, fixed vegetable fats and oils.
Section 6: Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material (Manufactured Goods)
This section includes goods that have undergone significant processing but are typically considered intermediate inputs or simple manufactured items based on their core material.
Examples: Leather, rubber manufactures (e.g., tires), cork and wood manufactures, paper, textile yarn/fabrics, non-metallic mineral manufactures (e.g., cement, glassware), and basic metals (e.g., iron, steel, non-ferrous metals).
Common Materials-Related Indicators Using SITC Rev. 3
Economists and international organizations (like UNCTAD and the World Bank) often create special groupings or indicators by combining specific SITC sections and divisions to better analyze trade patterns, such as the trade in primary commodities versus manufactured goods.
The following table illustrates common SITC Rev. 3 groupings used to define materials and related manufactured goods in trade analysis:
| Indicator/Group | Description | Constituent SITC Rev. 3 Sections/Divisions | Role in Trade Analysis |
| Primary Commodities (Broad) | Goods in their natural or near-natural state. | SITC Sections 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 | Indicates reliance on natural resources and the export of unprocessed/minimally processed goods. |
| Crude Materials, Inedible (Non-Fuel) | Raw materials for industry, excluding energy sources. | SITC Section 2 | Measures the trade in non-fuel inputs for industrial production. |
| Mineral Fuels & Related | Energy commodities and their direct derivatives. | SITC Section 3 | Crucial for analyzing energy security, commodity prices, and terms of trade for fuel-exporting nations. |
| Agricultural Raw Materials | Raw materials originating from the agricultural sector. | Typically SITC Divisions 21, 23, 24, 26, 29 (excluding ores, scrap, etc.) | Measures trade in materials like cotton, rubber, wood, and raw hides. |
| Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material | Goods where the principal material defines the product group. Often intermediate goods. | SITC Section 6 | Highlights trade in industrial intermediate products like textiles, paper, and basic metal products. |
| Non-Fuel Primary Commodities | Primary commodities excluding mineral fuels. | SITC Sections 0, 1, 2, 4 | Used to analyze the trade performance of non-oil-and-gas commodity exporters. |
Conclusion
The "Materials Indicator" is not a single, codified SITC Rev. 3 code but a conceptual grouping derived from the SITC framework. By aggregating data from Sections 2 (Crude Materials), 3 (Mineral Fuels), and 4 (Animal/Vegetable Oils), analysts can quantify a country's trade in primary commodities, while Section 6 (Manufactured Goods Classified by Material) provides insight into the trade of material-intensive manufactured and intermediate goods. This structural breakdown is fundamental for international trade policy and economic research.
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🌍 Leading Countries in Global Materials Production (SITC Rev. 3 Perspective)
The UN Comtrade Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 3 provides a robust framework for classifying goods in international trade, making it possible to identify which countries dominate the trade of materials.
For this analysis, "Materials" are generally grouped into three key SITC Rev. 3 Sections:
Section 2: Crude Materials, Inedible, Except Fuels (e.g., Ores, raw wood, natural rubber, textile fibers).
Section 3: Mineral Fuels, Lubricants, and Related Materials (e.g., Crude petroleum, natural gas, coal).
Section 6: Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material (e.g., Iron and steel, basic metals, paper, textiles, tires). These are materials that have undergone an initial stage of processing.
The leading countries are identified by their immense production volume and export value across these critical material categories, often reflecting their natural resource endowments and industrial capacity.
Top Global Producers and Exporters of Key Materials
While UN Comtrade focuses on trade value, production data offers a clearer picture of global material supply. The countries listed below are consistently top producers and major global suppliers across the SITC Rev. 3 material sections.
| SITC Rev. 3 Section & Grouping | Key Material Examples | Leading Global Producer/Exporter (by Volume/Value) | Primary Role/Significance |
| SITC 3: Mineral Fuels | Crude Petroleum, Natural Gas, Coal | United States (Petroleum & Gas), China (Coal), Russia, Saudi Arabia | Energy security; essential for global power generation, heating, and transportation. |
| SITC 28: Metalliferous Ores & Scrap | Iron Ore, Copper Ore, Bauxite, Nickel Ore | Australia (Iron Ore, Lithium), China (Zinc, Tin, Rare Earths), Chile (Copper) | Essential inputs for the metals industry (SITC 68/67) and high-tech applications (e.g., batteries). |
| SITC 27: Crude Minerals | Stone, Sand, Gravel, Fertilizers | China, United States, Canada (Potash) | Construction materials; key inputs for agriculture and chemical industries. |
| SITC 67/68: Basic Metals (Part of SITC 6) | Iron & Steel, Non-Ferrous Metals (Aluminum, Copper) | China (Overwhelming dominance in steel and primary aluminum production) | Backbone of infrastructure, machinery (SITC 7), and industrial manufacturing. |
| SITC 26: Textile Fibres | Cotton, Wool, Synthetic Fibres | China, India (Cotton) | Inputs for the textile and garment industry (SITC 65). |
| SITC 24: Cork and Wood | Wood in the Rough, Wood Simply Worked | Canada, Russia, Brazil | Construction, furniture, and paper/pulp production (SITC 25, 64). |
| SITC 42: Vegetable Oils | Palm Oil, Soybean Oil | Indonesia, Malaysia (Palm Oil), Brazil, Argentina (Soybean Oil) | Food processing, biofuels, and industrial uses. |
🇨🇳 The Dominance of China
The single most significant country across the SITC-defined material categories is China. Its leading position is unique because it dominates both the extraction of a diverse range of crude materials (SITC 2) and the subsequent processing into basic manufactured materials (SITC 6).
Crude Minerals (SITC 27/28): China is the undisputed global leader in the production of most rare earth elements and is a top producer of coal, zinc, and tin.
Basic Manufactured Materials (SITC 6): China accounts for over half of the world's steel and primary aluminum production (SITC 67 and 68, respectively), making it the largest source of the fundamental materials used in construction, machinery, and transport equipment globally.
🇦🇺 Commodity Powerhouses: Australia and Russia
Countries rich in natural endowments maintain top positions by concentrating on the large-scale export of primary commodities.
Australia is the world's largest producer of iron ore, bauxite, and lithium (a critical material for batteries), positioning it as a fundamental supplier to China and other industrial nations.
Russia is a global giant in Mineral Fuels (SITC 3), particularly natural gas and petroleum, and a major producer of key metals like nickel and palladium.
The Strategic Importance of Materials
The concentration of material production and trade in a few key nations highlights the strategic importance of these SITC categories. Global supply chain resilience, especially for critical minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt (which feed into high-value manufactured goods in SITC 7 - Machinery and Transport Equipment), is heavily dependent on continued, stable exports from a handful of countries.
🇨🇳🇺🇸 The Highest Consumers of Materials: A SITC Rev. 3 Perspective
In the context of the UN Comtrade Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 3, a country's consumption of materials is primarily measured by its massive import value and its total domestic utilization of those materials. The highest consumers are those nations with the largest economies, the most extensive manufacturing sectors, and the greatest demand for energy.
The key materials categories in SITC Rev. 3 that reflect national consumption are:
SITC 2: Crude Materials, Inedible, Except Fuels (raw inputs for industry).
SITC 3: Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials (energy sources).
SITC 6: Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material (intermediate processed materials).
Based on global trade patterns (imports) and domestic consumption statistics, two countries consistently emerge as the dominant consumers of materials: China and the United States.
Consumption Leaders Across Key Material Categories
| SITC Rev. 3 Category | Key Material/Product | Highest Global Consumer | Rationale for High Consumption |
| SITC 3: Mineral Fuels | Crude Petroleum, Natural Gas, Coal | United States (Highest overall oil and gas consumption) | Massive transportation sector, high domestic energy demand, and large industrial base. |
| SITC 3: Mineral Fuels | Crude Petroleum, Natural Gas, Coal | China (Second highest overall oil, highest coal consumption) | World's largest manufacturer; requires huge energy inputs for industrial output and rapid infrastructure expansion. |
| SITC 2: Crude Materials, Inedible | Metalliferous Ores (Iron, Copper), Raw Textiles, Wood | China (Highest importer of Iron Ore, Copper, etc.) | The undisputed "World's Factory," consuming vast quantities of raw materials to produce SITC 6, 7, and 8 manufactured goods for global export. |
| SITC 6: Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material | Basic Metals (Steel, Aluminum), Paper, Textiles | China (Highest domestic utilization for its export engine) | United States (High import for domestic consumption and construction) |
| SITC 7: Machinery & Transport (Downstream Consumption) | Machinery, Transport Equipment | United States & European Union (Highest consumption of final manufactured goods) | Affluent markets with high consumer demand for finished products that use SITC 2/6 materials as inputs. |
🇨🇳 China: The Engine of Industrial Consumption
China's position as the world's largest consumer of materials is directly linked to its role as the global manufacturing hub.
Raw Material Imports (SITC 2): China imports more basic materials, such as iron ore, copper, and bauxite, than any other nation. These imports fuel its immense SITC 6 sector (e.g., steel and aluminum production).
Energy Consumption (SITC 3): China is the largest global consumer of coal and one of the largest consumers of crude petroleum, necessary to power its factories and meet the energy demands of its massive population and expanding infrastructure.
🇺🇸 The United States: Consumption for Domestic Demand
The United States represents a high-consumption economy driven by affluence, a large population, and an advanced industrial sector, though its consumption profile differs from China's:
Fuels Consumption (SITC 3): Historically, the U.S. has maintained the world's highest overall consumption of petroleum and natural gas due to its massive transportation sector and high per-capita energy use.
Finished Goods Imports (SITC 6, 7, 8): While the U.S. consumes fewer crude materials (SITC 2) than China, it is the largest importer of finished and semi-finished manufactured goods (SITC 6, 7, and 8), effectively importing the materials consumed by countries like China.
Consumption and the Global Trade Deficit
The highest material consumption patterns are inextricably linked to global trade balances.
The major producers of raw materials (like Australia, Russia, Brazil) have trade surpluses with the major consuming nations.
The primary consumer economies (China as the industrial consumer and the U.S. as the final market consumer) drive the demand for global trade in SITC materials.
In summary, the title of "Highest Consumption Country" depends on the specific material category, but the United States dominates in overall energy consumption, while China is the unparalleled leader in the consumption of industrial raw (SITC 2) and intermediate (SITC 6) materials due to its manufacturing scale.
🏛️ Policy Powerhouses: Leading Countries Shaping Global Materials Trade
The Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 3 provides the data foundation for understanding global trade in materials (SITC Sections 2, 3, 4, 6), but the policies that govern this trade are set by a few key nations. These countries exert influence either through their status as overwhelming producers/exporters or as massive consumers/importers of critical materials.
A "leading country in materials policy" is one whose domestic or international actions—such as export quotas, tariffs, strategic reserves, or environmental mandates—significantly alter the global supply, demand, and prices of SITC-classified materials.
Key Countries with Dominant Materials Policy Influence
The policy leadership in materials trade is divided between countries focused on securing supply (consumers) and those focused on maximizing value or controlling supply (producers).
| Policy Role | Leading Country | SITC Rev. 3 Categories Affected | Key Policy Mechanism/Focus |
| Supply Controller (Producer) | China 🇨🇳 | SITC 27/28 (Rare Earths, Graphite, Gallium, Germanium) & SITC 67 (Steel) | Export Controls on critical minerals; massive state-backed investment in global mining and processing; anti-dumping duties to protect domestic SITC 6 industries. |
| Supply Securer (Consumer) | United States 🇺🇸 | SITC 27/28 (Critical Minerals), SITC 3 (Oil & Gas) | Strategic Mineral Initiatives (e.g., partnerships with Australia/Canada); use of Sanctions/Tariffs (Trade War/National Security); Subsidies (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act) to incentivize domestic processing and consumption. |
| Policy Bloc (Consumer/Processor) | European Union 🇪🇺 | SITC 27/28 (Critical Raw Materials), SITC 6 (Intermediate Goods) | Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) to diversify and secure supply chains; Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) affecting the import price of energy-intensive SITC 6 goods (like steel/aluminum). |
| Resource Maximizer (Producer) | Australia 🇦🇺 / Indonesia 🇮🇩 | SITC 28 (Ores) & SITC 3 (Coal, Gas) / SITC 28 (Nickel Ore) & SITC 42 (Palm Oil) | Export Taxes/Bans on raw ores (e.g., Indonesia's nickel ore ban) to force local processing and increase value-add to the SITC 6 stage before export. |
🇨🇳 China: The Policy of Supply Dominance
China's materials policy is the most globally impactful. By dominating the processing stages of materials, it wields policy power far exceeding its domestic raw production capacity in some areas.
Export Controls: China has historically used export quotas and tariffs on key materials (like rare earth elements, part of SITC 27/28) to influence global prices, secure domestic supply, and encourage foreign manufacturing to relocate to China.
Vertical Integration Mandate: Through strategic state planning and investment, China has successfully controlled the entire supply chain from raw ore to final metal (SITC 2 to SITC 6), allowing its policies to affect nearly all sectors of global manufacturing (SITC 7 and 8).
🇺🇸 The United States and 🇪🇺 European Union: Securing the Future
As major consumer blocks, the U.S. and E.U. policies are centered on de-risking their supply chains, particularly for materials critical to the clean energy transition, technology, and defense sectors.
Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Strategies: Both the U.S. and E.U. have established formal lists and policies aimed at reducing reliance on single suppliers (read: China) for materials like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths (SITC 27/28). The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), for example, heavily conditions subsidies on where critical materials are sourced and processed.
Green Trade Policy: The E.U.'s CBAM targets the carbon emissions embedded in imports of materials like cement, iron, steel, and aluminum (SITC 6), directly linking materials trade policy with ambitious climate goals.
Exporting Countries: Value-Addition Policies
Resource-rich nations, particularly in the developing world, implement policies to force the local value-addition of their SITC 2 materials before they are exported.
Indonesia's Nickel Ban: In recent years, Indonesia implemented a ban on the export of raw nickel ore (SITC 283), compelling foreign investors to build smelters and processors within Indonesia. This shifts Indonesia's export revenue from low-value SITC 2 materials to higher-value SITC 68 nickel and stainless steel products. This policy directly disrupts and reshapes the global trade of these SITC materials.
In conclusion, materials policy leadership is no longer about simply owning the resource; it is about controlling the chokepoints in the SITC supply chain, whether that's through processing dominance (China), strategic consumption policy (U.S., E.U.), or forced value-addition (Indonesia, Australia).
🏭 Global Titans: Leading Companies in SITC Rev. 3 Materials Production
While the UN Comtrade Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 3 is a framework for statistical reporting by countries, the actual production and global supply of these classified materials is dominated by a relatively small group of multinational corporations.
These leading companies operate across the main SITC material categories: SITC 2 (Crude Materials), SITC 3 (Mineral Fuels), and SITC 6 (Manufactured Goods Classified by Material). Their output dictates global supply chains, prices, and trade volumes recorded in the SITC tables.
Top Companies by SITC Material Category
The following table highlights the world's leading companies in the production of materials defined by SITC Rev. 3, demonstrating the immense concentration of production in these critical sectors.
| SITC Rev. 3 Section & Grouping | Key Material Produced | Leading Global Company (by Volume/Revenue) | Country of Origin | Primary Focus/Role |
| SITC 3: Mineral Fuels (Crude Petroleum) | Crude Oil and Gas (SITC 333) | Saudi Aramco | Saudi Arabia | World's largest oil producer by volume; dominates crude oil supply. |
| SITC 3: Mineral Fuels (Refined Products) | Refined Fuels (SITC 334) | Sinopec (China Petrochem) | China | One of the world's largest refiners and distributors of petroleum products. |
| SITC 28: Metalliferous Ores (Iron Ore) | Iron Ore (SITC 281) | Vale S.A. | Brazil | Global leader in iron ore and pellets production. |
| SITC 28: Metalliferous Ores (Iron Ore) | Iron Ore (SITC 281) | BHP Group / Rio Tinto | Australia / UK | Top global miners of iron ore, copper, and bauxite (aluminum ore). |
| SITC 67: Iron and Steel (Basic Forms) | Crude/Semi-finished Steel (SITC 672/676) | China Baowu Steel Group | China | World's largest steel producer by volume, dominating the SITC 67 section. |
| SITC 67: Iron and Steel (Basic Forms) | Crude/Semi-finished Steel (SITC 672/676) | ArcelorMittal | Luxembourg | World's largest steel producer outside of China, with a global presence. |
| SITC 68: Non-Ferrous Metals (Aluminum) | Primary Aluminum (SITC 684) | Aluminum Corporation of China (CHALCO) | China | One of the largest producers of primary aluminum and alumina globally. |
| SITC 28/68: Diversified Mining | Copper, Zinc, Nickel, Coal | Glencore PLC | Switzerland | Global commodity trader and a top producer of diverse base metals and coal. |
The Integrated Supply Chain of Materials
The companies listed above often represent vertically integrated giants, meaning they control the materials supply chain from the crude stage (SITC 2 and 3) to the intermediate manufacturing stage (SITC 6):
Mining to Metal: Companies like Rio Tinto and Vale primarily extract the SITC 28 ores (like iron ore and bauxite) which are the essential inputs for companies like China Baowu and CHALCO to produce the SITC 67 (Steel) and SITC 68 (Aluminum) products.
Energy and Input Costs: The cost of SITC 3 (Mineral Fuels) and electricity from companies like Saudi Aramco directly impacts the production cost and price of energy-intensive materials like aluminum and steel (SITC 6).
Market Concentration and Global Influence
The SITC framework, when viewed through the lens of company dominance, reveals extreme market concentration in key material sectors:
Oil & Gas: The sector is largely controlled by a mix of state-owned entities (Saudi Aramco, Sinopec, PetroChina) and "Supermajors" (ExxonMobil, Shell, TotalEnergies), which manage the extraction and refining of SITC 3 commodities.
Iron Ore: Just three major companies (Vale, BHP, Rio Tinto) control the majority of the seaborne trade of iron ore (a key component of SITC 28), giving them massive leverage over the global steel industry (SITC 67).
Steel: China's state-backed companies, led by China Baowu, are responsible for over half of global steel production, anchoring China's position as the world's materials factory.
The production decisions made by these global titans directly translate into the trade data captured by UN Comtrade under the relevant SITC 3 codes.
⚙️ Key Factors Driving Turnover in SITC Rev. 3 Related Materials
The Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 3 captures the trade in fundamental global commodities and industrial inputs—what we call "materials" (primarily Sections 2, 3, 4, and 6). The turnover (total trade value, or sum of exports and imports) for these materials is highly volatile and driven by powerful, interlinked forces, ranging from macroeconomics to technological shifts.
The materials turnover is a direct reflection of global industrial demand and commodity price cycles.
Macroeconomic and Structural Factors
These are the broad, foundational forces that set the overall demand level for all SITC-classified materials globally.
| Key Factor | Impact on SITC Materials Turnover | Affected SITC Sections | Mechanism and Rationale |
| Global GDP Growth | Primary Driver: Directly and positively correlates with trade turnover. | All Materials (SITC 2, 3, 4, 6) | Higher GDP leads to increased consumer spending, industrial production, and infrastructure investment, which requires more SITC 3 (Fuels) for energy and more SITC 2 (Ores) and SITC 6 (Metals/Steel) for manufacturing. |
| Industrial Output (China/US) | Drives the volume of demand and trade flow direction. | SITC 2 (Crude Materials) & SITC 6 (Intermediate Goods) | The scale of manufacturing in major economies (especially China) dictates the import volume of raw inputs (e.g., iron ore, copper) needed to create the intermediate goods that feed global value chains. |
| US Dollar Exchange Rate | Influences the cost of commodities and the financial flows into them. | SITC 3 (Mineral Fuels) & SITC 28 (Ores) | Since most commodities are priced in U.S. dollars, a weaker dollar typically makes commodities cheaper for buyers using other currencies, boosting demand and turnover (and vice-versa). |
| Monetary Policy/Interest Rates | Affects the cost of financing inventories and investments. | SITC 3 (Fuels) & SITC 28/68 (Metals) | High global interest rates increase the cost of holding inventory and investing in new mining/production capacity, potentially reducing short-term supply and future turnover. |
Policy and Geopolitical Factors
Government actions and international instability can create sudden, sharp shifts in the trade flows of materials, overriding pure market economics.
| Key Factor | Impact on SITC Materials Turnover | Affected SITC Sections | Mechanism and Rationale |
| Geopolitical Shocks | Creates extreme volatility and supply risk, often leading to rapid price spikes. | SITC 3 (Mineral Fuels) & Key SITC 28/68 Metals (e.g., Nickel, Aluminum) | Conflicts or sanctions (e.g., on Russia) can restrict the flow of major export materials, forcing consumers to seek alternative, more expensive sources, thereby inflating turnover value. |
| Export Restrictions | Distorts market prices and shifts the location of value addition. | SITC 2 (Raw Ores) | Countries like Indonesia banning the export of raw nickel ore force buyers to source higher-value SITC 68 nickel metal, shifting the trade turnover from crude to processed goods. |
| Trade Tariffs/Non-Tariff Barriers | Reduces the volume of trade between specific partners, forcing trade diversion. | SITC 67 (Iron & Steel) | Tariffs on specific materials (e.g., steel or aluminum) directly inhibit the targeted trade flow, potentially lowering turnover, while redirecting trade to compliant nations. |
| Infrastructure Spending | Creates long-term, stable demand. | SITC 67 (Iron & Steel), SITC 66 (Non-Metallic Minerals) | Large-scale government programs (e.g., for roads, railways, and renewable energy) require huge volumes of cement, copper, and structural steel, guaranteeing high demand for these SITC commodities. |
💡 The Energy Transition and Technological Shift
The global shift toward decarbonization and clean energy is creating a structural boom in the demand for specific critical minerals, profoundly changing the composition of materials turnover.
Decline in Fossil Fuel Demand: The long-term trajectory for SITC 3 (Mineral Fuels) suggests a gradual decline in volume as renewable energy sources proliferate, although this is subject to geopolitical instability.
Boom in Critical Minerals: The production of batteries, EVs, solar panels, and wind turbines requires massive volumes of minerals like Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, and Copper (classified within SITC 27 and 28). Demand for these materials is projected to increase several-fold, making them the most dynamic and fastest-growing segments of materials trade turnover.
This technological shift is leading to the "commodification" of new materials, injecting massive investment and trade volume into previously niche SITC 2 categories.
🌐 UN Comtrade SITC Rev. 3: Data Source and Organizational Framework
The trade data organized under the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 3 is a foundational resource for global trade analysis, particularly for examining "materials" trade (SITC Sections 2, 3, 4, and 6). This entire system is underpinned by the collaborative work of international organizations and the reporting efforts of national statistical agencies.
The primary custodian and disseminator of this data is the United Nations.
The Central Organizations and Data Source
The UN Comtrade database and the SITC classification are primarily managed and maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division.
| Component | Responsible Organization | Role/Function |
| SITC Classification (Rev. 3) | United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) | Custodian: Develops, maintains, and promotes the use of the classification system for international comparability of trade statistics. SITC Rev. 3 was approved in 1985 (published 1986). |
| UN Comtrade Database | United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) | Primary Data Host: Collects, cleans, harmonizes, and disseminates detailed annual and monthly goods import and export statistics reported by nearly 200 countries/areas. |
| Primary Data Reporters | National Statistical Offices/Customs Authorities | Source: Individual countries compile trade data based on their customs records, usually using the Harmonized System (HS), and report it to the UNSD. |
| Secondary Data Users/Disseminators | World Bank (WITS), WTO, UNCTAD, Eurostat | Analysts/Disseminators: These organizations use UN Comtrade data, often converting it into their own analytical groupings (like Broad Economic Categories or analytical trade groups), to inform policy and research. |
The SITC and HS Conversion Process
It is critical to understand that while researchers often use data in the SITC Rev. 3 format, the data is rarely collected in this format anymore. The conversion process is key to the UN Comtrade system:
Original Collection: Most countries currently collect and report their trade data using the detailed Harmonized System (HS), which is maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO). The HS is primarily designed for customs duties and trade negotiations.
Conversion: The UNSD takes the detailed HS data submitted by reporting countries and converts it into the broader SITC Rev. 3 (and Rev. 4) categories using official correlation tables.
Dissemination: The final, harmonized data is made available via the UN Comtrade database in both the original HS format and the converted SITC format.
This conversion allows for long-term historical analysis of trade, particularly for materials, as the SITC revisions (SITC Rev. 1, 2, 3, 4) are designed to provide continuity over decades, which is essential for studying long-term trends in materials trade composition.
Accessibility and Usage
The UN Comtrade database is the most comprehensive source for detailed merchandise trade statistics and is freely accessible online.
| Access Model | Key Features | Usage Guidelines |
| Free Public Access | Available via the UN Comtrade website. Allows users to download a substantial number of records per query (e.g., 50,000 to 100,000 records depending on registration). | Suitable for research, academic work, and policy analysis requiring aggregated or moderately detailed data on materials trade. |
| Premium Access | Offers higher download limits and advanced analytical functions. | Designed for institutional and corporate users requiring massive data extracts for enterprise applications and internal systems. |
The organized structure of SITC Rev. 3 ensures that trade data on materials—from SITC 28 (Ores) to SITC 67 (Iron and Steel)—is internationally comparable, making it the standard reference for organizations like the World Bank and UNCTAD in their economic reports on commodity markets.