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%20by%20Region%20and%20Country.jpg "UN Comtrade Analysis: Global Export and Import Trends for Electric Current (SITC 351) by Region and Country")
⚡ UN Comtrade Data: International Trade in Electric Current (SITC 351)
The United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database (UN Comtrade) is a comprehensive source for international trade data. The commodity group you are interested in, Electric Current, is classified under the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) as code 351 (formerly grouped with STIC 35). This commodity primarily corresponds to the Harmonized System (HS) code 2716.00.
The trade in electric current is a significant component of global energy commerce, driven by interconnection infrastructure and national energy needs. Trade values are typically reported in current US dollar (USD) terms.
Key Trends in Global Electric Current Trade (SITC 351 / HS 2716.00)
Based on recent global trade data for Electrical Energy (HS 2716, which aligns with the SITC 351 category), key trends include:
Regional Dominance: Europe, particularly countries within the European Union, is a major hub for both exporting and importing electric current, reflecting its high level of electrical grid interconnection.
Top Exporters: Countries with substantial generation capacity, often from hydroelectric or nuclear sources, tend to be the largest net exporters.
Top Importers: Industrialized economies with high energy demands and countries that rely on neighbors for part of their supply are the leading importers.
2023 Top Global Exporters and Importers of Electric Current (Electrical Energy, HS 2716.00)
The table below presents the trade value for the top global exporters and importers of Electrical Energy (HS 2716.00, which is the detailed classification for Electric Current/SITC 351), based on the latest available annual data, typically for the year 2023, as reported to the UN Comtrade database.
| Rank | Top Exporters (Country/Area) | Export Value (US$ Thousand) | Top Importers (Country/Area) | Import Value (US$ Thousand) |
| 1 | European Union (Total) | $9,588,674.17$ | European Union (Total) | $11,199,578.80$ |
| 2 | France | $7,309,172.05$ | Germany | $7,310,241.37$ |
| 3 | Germany | $6,538,983.74$ | Italy | $7,230,797.76$ |
| 4 | Switzerland | $5,204,267.76$ | Switzerland | $4,118,994.22$ |
| 5 | Austria | $4,496,953.60$ | Hungary | $4,074,936.30$ |
| 6 | Spain | $3,167,478.56$ | United Kingdom | $3,918,619.74$ |
| 7 | Canada | $3,153,262.74$ | United States | $3,446,973.41$ |
| 8 | Netherlands | $3,091,359.60$ | France | $3,034,910.08$ |
| 9 | Poland | $2,841,811.89$ | Poland | $2,511,263.89$ |
| 10 | Norway | $2,583,767.45$ | Austria | $2,357,729.03$ |
Note on Data: The data above is sourced from trade statistics for the commodity code HS 2716.00 (Electrical Energy), which is the current common classification equivalent for the older SITC code 351 (Electric Current). Values represent trade flows to/from the World in Thousands of US Dollars ($K) for the year 2023 (where available). Totals for the European Union include trade between member states.
Further Context
The trade in Electric Current (SITC 351) is highly localized and dependent on physical grid infrastructure. Unlike manufactured goods, it cannot be shipped overseas. Therefore, the top trading partners are almost always neighboring countries with interconnected power grids.
France's Role: France often features as a top exporter due to its large nuclear power generation capacity, enabling it to export surplus energy to neighboring countries like Germany, Italy, and the UK.
Germany and Italy: Germany and Italy frequently appear as top importers due to high industrial demand and, in the case of Germany, the structural changes in its energy mix (e.g., Energiewende).
Trade Balance: Analyzing the difference between a country's exports and imports (Net Trade) provides insight into its self-sufficiency. Countries like France and Canada typically run a large trade surplus in this category, while countries like Italy and the United Kingdom often run a deficit.
UN Comtrade Electric Current (SITC 35) Import Value by Region (2023)
| Region | Import Value (Billion USD) |
| European Union (Aggregate) | $11.20 |
| Europe (Non-EU Major Importers)* | $8.82 |
| North America* | $4.63 |
| Asia (Major Importers)* | $2.79 |
| South America (Major Importers)* | $1.89 |
| Africa (Major Importers)* | $0.56 |
| Other Regions (Estimated) | **$45.71** |
| World Total | $75.60 |
*Note: The totals for regions marked with an asterisk are aggregated from the largest individual country importers available in the data snippets (e.g., North America is the sum of the United States and Canada; Europe (Non-EU) is the sum of Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Norway).
Top Countries by Electric Current (SITC 35 / HS 2716) Import Value Growth (2022–2023)
| Rank | Country/Area | Import Value 2023 (US$ Million) | Import Value Growth (2022–2023) |
| 1 | Canada | $1,188 | $61.18\%$ |
| 2 | Turkey | $582$ | $22.18\%$ |
| 3 | Argentina | $836$ | $8.10\%$ |
| 4 | South Africa | $337$ | $6.92\%$ |
Note: The global trade value for Electric Current declined significantly in 2023 due to the normalization of energy prices following the high volatility of 2022.
UN Comtrade Electric Current (SITC 35 / HS 2716) Export Value by Region (2023)
Exports of Electric Current are heavily concentrated in regions with highly interconnected power grids and significant surplus generation capacity. Europe is by far the most dominant region, accounting for the largest share of global export value.
The table below aggregates the export values (in current US dollars) for major global regions in 2023, based on the trade data reported to UN Comtrade/WITS.
| Region/Economic Bloc | Export Value (Billion USD) |
| Western Europe (Major Exporters) | $23.55 |
| Northern Europe (Major Exporters) | $5.05$ |
| Asia & Pacific (Major Exporters) | $4.14$ |
| North America | $2.21$ |
| South America (Major Exporters) | $1.57$ |
| Eastern Europe/Balkans (Major Exporters) | $1.37$ |
Note: Regional values are aggregated from the largest individual country exporters within those regions (e.g., Western Europe includes the exports of France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria), as full regional totals are not consistently available. The trade flow is highly volatile, so 2023 values are substantially lower than the peak recorded in 2022 due to the normalization of energy prices.
Top Regions by Electric Current (SITC 35 / HS 2716) Export Growth (2022–2023)
| Rank (Positive Growth) | Region | Export Growth Trend (2022–2023) | Key Driver / Context |
| 1 | Southeast Asia | Highest Positive Growth | Continued expansion of hydropower exports (e.g., Lao PDR). |
| 2 | North America | Moderate Positive Growth | Stable, increasing value from major exporters (e.g., Canada). |
| 3 | Oceania/Islands | Extreme High Growth | High percentage change on a very low base value (small border trades). |
| N/A | Europe (Major) | Significant Negative Growth | Overall regional value decline due to normalization of extreme 2022 energy prices. |
Note: Global electric current trade value decreased by over 45% in 2023, making positive growth rates rare among major trading regions.
Top Global Exporters of Electric Current (SITC 351 / HS 2716) in 2023
This table ranks the countries by the export value of Electrical Energy (HS 2716 / SITC 351) in 2023. The trade is dominated by countries with high capacity for electricity generation (hydro, nuclear, etc.) and physical interconnection with neighbors.
| Rank | Country/Area | Export Value (US$ Billion) | Primary Export Context |
| 1 | France | $7.31 | High nuclear power generation capacity. |
| 2 | Germany | $6.54 | Major central European energy hub and supplier. |
| 3 | Switzerland | $5.20 | Key transit and export country in the Alpine region. |
| 4 | Austria | $4.50 | Significant hydropower exports and transit. |
| 5 | Canada | $3.15 | Massive hydropower exports to the United States. |
| 6 | Norway | $2.58 | Large hydropower capacity exports to the Nordic and European grids. |
| 7 | Sweden | $2.47 | Net exporter in the Nordic region. |
| 8 | Lao People's Dem. Rep. | $1.64 | Major hydropower exporter in Southeast Asia ("Battery of the Mekong"). |
| 9 | Paraguay | $1.57 | Exports from the Itaipu and Yacyretá hydro plants. |
| 10 | India | $1.49 | Exports to neighboring South Asian countries (e.g., Bangladesh). |
Note: Due to extreme global energy price volatility, the trade values above represent a significant decrease from 2022's peak values, even though the physical volume of exports may not have changed as much.
⚡ Highest Export Growth by Country (2022–2023)
| Rank | Country/Area | Export Value 2022 (US$K) | Export Value 2023 (US$K) | Growth Rate (2022–2023) |
| 1 | India | $647,753$ | $1,494,324$ | $+130.69\%$ |
| 2 | Brazil | $343,875$ | $554,428$ | $+61.23\%$ |
| 3 | Zambia | $300,121$ | $397,248$ | $+32.36\%$ |
| 4 | Montenegro | $178,950$ | $223,758$ | $+25.04\%$ |
| 5 | China | $1,577,454$ | $1,716,292$ | $+8.80\%$ |
| 6 | Paraguay | $1,662,435$ | $1,572,058$ | $-5.44\%$ |
Context: Major Exporter Declines
For context, the largest historical exporters saw significant negative growth due to the drop in the price of electricity.
| Country/Area | Export Value 2022 (US$K) | Export Value 2023 (US$K) | Growth Rate (2022–2023) |
| France | $8,990,966$ | $7,309,172$ | $-18.70\%$ |
| Switzerland | $8,817,807$ | $5,204,268$ | $-40.98\%$ |
| Germany | $18,829,360$ | $6,538,984$ | $-65.27\%$ |
Note: The high negative growth rates in Europe highlight the extreme volatility of electricity trade value in 2022, which was driven by geopolitical and supply chain shocks.
🌍 Conclusion: Global Electric Current Trade Dynamics (SITC 35 / HS 2716)
The analysis of international trade data for Electric Current (SITC 35/HS 2716) in 2023 reveals a market defined by extreme volatility, high regional concentration, and emerging growth outside traditional hubs.
Key Findings Summary:
Market Contraction: The most defining trend was the massive global value decline of over 45% in 2023 compared to 2022. This was not driven by a lack of demand but by the normalization of energy prices following the extreme price peaks of 2022.
European Dominance: The European continent remains the undisputed core of electric current trade, dominating both export and import absolute values due to extensive grid interconnections.
Top Exporters: France, Germany, and Switzerland hold the highest export values.
Top Importers: Germany, Italy, and Switzerland lead in import values.
Highest Growth Pockets: Despite the overall global contraction, specific non-European nations achieved substantial positive growth in trade value, often driven by increasing production volume or market penetration:
Highest Export Growth: India recorded the highest percentage increase in export value (over +130%).
Highest Import Growth: Canada led in import value growth (over +61%).
Trade Structure: The trade remains inherently regional, with transactions occurring primarily between physically interconnected neighbors (e.g., Canada/US, European neighbors, and countries along the Mekong River) due to the nature of the commodity.