Trade classification: Classification of goods based on a given international nomenclature.

HS or Harmonised Commodity Description and Code Systems represents the main international trade classification and is used for the collection and compilation for international trade statistics. The HS classifies goods as a 2, 4 and 6-digit code system (AG2, AG4, AG6).

The HS (https://unstats.un.org/unsd/tradekb/Knowledgebase/50018/Harmonized-Commodity-Description-and-Coding-Systems-HS) comprises 97 chapters (AG2), 1245 Groupings (AG4) and 5226 product (AG6) descriptions as headings or subheadings. The first two digits identify the chapter of the good, e.g. 09 = Coffee, Tea, Maté and Spices. The next two digits identify the groupings within that chapter, e.g.09.02 = Tea, whether or not flavoured. The next two digits identify the product, e.g. 09.02.10 = Green tea (not fermented).

The HS used in Hanse.biz is the HS of 2002.

SITC or Standard International Trade Classification is used for economic analysis. The SITC classifies goods on the basis of materials used in production, processing stage, technology and use of products.

The SITC used in Hanse.biz is SITC revision 1.

Reporting country: Country that reports its imports and exports.

Partner country: Country that is counterpart to reporting country’s imports and exports.

Concepts used:


Sector share: Share of a sector in a partner country’s total imports or exports.

U.S. total import is in 2016 is US$2,248.2 billion. Motor cars 8703 (HS AG4) represents US$173.3 billion. Motor cars in 2016 therefore has a sector share of 173.3/2248.2 * 100 = 7.7 percent.

U.S. total import in 2002 is US$1,200.1 billion. Motor cars in 2002 represents US$115.8 billion. Motor cars in 2002 have a sector share of 9.7 percent.

Motor cars have therefore declined in total U.S. imports from representing 9.7 percent of total U.S. imports in 2002 to representing 7.7 percent of total U.S. imports.

Market share: Share of a partner country in imports or exports of a reporting country/region per sector or in aggregate.

U.S. total imports of motor cars (8703 HS AG4) in 2016 is US$173.3 billion. Germany in 2016 in U.S. import of motor cars represents US$22.2 billion. Germany has a market share in motor cars in 2016 of 22.2/173.3 * 100 = 12.8 percent.

Germany has a market share in 2002 in motor cars of 17.9/115.8 * 100 = 9.7 percent. Germany has therefore lost market share in motor cars between 2002 and 2016.

U.S. total import in 2016 is US$2,248.3 billion. Germany in U.S. total import in 2016 represents US$116.3 billion. Germany has a total market share in U.S. import in 2016 of 116.3/2248.3*100 = 5.2 percent. Germany has in 2002 a total markets share of 5.3 percent. Germany has therefore lost total market in U.S. imports between 2002 and 2016.

Contribution: Share of a sector in partner country’s trade.
Germany in 2002 in U.S. imports of motor cars (8703 HS AG4) represents US$18.0 billion and US$63.9 billion in total U.S. imports. Motor cars in 2002 represent 18.0/63.9 * 100 = 28.1 percent of total U.S. imports from Germany. Motor cars have a contribution of 19.1 percent in 2016. Motor cars have therefore declined in importance in U.S. imports from Germany.

Specialisation: Market share in a given sector divided by total market share.
Germany in 2002 in U.S. imports in motor cars (8703 HS AG4) has a market share of 15.5 percent and a total market share in U.S. imports in 2002 of 5.3 percent. Germany has therefore in 2002 a market specialisation of 15.5/5.3 = 2.9. Germany in 2016 in U.S. imports has a market specialisation in motor cars of 2.5. Motor cars have therefore seen a decline in market share relative to Germany’s total market share in U.S. imports between 2002 and 2016.