Net Weight in KGM

[Prarthna Agarwal]

Could you please explain me how Net Weight in KGM is calculated for exports, or how this conversion is done for commodities which are generally expressed in other units like meters. In some cases, quantity data is not available, yet Net Weight in KGM is populated. Could you please explain the logic behind the same.

[laurend]

I have the same question.  I am posting here so that I will be notified when the WITS team responds. 

Thanks!

[comt...@un.org]

If reported quantity does not match the WCO recommended unit or net weight or not quantity reported, UN Comtrade attempts to estimate them. Please see estimation methodology at http://unstats.un.org/unsd/tradekb/Knowledgebase/Quantity-and-Weight-Data-in-UN-Comtrade

[laurend]

In some instances, the NetWeight_in_KGM reported differs from the quantity, even though the quantity is reported in Kg.  For example, see imports of product 180400 into Aruba in 2005:

Nomenclature ReporterISO3 ProductCode ReporterName PartnerISO3 PartnerName Year TradeFlowName TradeFlowCode TradeValue in 1000 USD Quantity QuantityToken QtyUnit ProductDescription NetWeight in KGM   1   Page size: select  1 items in 1 pages H1 ABW 180400 Aruba WLD World 2005 Import 5 1,701.402 297964.000 8 Kg Cocoa butter, fat and oil. 431,584.000

 

Further, there are instances (see same example above) where neither the value nor quantity data reported via WITS matches that reported by Comtrade when running a query directly on the Comtrade site.  What is the source of this discrepancy?