Bringing a decade-long vision to life, PACComtrade—the Pacific Commodity Trade Database—has launched on the Pacific Data Hub, unlocking near-real-time access to structured, open and licensed trade data from participating countries, sourced directly from national customs systems.
The Pacific Community (SPC), project partners and participating countries have yesterday launched the Pacific Commodity Trade Database, PACComtrade—a landmark tool that transforms how trade data is collected, processed and shared on and for the region.
Built on the model of the United Nations’ Comtrade system but tailored to the Pacific context, PACComtrade provides month-by-month tables on imports and exports collected by each country’s customs authority. The platform delivers fast, structured and openly licensed data, creating a timely, transparent information source for those in research, enterprise and public policy.
As examples of use cases, businesses can track import competition or identify trends in export demand using self-service; governments can better monitor trade balances or flag anomalies for policy response far faster than previously. PACComtrade provides information for evidence-led decision-making and reinforces the region’s commitment to using data for resilient development.
Kiribati, Tonga and Tuvalu are the initial launch countries for PACComtrade, with Vanuatu also a foundational partner in the project and in an advanced stage of readiness for adoption. It’s available immediately on the Pacific Data Hub, the region’s foremost open data platform:
- Pacific Commodity Trade Dataset for Kiribati (PACComtrade, HS2022 Classification)
- Pacific Commodity Trade Dataset for Tonga (PACComtrade, HS2017 Classification)
- Pacific Commodity Trade Dataset for Tuvalu (PACComtrade, HS2022 Classification)
Advancing admin and open data
Unlike trade statistics traditionally compiled by national statistics offices, administrative data from customs enables data to be processed in minutes—with trade in June already available as of July.
While not a replacement for international merchandise trade statistics (IMTS) and their rigour, PACComtrade offers a speedier, more accessible view of commodity flows—publishing over 50,000 records each month across 3,000 to 4,000 commodity codes. Data remain provisional for up to three months, with automated checks sent back to customs agencies for review and, if necessary, revision.
Beyond its innovation in administrative data use, PACComtrade is also a flagship for open data in the Pacific. All data are published in open formats on the Pacific Data Hub under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence, ensuring they are freely accessible, reusable and transparent by design.
Because data ends up in the Pacific Data Hub’s .Stat Explorer, it can be viewed or downloaded by anyone in a range of formats, like CSV, or called via API for apps, dashboards or spreadsheets. .Stat Explorer also includes interactive charts, letting users explore trends without downloading large files.
Finally, all processing code is shared publicly in GitHub, another high-water mark for innovation.
“Use of admin data, rather than surveys, is rare in the Pacific—and often for valid reasons, like data completeness and quality,” explains Mr Denis Grofils, a Statistics Adviser in Process Modernisation with SPC’s Statistics for Development Division, one of the project’s long-time contributors.
“With PACComtrade, data are structured, available in open formats on the Pacific Data Hub, and licenced properly… The way this is implemented, fully automated, with automatic quality reports sent to customs—this is world-class in terms of data collection, processing and dissemination.”
Project pilot to regional rollout
Along with each country’s customs and statistics office, the initiative is a collaboration between SPC, the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO), UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the UN Statistics Division, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Melanesian Spearhead Group.
The OCO facilitate technical cooperation while data are sourced from the UNCTAD-backed ASYCUDA common computer system. First conceived 10 years ago, a letter of agreement was signed between the partners in 2021, with Vanuatu’s Customs and Inland Revenue Department serving as a test case. As well as tech innovation, parties have had to establish proper legal agreements and frameworks.
“This launch is the result of years of collaboration and technical work,” said Mr Bimlesh Krishna, a Statistics Adviser in Economics, also with SPC’s Statistics for Development Division.
“I’d like to thank all project partners, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, especially acknowledge Vanuatu’s role, and the dedication of colleagues like [my predecessor] Ms Nilima Lal, whose engagement over many years stewarded this initiative from idea to realisation.”
A presentation yesterday at an international trade in services workshop in Suva, Fiji, is hoped to inspire further uptake across the region.
“PACComtrade empowers our institutions and communities with timely, reliable trade data,” commented Tonga’s Assistant Government Statistician, Ms Telekaki Latavao.
“From waiting months or even years, users can now get their trade data in weeks. This is a leap forward in how we understand, manage and develop trade in the Pacific.”
For more information on this story, contact Mr Ben Campion, Communications Adviser, Statistics for Development Division, Pacific Community (SPC).
Top photo by athewma on Freeimages.com.
