Acquiring API Subscription Keys

To access the UN Comtrade API, you need to create an account on the UN Comtrade Developer Portal, obtain an API subscription key, and then use that key to make API requests to retrieve trade data.

To obtain a subscription key, please see steps below:

  • You must be a registered user of UN Comtrade before requesting an API subscription key. Please follow the steps in outlined in How to create a UN Comtrade account.
  • Visit the UN Comtrade Developer Portal at https://comtradedeveloper.un.org. Use your UN Comtrade account (registered email address in UN Comtrade) to sign in.
  • Browse through the products page: https://comtradedeveloper.un.org/products.
  • Select the API Product based on your UN Comtrade subscription tier:
    • Free APIs are available to UN Comtrade users with a free, basic individual account.
    • Premium Individual APIs are available to UN Comtrade users with a paid premium individual subscription.
    • Premium Institutional Pro APIs are available to UN Comtrade users with a paid premium institutional subscription.
  • Provide a subscription name and click Subscribe.
  • After clicking “Subscribe”, the state would change to “Submitted”. For premium APIs, please allow us one (1) business day to issue the subscription key. For free APIs, the request is automatically approved; a subscription key is issued and can be used immediately.
  • IMPORTANT: You will receive a notification in your registered email that you have submitted a request for a subscription key. 
  • Subscription keys issued to users will be available under the user profile: https://comtradedeveloper.un.org/profile. Upon approval, the state would show “Active”. Click on the ‘Show’ link of the Primary key, and your subscription key will be shown.