Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
The Material Flow Account (MFA) shows the physical inputs of materials entering the national economic system and the results for other economies or the natural environment in physical units (tons). This account enables the collection of aggregate indicators of natural resource use, from which resource productivity (eco-efficiency) indicators relative to GDP and other economic and employment indicators, as well as indicators of material lifestyle, considering population size and other demographic indicators.
The material flow account provides data on national extraction and import and export of materials.
3.2. Classification system
EW-MFA record physical flows of materials broken down by type of flow and by type of material.
The type of flow dimension corresponds to the EW-MFA questionnaire reporting tables and derived indicators, namely:
domestic extraction
physical imports
physical exports
domestic processed output
balancing items
direct material input
domestic material consumption
physical trade balance
The breakdown by type of material employs a classification of materials. This EW-MFA classification of materials is hierarchical with main material flow categories (1-digit level). Each main category is further broken down, maximal down to 4-digit-level:
1-digit: material category;
2-digit: material class;
3-digit: material group;
4-digit: material sub-group.
There are three material flows:
Domestic extraction
Imports - total trade (intra + extra EU trade)
Exports - total trade (intra + extra EU trade)
Variables describing national extraction are classified according to the type of material extracted as input to the economy according to the material classification established by Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July of 2011, referring to Europe's environmental economic accounts in its Annex III.
Imports and exports are classified according to the same annex to the regulation, so that the variables are classified in a manner consistent with national extraction.
The main categories of this classification (1-digit: material category) would be as follows:
Domestic extraction
Biomass
Metal ores (gross ores)
Non-metalic minerals
Fossil energy materials/carriers
Imports and Exports
Biomass
Metal ores (gross ores)
Non-metalic minerals
Fossil energy materials/carriers
Other products
Waste for final treatment and disposal
3.3. Coverage - sector
The distinction between stocks and flows is a fundamental principle of a material flow system. In general, a flow is a variable that measures a quantity over a period of time, while a stock is a variable that measures a quantity at a given time.
The MFA measures the inputs, outputs and changes in material stocks in the economy, in mass units per year.
The MFA is consistent with the European System of Accounts (ESA).
Like national accounts, it follows the residence principle, so it accounts for the material flows associated with the activities of all resident units of a national economy, regardless of their geographical location.
Two types of material flows that cross system boundaries are relevant in MFA:
1. Material flows between the national economy and its natural environment. They consist of the extraction of materials (raw, raw or virgin) from the natural environment and the disposal of others (usually called "waste").
2. Material flows between the national economy and the economy of the rest of the world. They include imports and exports.
All flows that exceed these system limits are included in the MFA as well as the accumulations of inventories produced. Other material flows in the economy are not represented in the MFA. The national economy is dealt with globally in the MFA, and product deliveries between industries are not described. Similarly, natural flows within the natural environment are excluded.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Conceptually economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) belong to the international system of environmental economic accounting (SEEA-Central Framework). Furthermore, EW-MFA is one of several physical modules of Eurostat's programme on European environmental economic accounts. It is covered by Regulation (EU) No. 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts.
EW-MFA are closely related to concepts and definitions of national accounts. Most notably they follow the residence principle, i.e. they record material flows related to resident unit's activities, regardless where those occur geographically.
Further methodological guidelines are provided in various publications by Eurostat (see Eurostat website > Environment > Methodology, heading: 'Material flows and resource productivity').
Concepts
- Unused Domestic Extraction
Unused domestic extraction consists of materials extracted or removed within the territory of a country due to technical requirements that are not suitable or not intended for any use. For example: Soil and rocks excavated during construction, dredged sediment in ports, debris from mines and quarries (if not reused), and unused harvest biomass. Eroded farmland does not move on purpose, but may be included as an optional information item.
- Domestic Extraction (used)
Domestic extraction includes the annual amount of solid, liquid and gaseous materials (excluding air and water) extracted from the natural environment to be used as inputs in the economy.
- Material flows
Material flows reflect the physical inputs of materials entering the national economic system and the results for other economies or the natural environment. Flows come in physical units (tons) and describe the extraction, transformation, consumption and final disposal of chemical elements, raw materials or products.
- Import and export of materials
Physical imports and exports comprise all imported or exported goods, in units of mass. Exchanged goods include goods at all stages of processing, from basic products to finished products.
- Direct Material Inputs (Used)
They are defined as all solid, liquid and gaseous materials (excluding water and air) that enter the economy for later use in production or consumption processes. The two main categories are raw materials extracted in the country and imports. The sum of these two categories is one of the indicators derived from the accounts, the Direct Materials Input (DMI). The export deduction of this indicator is obtained in the domestic material consumption.
- Outputs to the environment
Material flows that enter nature during and after production or consumption processes. Such outlets include emissions to air or water, waste disposal, as well as materials that cause diffuse contamination (eg fertilizers or defrosting substances). Products also include dumping of unused national extraction.
- Local economic activity unit
The local economic activity unit is understood as the part of a company that carries out a particular activity in a specific geographic location.
- Institutional Unit
An elementary center of economic decision, characterized by a uniformity of behavior and autonomy of decision in the exercise of its main function and grouped in institutional sectors. They can be, for example, a home, a company or a unit of general government.
3.5. Statistical unit
In the case of satellite accounts, the same units are used as in National Accounts, ie those included in the European System of Accounts (ESA).
3.6. Statistical population
Environmental accounts combine data from several different statistical sources. The concept of statistical population cannot be rigorously applied in this context.
EW-MFA refer to the entire national economy of the reporting country (see also 3.3 'Coverage - sector')).
EW-MFA include all materials (excluding water and air) crossing the system boundary (between the environment and the economy) on the input side or on the output side. The economy is demarcated by the conventions of the national accounting system (resident units).
Material inputs to the economy cover extractions of natural resources (excluding water and air) from the natural environment and imports of material products (goods) from the rest of the world economy (ROW).
Material outputs are disposals of materials to the natural environment and exports of material products and waste to the ROW. Information on natural resources extracted and traded products is provided by different statistical units.
3.7. Reference area
Environmental accounts cover the entire Portuguese territory.
Material flow accounts should be consistent with national economic accounts. National Accounts define the national economy as the set of activities and operations of resident economic agents that have a center of interest in the national economic territory. Some operations of these units are performed outside the national economic territory and other transactions in this territory are performed by non-resident units. Therefore, in material flow accounts it is necessary, as in national accounts, to apply the residence principle. According to this principle, materials used by units residing outside the national territory should be considered as inputs of the national economy and materials used by units not residing in the national economic territory should be excluded from the accounting structure.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The material flow accounts are prepared annually. There is information for the period 1995-2023.
3.8.1. Coverage – Time: by questionnaire table
Questionnaire table
From (YEAR)
To (YEAR)
Comments
Domestic extraction (Table A)
1995
2023
Imports – Total trade (Table B)
1995
2023
Exports – Total trade (Table D)
1995
2023
Domestic processed output (Table F)
1995
2022
Balancing items (Table G)
1995
2022
Material flow accounts in raw material equivalents (RME) (Table I)
2008
2022
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
The unit of measure is thousand tonnes.
Accounting period is calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The activity of Statistics Portugal is ruled by the following legislation:
Statistics Portugal, Bank of Portugal, Regional Services of Statistics of the Autonomous Regions of Açores and Madeira and entities producing official statistics by delegation of Statistics Portugal are considered statistical authorities, having responsibility for the production of official statistics, and empowered to require (mandatory and gratuitously) to all departments or agencies, individuals and legal entities, information necessary for the production of official statistics.
The official statistics are produced with technical independence and considered as public good, observing the national and international quality standards, and meeting the users' needs in an efficient manner, preventing the providers of information to the statistical authorities from an excessive burden, by using increasingly the administrative data.
All personal data collected by the statistical authorities for statistical purposes, are considered confidential, and legally protected All people connected with the production of official statistics are obliged to professional secrecy. To break confidentiality is considered a very serious administrative offence that implies criminal responsibility.
Miss or delay response to surveys from statistical authorities is considered a serious administrative offence, submitted to financial punishment.
It defines the organic structure of Statistics Portugal.
Abstract:
Statistics Portugal is a public institute with a special regime integrating the indirect State administration, endowed with administrative autonomy. Its mission is to produce and disseminate, in an effective, efficient and independent manner, high-quality official statistical information relevant for society as a whole.
In the exercise of official statistical activities, Statistics Portugal enjoys technical independence and may, in its capacity as national statistical authority, require information to be reported, which shall be mandatory and free of charge, safeguarding respect for statistical confidentiality, according the National Statistical System Law.
The structure of Statistics Portugal is organized in three hierarchical levels: departments, units and sections. This executive order also defines the competences and areas of intervention of 1st level as well as the possibility of creating two project teams with multidisciplinary and transversal nature to the different areas of activity. The data protection officer of Statistics Portugal is also responsible for the coordination of matters concerning personal data.
This Regulation lays down rules relating to the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and rules relating to the free movement of personal data.
Law nº 58/2019 ensures the implementation, in the national legal order, of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to processing of personal data and the free movement of such data.
Regulation (EU) 691/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 on environmental economic accounts in Europe constitutes the framework for common accounting concepts, definitions, classifications and standards for the preparation of environmental accounts. Economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) are legally covered by this Regulation.
In the framework of the organizational structure of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Statistics Portugal falls within the scope of indirect government of the State. Its main tasks are:
To produce official statistical information, with the purpose of supporting decisions of a public, private, individual or collective nature, as well as scientific research;
To prepare the Portuguese National Accounts, in coordination with the other competent authorities;
To disseminate in an accessible manner the statistical information produced;
To coordinate and perform the technical-scientific and methodological supervision of official statistics under its responsibility, the delegated entities and the Regional Statistical Services of the Autonomous Regions;
To cooperate with national entities and with entities of other European Union Member States and international organizations in the statistical area.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Statistical Confidentiality
Statistical production is a process through which from information gathered (censual or sampling) from institutions or departments, individuals or collectives we produce statistics that represent an important tool for analyzing and taking decisions for the whole Society.
It is recognized that the whole decision process, in its several levels — political, economic and social —, whether individual or collective, is supported on information, including statistical information, which must be accurate, exempt and up-to-date.
However, the knowledge provided by the statistics is inseparable from the respect for confidentiality associated to information collected near Information providers, and leads to the inevitable legal appeal of "considerations of proportionality", which means that production of statistics has necessarily to operate the practical concordance and the harmonization between the information that should be of public domain and the one that should be kept under secrecy. Only in this way it can be ensured confidence in the Statistical System.
Statistics Portugal adopts the logical, physical and administrative measures necessary for the protection of confidential data to be effective, from data collection to its publication.
Survey questionnaires include a legal clause that informs about the protection that protects the collected data.
In the information processing phases, data that allow direct identification is kept only as long as strictly necessary to ensure the quality of the processes.
Publishing result tables analyzes the details of the information to prevent sensitive data from being deduced from statistical units. Where microdata files are disseminated, they are always anonymized.
Environmental Accounts are a statistical operation included in the National Statistical Plan, therefore subject to the Law no 22/2008, of May 13th, 2008, that defines the general basis of the National Statistical System. and, therefore, their data are protected by the Statistical Secret, at all stages of their preparation process.
8.1. Release calendar
Early calendar publishing is performed in the last quarter of each year and shows the exact dates of press releases and publications.
8.2. Release calendar access
The publication calendar is published on the Statistics Portugal website (publication calendar).
8.3. Release policy - user access
Data are simultaneously released, according to the publication schedule, to all stakeholders, in most cases accompanied by a press release. At the same time, the data are published on Statistics Portugal website. Custom requests are also sent to registered users. Some users may receive information under embargo as specified in the European Statistics Code of Practice.The release policy determines the dissemination of statistical data to all users at the same time. The scope of dissemination is public. Users are informed that data is being released through a press release.
The frequency of data dissemination is annual.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
A press release was available on the Statistics Portugal website on 20 December 2024.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Data and text in Environmental Statistics (digital publication).
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
The data was available on the Statistics Portugal website on 20 December 2024.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Many statistical operations disclose anonymized files for public use, available for free download from the Statistics Portugal website.
Due to the nature of Environmental Accounting, microdata is not available.
Information is available in EXCEL and CSV files.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
The policy of attention to personalized requests is to analyze if confidentiality and statistical significance conditions are met. After this analysis, a feasibility report is prepared and sent to the petitioner.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
In 2024 the Press Release had 165 hits, 109 in the Portuguese version and 56 hits in the English version.
Statistics Portugal (SP) is the main authority for the production and dissemination of official statistics in Portugal and its work is steered by the underlying principles of its mission, vision, and values, which are quality-oriented and known to the public. In what concerns its legal framework, quality in statistics is defined by the Portuguese Statistical System Law, article 7 (Law no. 22/2008) and the Regulation (EC) nº 223/2009, (amended by the European Regulation 2015/759), at national and European levels, respectively.
SP is part of the European Statistical System (ESS) and has adopted the European Statistics Code of Practice, since its first edition (2005), as firm guidance for the success of its mission. Since its last revision (November 2017), the Code comprises the Quality Declaration of the European Statistical System, 16 Principles and 84 indicators of best practices and standards for each of the Principles, defining the European benchmarks for the statistical activity, covering the institutional environment, statistical processes, and statistical outputs. Although all 16 principles are essential, it is important to highlight the Principle 4: Commitment to Quality:
Principle 4: Commitment to Quality
Statistical authorities are committed to quality. They systematically and regularly identify strengths and weaknesses to continuously improve process and output quality.
The Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) is a useful tool in implementing the Code of Practice in the member states, recommending possible actions at the institutional and process level for each of the Code’s indicators.
In the framework of its mission and in line with the Code of Practice, SP follows reliable and robust methodologies and adequate procedures, according to the best international practices. It also maintains and makes public an extensive set of documentation on concepts and classifications, included on its Metadata System, as an important and constant groundwork for its activity. Moreover, SP produces and disseminates statistics in an impartial, objective and transparent manner and treats all users equally, in agreement with its Dissemination Policy. All these aspects have a positive impact on the credibility of the produced statistics and the perceived quality and trust of the institution as a whole.
SP’s quality commitment is clearly and publicly stated and is an essential aspect in conveying the trustworthiness of Portuguese official statistics. This standard is the cornerstone of its customer and information provider’s relationship management. SP’s users and partners recognize the quality of statistics, of services and products, of staff’s excellence and of the overall image of the institution, past and present. With this goal in mind, SP’s latest version of its Quality Chart, released in 2019, establishes SP’s public commitment towards the following stakeholders and areas:
•Information security
•Relation with respondents;
•Relation with statistical information users;
•Revisions policy;
•Data dissemination practices;
•Availability of statistical products and other products;
•Tailor-made responses to specific user requests and general user support;
•Welcoming procedures for visitors to SP’s premises;
•Management of users’ suggestions and complaints;
•Users’ satisfaction and evaluation activities;
•Management of Human Resources;
•Cooperation with external entities.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The General Guidelines of Official Statistical Activity 2018-2022, constitute an important framework for the strategic objectives of the National Statistical System (NSS) and the relevant actions for the Statistical Authorities. Quality-related aspects are prominent in this particular document.
The quality management system implemented by SP follows the principles of the ISO 9001:2015 Standard, whenever convenient, having adopted a systematic and process-oriented approach under the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. This system comprises a wide range of instruments, methods, and activities covering process documentation, performance assessment, and user relations, as follows:
•Internal and external audits, highlighting the two rounds of Peer Review (2008 and 2015) in what external audits are concerned;
•Performance indicators and management tools, drawing attention to QUAR (in the context of the Public Administration performance assessment and management system – SIADAP) and a specific set of quality monitoring criteria;
•User and respondent satisfaction questionnaires, towards the different services provided (in compliance with the ISO 10004:2012 Standard);
•Suggestions and complaints management system (observing the ISO 10002:2014 Standard);
•Documentation system (E.g. methodological documentation, internal procedures, statistical activity´s quality reports). In the context of the latter, SP reports directly to EUROSTAT, meeting the requirements of the European Standard – ESS Handbook for Quality reports (2014). These reports are available for each survey and can be accessed on EUROSTAT’s website by statistical domain.
The Commission (Eurostat) will assess the quality of the data transmitted and, within one month of receiving the data, may request additional information on the data or a revised data set from the Member State as appropriate (Art.7.4 of Regulation 691/2011).
Estimates of the material flow account are based on Eurostat's projected methodology, using national account principles, rules and classifications, thus ensuring their internal consistency and with other environmental account modules as well as comparability with national account aggregates.
Regarding the progress and provisional estimates of the 1995-2019 series based on 2016, they will be updated in future editions.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Among the users of environmental accounts, it is worth mentioning:
• Ministries and other public bodies (observatories, etc.)
• Regional Administrations
• Researchers and academic institutions
• Companies and non-profit institutions (business study services, foundations, associations, etc.), unions and employers' organizations.
• Press and specialized media
There are also institutional foreign users (Eurostat, OECD, United Nations, etc.).
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
We do not regularly collect user reviews on this topic.
12.3. Completeness
Statistics Portugal complies with the reporting requirements of Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 on European environmental economic accounts. You can tell that they are exhausting.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
The required mandatory statistical result rate is 100%.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Direct measurement of accuracy in this case is not considered possible.
Please use Annex 3 for providing an assessment of the overall quality of the reported data.
Environmental accounts are a summary statistic; therefore, the sampling errors that affect them are from the sources from which the information is collected, which are analyzed to see if they are kept within reasonable limits.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not directly applicable because data are not based on a sample survey.
13.3. Non-sampling error
The environmental accounts are a summary statistic, so the non-sampling errors can come from both the sources and the treatment of the information in this operation (lack of coverage, measurement errors). The main instrument to analyze the accuracy is the analysis of the reviews. The reviews show the degree of proximity between successive estimators of the same value, and it is reasonable to assume that the estimators converge to the true value when based on better and more reliable data.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not applicable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not applicable.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not applicable.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
The data was available on the Statistics Portugal website on 20 December 2024.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
The estimates of the Material Flow Accounts are sent to EUROSTAT, at most, within 16 months after the end of the reference year, in compliance with EU Regulation 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts, in which regulates the periods for data transmission.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
The indicator of the time elapsed between the end of the reference period and the dissemination in Statistics Portugal is 12 months.
Data was transmitted to Eurostat on 9 January 2025.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
EU member countries use the same methodology in preparing estimates, which makes it possible to compare estimates of material flow accounts between them.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable because physical imports and exports as recorded in EW-MFA are not specified by origin and/or destination.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The basic methodology for preparing estimates has not changed much since the first estimates of material flow accounts as a pilot study. However, in addition to the need to adapt the new accounting series to the new National Accounting 2016 base, adjustments have been made to the air emissions and extractive industry data series.
Please see the table in 15.2.1.1 for reporting an assessment of comparability over time.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
The number of comparable time series elements since their last interval is 27.
15.2.1.1. Comparability - over time detailed
Please use below table for explaining b)-flags (breaks in time series):
Year (of the break in series)
Questionnaire table(s)
MF-code(s)
Reason for' break in time series'
All years
All tables
No break in time series
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Environmental accounts are consistent with national accounts.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable; reported EW-MFA data are only annual.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
The EW-MFA is consistent with the main aggregates derived from the European System of Accounts (ESA). The EW-MFA follows the residency principle.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The annual results of the material flow accounts are consistent with each other and with respect to the available annual series.
The estimated budgetary allocation needed to finance the Environmental Accounts: Operation of the Material Flow Account, provided for in the 2024 Annual Programme, is EUR 21.6 thousand.
There is no burden on the informants. The information used is provided by other statistics, no specific collection operations are performed for the EW-MFA.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Statistical data are a key asset in today’s society, and an essential tool in supporting the most relevant decision-making processes, both at the public and private level, and in carrying out analyses and research.
Statistical data are therefore of interest to public and decision-makers, policy-makers, economic agents, analysts and researchers, paving the way for all individuals to gain more awareness of their citizenship.
Statistical data is only truly useful if it is credible and of high quality particularly as regards accuracy and timeliness.
In order to ensure quality dimensions, statistical producers are required to establish a commitment between rigor and swiftness as regards data released.
This commitment often gives rise to the need to conduct data revisions.
The need for revisions may also stem from the introduction of methodological improvements or the updating of statistical standards often decided on at international level.
Transparency, which must underlie the production and dissemination of official statistics, thus requires a detailed clarification of the Revisions policy.
Statistics Portugal has a policy that regulates the basic aspects of the revision of statistical data, ensuring the transparency of processes and the quality of products.
The document on the revisions policy set out by Statistics Portugal, hereby presented, seeks to clarify the key factors of a revision, the typology of revision that may occur and the dimensions governing a revision’s analysis. It also explains the General and Operational Principles of the revisions policy that Statistics Portugal will consolidate in the future.
This policy is described in the document approved by the Board of Directors in 2008. The document is available in "Revisions policy”.
This general policy defines the criteria that must be followed for different types of reviews: routine - for statistics that, by their nature, are reviewed regularly; major revisions due to methodological changes or basic sources of statistical reference; and extraordinary revisions (due to an error in the statistics already published).
Environmental Accounts data is revised in a manner consistent with the annual National Accounting data review scheme.
Regulation (EU) 691/2011 provides that for each annual data transmission years n-4, n-3, n-2, n-1 and n are provided, where n is the reference year.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Statistics Portugal has published a new series of information from the Annual National Accounts with reference year 2021 (consistent and complete information for the period 1995 to 2023, which last year were preliminary data), replacing the previous series with reference year 2016.
As a result of this new series of information, and because it is the group of materials that is evidently most relevant to Portugal's results, Statistics Portugal has revised the entire series of Non-metallic minerals.
Factors that drive revisions in MFA estimates are basically changes:
in Annual National Accounts data;
in data on air emissions (for greenhouse gases - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC; and for other air pollutants - Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution, CLRTAP are reviewed annually by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), recalculations and methodological improvements for the whole series since 1995);
induced by improved estimation procedures.
The first time data for a reference year t is published at t + 12 months, material flow account data are advanced and provisional in successive years until definitive data is found at 1 year and 4 months ( t + 16) after the end of the corresponding reference year.
The practical way to proceed is to publish the data indicating its definitive or provisional nature. Each annual estimate is reviewed for until it is no longer considered provisional and becomes definitive.
18.1. Source data
Data sources used to produce economy-wide material flow accounts are described in the sub-concepts 18.1.1 and 18.1.2
18.1.1. Source data - Table A, B, D, F and G
For the material flow accounts, the following statistical information is used:
National Accounts
Foreign Trade Statistics
Statistics from different Ministries (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Ministry of Environment and Climate Action)
Agricultural Statistics
Fishery Statistics
Forest Statistics
Mines and Quarries Statistics
Please use Annex 1 to report the detailed data sources for questionnaire tables A, B, D, F and G.
We use Eurostat's Raw Material Equivalents by Country (RME) tool to estimate the raw material equivalents of product flows. The data input is provided by Eurostat in an Excel dataset.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data collection frequency is annual.
18.3. Data collection
Data collection techniques may vary by source type, data availability date, etc..
In general, data is sent to the Unit for Satellite Accounts and Quality Assessment of the National Accounts by the different Statistics Portugal units that produce them, although sometimes the information can be obtained directly from the corresponding database.
18.4. Data validation
Basic information, derived from different statistics, is subject to a series of treatments: identification of outliers, debugging errors, adaptation to the terms of the Environmental and National Accounts.
18.5. Data compilation
The data compilation process used follows the guidelines in Eurostat's Economy-wide material flow accounts Handbook 2018.
The elaboration process can be structured in several phases:
1. Basic Information Update: Data Collection Available
2. Treatment of basic information: performs a series of treatments, consisting of identifying outliers, debugging errors and adapting to the terms of the Environmental Accounts.
3. Preparation of the general structure file. With the new information available, the working file is completed to the level of breakdown required by the European Accounts Regulation. For each type of material, and for the purpose of obtaining more accurate estimates, auxiliary files are used to work with the highest possible degree of disaggregation of the different identifiable components.
4. Process of analysis and revision of estimates. Time series of results are analyzed for each product and operation to detect possible inconsistencies.
5. Preparation of final results files in the different formats required: format for submission to EUROSTAT and files for dissemination in the Statistics Portugal Portal (Results, Methodology, Press release).
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.5.2. Estimation approaches for specific items
No accurate direct source is available for grazed biomass domestic extraction. Therefore some estimation methods are used, based on the average animal consumption, using data from animal statistics.
For MF.1.2.2.2.2 Pasture biomass, the data are obtained by calculating pasture by animal capitation method. Using the fodder balances (feed rations) as a data source, specific feed intake capacity coefficients are calculated per head of cattle (dairy, beef and veal), sheep and goats, and horses, which are then multiplied by the number of heads (the data source is animal production statistics).
For the calculation of bacterial respiration, considering that the UNFCCC Report does not provide exclusive CO2 data, we used the UNFCCC GHG CO2 equivalent emissions.
18.5.3. Adjustment used of correspondence table for Tables B and D
We use the Eurostat correspondence table provided with the EW-MFA questionnaire to assign traded goods to material categories.
18.5.4. Adjustment used of conversion factors for Tables B and D
We don’t use conversion factors to convert traded goods into tonnes.
18.5.5. Fuel trade, residence adjustment
As described in the point 6 of the 2019 Quality report.
18.5.6. Significant problems
Some problems can be found when adapting basic statistics to MFA concepts. The main problems concern, mainly, unit conversion, estimates for “non-observed” activity, i.e., part of economic activities not covered by statistical sources (e.g. fisheries and mining), adjustments for resident principle and waste international trade flow (incoherence between sources of information).
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable; i.e. in EW-MFA no time series adjustment is necessary.
The Material Flow Account (MFA) shows the physical inputs of materials entering the national economic system and the results for other economies or the natural environment in physical units (tons). This account enables the collection of aggregate indicators of natural resource use, from which resource productivity (eco-efficiency) indicators relative to GDP and other economic and employment indicators, as well as indicators of material lifestyle, considering population size and other demographic indicators.
The material flow account provides data on national extraction and import and export of materials.
9 January 2025
Conceptually economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) belong to the international system of environmental economic accounting (SEEA-Central Framework). Furthermore, EW-MFA is one of several physical modules of Eurostat's programme on European environmental economic accounts. It is covered by Regulation (EU) No. 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts.
EW-MFA are closely related to concepts and definitions of national accounts. Most notably they follow the residence principle, i.e. they record material flows related to resident unit's activities, regardless where those occur geographically.
Further methodological guidelines are provided in various publications by Eurostat (see Eurostat website > Environment > Methodology, heading: 'Material flows and resource productivity').
Concepts
- Unused Domestic Extraction
Unused domestic extraction consists of materials extracted or removed within the territory of a country due to technical requirements that are not suitable or not intended for any use. For example: Soil and rocks excavated during construction, dredged sediment in ports, debris from mines and quarries (if not reused), and unused harvest biomass. Eroded farmland does not move on purpose, but may be included as an optional information item.
- Domestic Extraction (used)
Domestic extraction includes the annual amount of solid, liquid and gaseous materials (excluding air and water) extracted from the natural environment to be used as inputs in the economy.
- Material flows
Material flows reflect the physical inputs of materials entering the national economic system and the results for other economies or the natural environment. Flows come in physical units (tons) and describe the extraction, transformation, consumption and final disposal of chemical elements, raw materials or products.
- Import and export of materials
Physical imports and exports comprise all imported or exported goods, in units of mass. Exchanged goods include goods at all stages of processing, from basic products to finished products.
- Direct Material Inputs (Used)
They are defined as all solid, liquid and gaseous materials (excluding water and air) that enter the economy for later use in production or consumption processes. The two main categories are raw materials extracted in the country and imports. The sum of these two categories is one of the indicators derived from the accounts, the Direct Materials Input (DMI). The export deduction of this indicator is obtained in the domestic material consumption.
- Outputs to the environment
Material flows that enter nature during and after production or consumption processes. Such outlets include emissions to air or water, waste disposal, as well as materials that cause diffuse contamination (eg fertilizers or defrosting substances). Products also include dumping of unused national extraction.
- Local economic activity unit
The local economic activity unit is understood as the part of a company that carries out a particular activity in a specific geographic location.
- Institutional Unit
An elementary center of economic decision, characterized by a uniformity of behavior and autonomy of decision in the exercise of its main function and grouped in institutional sectors. They can be, for example, a home, a company or a unit of general government.
In the case of satellite accounts, the same units are used as in National Accounts, ie those included in the European System of Accounts (ESA).
Environmental accounts combine data from several different statistical sources. The concept of statistical population cannot be rigorously applied in this context.
EW-MFA refer to the entire national economy of the reporting country (see also 3.3 'Coverage - sector')).
EW-MFA include all materials (excluding water and air) crossing the system boundary (between the environment and the economy) on the input side or on the output side. The economy is demarcated by the conventions of the national accounting system (resident units).
Material inputs to the economy cover extractions of natural resources (excluding water and air) from the natural environment and imports of material products (goods) from the rest of the world economy (ROW).
Material outputs are disposals of materials to the natural environment and exports of material products and waste to the ROW. Information on natural resources extracted and traded products is provided by different statistical units.
Environmental accounts cover the entire Portuguese territory.
Material flow accounts should be consistent with national economic accounts. National Accounts define the national economy as the set of activities and operations of resident economic agents that have a center of interest in the national economic territory. Some operations of these units are performed outside the national economic territory and other transactions in this territory are performed by non-resident units. Therefore, in material flow accounts it is necessary, as in national accounts, to apply the residence principle. According to this principle, materials used by units residing outside the national territory should be considered as inputs of the national economy and materials used by units not residing in the national economic territory should be excluded from the accounting structure.
Accounting period is calendar year.
Direct measurement of accuracy in this case is not considered possible.
Please use Annex 3 for providing an assessment of the overall quality of the reported data.
The data compilation process used follows the guidelines in Eurostat's Economy-wide material flow accounts Handbook 2018.
The elaboration process can be structured in several phases:
1. Basic Information Update: Data Collection Available
2. Treatment of basic information: performs a series of treatments, consisting of identifying outliers, debugging errors and adapting to the terms of the Environmental Accounts.
3. Preparation of the general structure file. With the new information available, the working file is completed to the level of breakdown required by the European Accounts Regulation. For each type of material, and for the purpose of obtaining more accurate estimates, auxiliary files are used to work with the highest possible degree of disaggregation of the different identifiable components.
4. Process of analysis and revision of estimates. Time series of results are analyzed for each product and operation to detect possible inconsistencies.
5. Preparation of final results files in the different formats required: format for submission to EUROSTAT and files for dissemination in the Statistics Portugal Portal (Results, Methodology, Press release).
Data sources used to produce economy-wide material flow accounts are described in the sub-concepts 18.1.1 and 18.1.2
The frequency of data dissemination is annual.
The data was available on the Statistics Portugal website on 20 December 2024.
EU member countries use the same methodology in preparing estimates, which makes it possible to compare estimates of material flow accounts between them.
The basic methodology for preparing estimates has not changed much since the first estimates of material flow accounts as a pilot study. However, in addition to the need to adapt the new accounting series to the new National Accounting 2016 base, adjustments have been made to the air emissions and extractive industry data series.
Please see the table in 15.2.1.1 for reporting an assessment of comparability over time.
