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.
External Trade and Foreign Investments Statistics Department
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
2.1. Metadata last certified
2 April 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
2 April 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
2 April 2024
3.1. Data description
Crossing a border of the economic territory of the country is the main criterion for determining exports and imports for compilation of External Merchandise Trade Statistics of Georgia. Exports imply both export of domestic production abroad and re-export of imported goods. Imports imply importing of products and re-import of exported goods. Domestic exports include export of goods produced in the country, as well as imported from abroad, the value of which has significantly changed as a result of domestic processing. Data on external merchandise trade do not cover transit goods passing through the country and the data of Simplified Customs Declarations (Form №4) as well as shuttle trade. Database of Customs Declarations (DBCD) is the main information source on external trade transactions. National Statistics Office (NSO) receives DBCD from the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia on a monthly basis. In addition, information on external trade by natural gas and electric power is obtained from LTD Georgian Gas Transportation Company, JSC Georgian State Electric System and JSC Electricity System Commercial Operator, to complete the data. Data is provided at the 4-digit and 6-digit levels of the Harmonized Commodity Nomenclature System (HS 2017) as well as at the 1-digit and 5-digit levels of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev.4), by regions and 4-digit levels of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev.4), at the 1-digit and 3-digit level of Broad Economic Categories (BEC), by countries and country groups, by mode of transport, by size classes of traders and by kind of economic activities; also, at Foreign Trade (Export/Import) Unit Value Indices (UVI) according to the section of the Harmonized Commodity Nomenclature System (HS 2017). There are the following criteria to determine the partner country: for imports the sending country, while for exports the country of final destination. Exports are valued at FOB (Free on Board), i.e. franco-border prices of the exporting country (includes costs of cargo transportation to the board of exporting country and loading on-board of transport mean), while imports are valued at CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) prices i.e. transportation costs to the border of the importing country (international freight and insurance costs are also included in addition to the price)
3.2. Classification system
The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS 2017);
World Country and Territory Classification – SK 007-2016 (ISO 3166) (*);
Currency Classification – SK 008-2023 (ISO 4217);
Standard International Trade Classification (SITC, rev.4); 2
Broad Economic Categories (BEC, rev.4);
Classification of Economic Activities – GNC (NACE Rev.2) 006-2016 (2016);
Classification of Types of Transport.
(*) ISO 3166 classification can be easily transformed to EU Geonom via correlation tables.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The object of the External Merchandise Trade Statistics is any commodity entering and exiting the economic territory of a country and changing its material inventories.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
External Trade Statistics is compiled according to the international methodology of the United Nations Statistics Department „International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Compilers Manual, Revision 1“ (IMTS 2010-CM)), (United Nations, New York, USA 2013) and on the basis of the most recent recommendations „International Merchandise Trade Statistics, Concepts and Definitions, 2010“ (United Nations, New York, 2011). Therefore, all the concepts and definitions used for and during dissemination are derived from the mentioned methodological manual.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit is any natural or legal person (enterprise, local authority, public entity, household) that fills the customs declaration.
3.6. Statistical population
External Merchandise Trade includes all goods that enter (import) or leave (export) statistical territory of a country and increase or decrease inventories of country's material resources, including goods processing
3.7. Reference area
The information includes External Merchandise Trade between Georgia (except for areas not controlled by the central government, such as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region (so-called South Ossetian Autonomous Region)) and the rest of the world.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Since 1995.
3.9. Base period
For the calculation of Foreign trade (Export-Import) UVI - 2015 (2015 = 100).
Data on External Merchandise Trade statistics are published in US dollars; In addition, information is processed and disseminated in kilograms and additional units (liters, liters of 100% spirit, thousand liters, pieces, one hundred pieces, thousand pieces, thousand kWh, meters, sq. Meters, cubic meters, pairs, etc.); Also, data are dissemination at the Foreign trade (Export-Import) UVI
The month of receipt of the customs declaration by the customs authority.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Statistical data on external trade, goods imported and exported for processing and repair are provided to the authority producing official statistics, in particular, the National Bank of Georgia, on regular basis according to agreed timing and format for compilation of the balance of payments statistics.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
1. The Law of Georgia on Official Statistics:
According to the article 5 of the law Statistical confidentiality and exclusive use for statistical purposes – individual data collected or received by the producer of official statistics, relating to natural or legal persons, must be strictly confidential and used only for statistical purposes.
According to the article 34 (Observing Confidentiality of Statistical Data) of the law 1. Data collected, processed, and stored to produce official statistics are confidential if they enable the direct or indirect identification of a statistical unit. In addition, aggregated data are subject to statistical confidentiality: a) Aggregates composed of 1 to 3 units, when the unit is a natural or legal person if one of these units could be identified indirectly, thereby disclosing individual data about this unit. Aggregates composed of more than 3 units may be declared confidential by the Executive Director if required to ensure statistical confidentiality; b) Information declares as a state secret on the basis of the „Law of Georgia on State Secrets“. 2. Confidential data shall be used exclusively for the purposes of producing statistics in accordance with this law. 3. Statistical data about the administrative body cannot be considered confidential information, except for the information determined by the Law of Georgia „On State Secrets“. 4. Individual data obtained from publicly available sources, which are defined as public information in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, shall not be considered confidential information. 5. Confidential (individual) data may be published if there is written consent from the statistical unit regarding the publication of such data. 6. It is not allowed to disseminate and distribute confidential data or use it for non-statistical purposes.
According to the article 38 (Confidentiality commitments) of the law the confidential statistical data collected and processed for statistical purposes shall not be used or disseminated either for personal, academic, research or any other activities, by the employees of the producers of Official Statistics.
Written undertakings by an employee of Geostat on ensuring confidentiality of gained/collected data as a result of official duties.
8.1. Release calendar
Data dissemination dates are defined by the calendar developed on the basis of the Statistical Work Programme, which is published on the website of Geostat and is publicly available
All users have the equal access to the statistical data simultaneously.
External merchandise trade statistics data is published monthly.
The trade statistics data by regions and 4-digit levels of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev.4), which are published quarterly.
The quarterly data about External trade (Export-Import) UVI are disseminated yearly.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Monthly press release on External Trade Statistics is available on the following link:
External merchandise trade statistics are also available at the social network (Facebook) and through a special application for Android and iOS system mobile phones.
To ensure the quality of the statistical processes and products Geostat follows Chapter 10 – Quality of official statistics – of the Law of Georgia on Official Statistics, as well as the European Statistics Code of Practice, the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (ESS QAF).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Methodology and Quality Management Division of Geostat, along with the sectoral departments, is responsible for the quality of the produced statistical products and processes. The Division carries out quality audit, self-assessment of statistical processes and assesses the risks for the quality of statistical processes and products. Geostat has developed policy documents, guidelines and standard routine descriptions. These documents ensure the standardization of statistical processes and products and the establishment of a unified quality assurance system.
The main users of the external trade statistics data are: representatives of business sector, researchers and students, international organizations, government agencies, media etc. Users need data in order to perform various types of statistical analysis, to plan a marketing strategy or to study and evaluate the economic situation.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
In 2023 user satisfaction survey was conducted, the target of the survey was to analyze the assessment of quality of statistical data by users and explore ways to improve user services.
The data is relevant to international standards and covers all the mandatory variables.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Accuracy of data is related to practical data collection during customs administration, which does not exclude quantitative and qualitative gaps. Faults are eliminated through pre-compiled control and adjustment procedures.
13.2. Sampling error
External merchandise trade statistics are fully based on administrative sources, so there are no sampling errors.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Qualitative and quantitative errors within the database of customs declarations provided by the Revenue Service. Faults are eliminated through pre-compiled control and adjustment procedures.
14.1. Timeliness
Preliminary data on external trade are available on the 13th day and detailed data on the 19th day after the end of the reporting period data by regions and 4-digit levels of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev.4) on the 55th day. Data on Foreign Trade (Export/Import) UVI are published on July 31. The data will be disseminated on the following business day in case of information release date coincides with the day off.
14.2. Punctuality
The data is published according to the date specified in the statistical work program. There has not been any violation of publication dates.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The data are comparable in geographical terms
15.2. Comparability - over time
Partly comparable in terms of commodity nomenclature: •4-digit level comparable periods – since 1995; •By 6-digit level – since 2000; • Foreign Trade (Export/Import) UVI – since 2015.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The data is coherent.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The data is coherent.
The data is being received and processed by the basic staff within budget of Geostat budget. The source of information is administrative data.
Revision and adjustment of statistical data is made on a regular basis according to the adjusted information received from relevant sources. In addition, a large-scale revision is carried out once a year in order to obtain verified data.
18.1. Source data
The export-import statistics of goods are conducted on the basis of the following information:
Database of Customs Declarations (DBCD) from the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia;
Data on export/import of natural gas – LTD Georgian Gas Transportation Company;
Electricity export/import data – JSC Georgian State Electric System and JSC Electricity System Commercial Operator.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Monthly.
18.3. Data collection
National Statistics Office (NSO) receives DBCD from the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia on a monthly basis. Data on natural gas and electric power is received via e-mail from relevant sources upon official request.
18.4. Data validation
The following activities are being carried out by National Statistics Office based on obtained information:
Verification of main indicators of the DBCD – commodity codes, prices, weights, dates of customs declarations, country codes for origin/destination, non-existent codes of country and commodity;
Control the limits on prices of main commodities and adjustment of quantities, prices or supplementary unit: Price / weight / supplementary unit control (the following codes are checked and corrected: 01 group, 0407, 2201, 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206, 2207, 2208, 2402, 2716, 8429, 8430, 8701, 8702, 8703, 8704, 8705, 8711, 8716);
Exclusion from the database commodities (securities, banknotes and coins in circulation, diplomatic and similar goods) that should not be classified as external merchandise trade according to the internationally approved methodology.
18.5. Data compilation
For the compilation of External Merchandise Trade statistics Georgia uses the “general method”, which means that crossing a border of the economic territory of the country is the main criterion for determining exports and imports. External trade data collection, processing, clarification and correction is carried out in accordance with international standards. The Foreign trade UVI are calculated on both Paasches formula and on Laspeyres' formula, but the index numbers eventually published are geometric means of these two types of index (Fisher's "ideal" index).
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustment applied by Geostat.
None
Crossing a border of the economic territory of the country is the main criterion for determining exports and imports for compilation of External Merchandise Trade Statistics of Georgia. Exports imply both export of domestic production abroad and re-export of imported goods. Imports imply importing of products and re-import of exported goods. Domestic exports include export of goods produced in the country, as well as imported from abroad, the value of which has significantly changed as a result of domestic processing. Data on external merchandise trade do not cover transit goods passing through the country and the data of Simplified Customs Declarations (Form №4) as well as shuttle trade. Database of Customs Declarations (DBCD) is the main information source on external trade transactions. National Statistics Office (NSO) receives DBCD from the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia on a monthly basis. In addition, information on external trade by natural gas and electric power is obtained from LTD Georgian Gas Transportation Company, JSC Georgian State Electric System and JSC Electricity System Commercial Operator, to complete the data. Data is provided at the 4-digit and 6-digit levels of the Harmonized Commodity Nomenclature System (HS 2017) as well as at the 1-digit and 5-digit levels of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev.4), by regions and 4-digit levels of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev.4), at the 1-digit and 3-digit level of Broad Economic Categories (BEC), by countries and country groups, by mode of transport, by size classes of traders and by kind of economic activities; also, at Foreign Trade (Export/Import) Unit Value Indices (UVI) according to the section of the Harmonized Commodity Nomenclature System (HS 2017). There are the following criteria to determine the partner country: for imports the sending country, while for exports the country of final destination. Exports are valued at FOB (Free on Board), i.e. franco-border prices of the exporting country (includes costs of cargo transportation to the board of exporting country and loading on-board of transport mean), while imports are valued at CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) prices i.e. transportation costs to the border of the importing country (international freight and insurance costs are also included in addition to the price)
2 April 2024
External Trade Statistics is compiled according to the international methodology of the United Nations Statistics Department „International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Compilers Manual, Revision 1“ (IMTS 2010-CM)), (United Nations, New York, USA 2013) and on the basis of the most recent recommendations „International Merchandise Trade Statistics, Concepts and Definitions, 2010“ (United Nations, New York, 2011). Therefore, all the concepts and definitions used for and during dissemination are derived from the mentioned methodological manual.
The statistical unit is any natural or legal person (enterprise, local authority, public entity, household) that fills the customs declaration.
External Merchandise Trade includes all goods that enter (import) or leave (export) statistical territory of a country and increase or decrease inventories of country's material resources, including goods processing
The information includes External Merchandise Trade between Georgia (except for areas not controlled by the central government, such as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region (so-called South Ossetian Autonomous Region)) and the rest of the world.
The month of receipt of the customs declaration by the customs authority.
Accuracy of data is related to practical data collection during customs administration, which does not exclude quantitative and qualitative gaps. Faults are eliminated through pre-compiled control and adjustment procedures.
Data on External Merchandise Trade statistics are published in US dollars; In addition, information is processed and disseminated in kilograms and additional units (liters, liters of 100% spirit, thousand liters, pieces, one hundred pieces, thousand pieces, thousand kWh, meters, sq. Meters, cubic meters, pairs, etc.); Also, data are dissemination at the Foreign trade (Export-Import) UVI
For the compilation of External Merchandise Trade statistics Georgia uses the “general method”, which means that crossing a border of the economic territory of the country is the main criterion for determining exports and imports. External trade data collection, processing, clarification and correction is carried out in accordance with international standards. The Foreign trade UVI are calculated on both Paasches formula and on Laspeyres' formula, but the index numbers eventually published are geometric means of these two types of index (Fisher's "ideal" index).
The export-import statistics of goods are conducted on the basis of the following information:
Database of Customs Declarations (DBCD) from the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia;
Data on export/import of natural gas – LTD Georgian Gas Transportation Company;
Electricity export/import data – JSC Georgian State Electric System and JSC Electricity System Commercial Operator.
External merchandise trade statistics data is published monthly.
The trade statistics data by regions and 4-digit levels of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev.4), which are published quarterly.
The quarterly data about External trade (Export-Import) UVI are disseminated yearly.
Preliminary data on external trade are available on the 13th day and detailed data on the 19th day after the end of the reporting period data by regions and 4-digit levels of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev.4) on the 55th day. Data on Foreign Trade (Export/Import) UVI are published on July 31. The data will be disseminated on the following business day in case of information release date coincides with the day off.
The data are comparable in geographical terms
Partly comparable in terms of commodity nomenclature: •4-digit level comparable periods – since 1995; •By 6-digit level – since 2000; • Foreign Trade (Export/Import) UVI – since 2015.
