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.
International trade in goods statistics (ITGS) published by INSTAT measure the value and quantity of goods traded between Albania. ‘Goods’ means all movable property including electricity. ‘European’ means that the statistics are compiled on the basis of the concepts and definitions set out in INSTAT and EU legislation.
Trade by invoicing currency (TIC) data are part of the information available for extra-EU trade. The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Data by invoicing currency can be used for instance to explore the use of the euro in the EU’s international trade, to compare it with the role of the United States dollar (USD) or to analyse the role of the euro in the euro area and in the EU. These statistics are very useful to central banks, including the European Central Bank, for comparing the euro with other major international currencies. These data are also used by financial market segments or foreign investors.
Statistical data elements:
reporting country;
partner area;
Flow;
product;
invoicing currency;
reference year;
indicator
Metadata:
frequency;
observation status;
confidentiality status;
decimals;
unit multiplier;
unit of mesaure;
embargo time
3.2. Classification system
Product classification
The Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) is managed by the United Nations and correlated with the subheadings of the Harmonised System. SITC Rev. 4 comprises 2 970 basing headings which are aggregated into 262 groups, 67 divisions and 10 sections. TIC data are based on the section level complemented by the division 33 ‘oil”.
Country classification
The ISO alpha-2 (ISO 3166) is used by Customs to collect the international trade data. The ‘Nomenclature of countries and territories for the external trade statistics of the Union and statistics of trade between Member States’, known as the ‘Geonomenclature’, is used to disseminate statistics on exchanges of goods. TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat, at an aggregated partner level: partner ‘extra-EU’ for TIC data reported by the EU Member States and partner ‘world’ for the TIC data reported by the EFTA and enlargement countries. See the publication Geonomenclature applicable to European statistics on international trade in goods for more information
The scope of TIC data is the same as for monthly detailed data on trade in goods. They cover all goods entering (imports) or leaving (exports) the statistical territories of the country. Note that the statistical territory of Albania corresponds to its customs territory.
As ITGS in general, TIC data cover all sectors of the economy.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Reporting country – Except for some specific goods like vessels and aircraft, ITGS follow the physical movements of the goods. A country should record an import when goods enter its statistical territory and an export when goods leave that territory except if those goods are in simple transit.
Partner country – At detailed level, this is the last known country of destination for exports and the country of origin for imports. However individual partner countries are not kept in the dissemination of data by invoicing currency. They are replaced by the partner area ‘extra-EU’.
Product – Goods are primarily classified by commodity code as set out in the EU Combined Nomenclature. TIC data are compiled on the basis of a correspondence table enabling the transposition of detailed data collected according to the Combined Nomenclature into the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC).
TIC data transmitted to Eusrostat, period 2017-2019
Product groups
total trade: code ‘_T’;
Raw materials without oil (SITC sections 0-4, excluding division 33);
Oil (SITC division 33);
Manufactured products (SITC sections 5-8).
Currency The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
euro;
national currencies of EU Member States not belonging to the euro area;
US dollar;
‘other’ (i.e. aggregated group of currencies of all non-EU countries except the United States).
TIC data transmitted to Eusrostat, period 2020
Product groups
total trade: code ‘_T’;
Raw materials without oil (SITC sections 0-4, excluding division 33);
Oil (SITC division 33);
Manufactured products (SITC sections 5-8).
Currency The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
euro;
national currencies of EU Member States not belonging to the euro area;
US dollar;
‘other’ (i.e. aggregated group of currencies of all non-EU countries except the United States);
unknown'.
Note on ‘unknown’ currency: Trade for which the currency is unknown should be distributed over the individual currencies or groups of currencies proportionally to their relative share except if it is known that such a distribution would skew the data in a too significant extent. In such a case, the code UNK ‘Unknown’ could exceptionally be used.
TIC data transmitted to Eusrostat, period 2021-2022
commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC: code ‘SITC9’;
oil according to SITC division 33: code ‘SITC33’.
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
euro;
UK pound;
national currencies of non- euro area;
US dollar;
brazilian real
Canadian dollar,
Swiss franc
Chinese yuan renminbi
Indian rupee
Japanese yen
South Korean won
Mexican peso
Norwegiankrone
Russian ruble
Singapore dollar
Turkish Lira
Albanian lek
unknown currency
Not specified.
TIC data transmitted to Eusrostat, period 2023-2024
commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC: code ‘SITC9’;
oil according to SITC division 33: code ‘SITC33’.
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
other not specified currencies
unknown currency
euro;
UK pound sterling;
US dollar;
national currencies of non- euro area member states;
brazilian real;
Canadian dollar;
Swiss franc;
Chinese yuan renminbi;
Indian rupee;
Japanese yen;
South Korean won;
Mexican peso;
Norwegiankrone;
Russian ruble;
Singapore dollar;
Turkish Lira;
Albanian lek;
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit is any natural and legal person lodging a customs declaration in the reporting country on the condition that the customs procedure is of statistical relevance.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population comprise all the legal or natural persons who lodged a customs declaration with the Custom offices.
3.7. Reference area
External trade statistics in goods cover trade flows entering or living the statistical territory of Albania (country level).
3.8. Coverage - Time
TIC data disseminated by Eurostat
TIC data are transmitted since 2017 to Eurostat.
TIC data disseminated at national level
Not available.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
For data transmission to Eurostat – Trade values (in national currency units) by invoicing currency. The value of traded goods is calculated at the national frontier, on a FOB (free on board) basis for exports and a CIF (cost, insurance, freight) basis for imports. Hence, only incidental expenses (freight, insurance) are included and they are incurred for:
exports in the part of the journey located on the territory of the country where the goods are exported from;
imports in the part of the journey located outside the territory of the country where the goods are imported to.
Theoretically, the reference period for the information on international trade in goods transactions should be the calendar month of export or import of the goods. However, in practice the reference period is generally the calendar month during which the customs declaration is accepted by the Sustom offices.
The reference years for which TIC data are disseminated result from the aggregation of monthly figures from January to December.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1225 specifying the arrangements for the data exchanges and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197, as regards the Member State of extra-Union export and the obligations of reporting units;
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1704 further specifying the details for the statistical information to be provided by tax and customs authorities and amending Annexes V and VI of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
LAW NO.17/2018 ON OFFICIAL STATISTICS Article 31 on Statistics Law reads as follows: Data collected, processed and stored for the production of official statistics shall be treated by INSTAT, statistical agencies and any organization or person mandated by them, as strictly confidential when they allow statistical units to be identified, either directly or indirectly, thereby disclosing individual information that has not already been made public on other grounds. All employees of the bodies/controllers mentioned in the first paragraph of this point, who are aware about the data they use during they daily work, are obligated to maintain the confidentiality of reliability even after the end of their working function. Direct identification means when a statistical unit is directly identified from its name or address or any officially allocated and commonly known identification number. When data processing is made in a manner that allows the identification of the data subject, the data should immediately be encrypted in order for the subjects to be no longer be identifiable.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Data by invoicing currency are not detailed enough to make it possible to identify a specific trader. Therefore no specific data treatment applies.
8.1. Release calendar
There is no release calendar for TIC data as the data are only transimtted to Eurostat
8.2. Release calendar access
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
8.3. Release policy - user access
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only pulished and disseminated by Eurostat according to dissemination policy.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not available
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
100%
10.7. Quality management - documentation
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
11.1. Quality assurance
Data are checked for completeness and errors.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
INSTAT makes sure that the transmission of the requested data meets the requirements. Datasets must be complete, error-free, and all possible extreme values (outliers) confirmed.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
Accuracy of TIC data depends mainly on the accuracy of customs declarations.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable because data are entirely derived from information collected via customs declarations.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
The accuracy of TIC data is primarily impacted by issues in the collection and compilation of detailed trade in goods statistics combined with issues in the reporting of the invoicing currency by the trader.
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
See 14.1.1 and 14.1.2
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Data are sent every two years to Eurostat. In March 2025 were sent the data for 2023-2024.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
TIC data are transmitted within the legal deadline to Eurostat.
14.2. Punctuality
TIC data are transmitted within the legal deadline.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The comparability is ensured by the implementation of the concepts and definitions set up by the EU legislation and by the application of the complementary guidelines provided by the
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
There were no changes, so the data are comparable in the entire series from 2017 to 2024.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
TIC data disseminated by Eurostat
The time series from 2017 to 2024 is available.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Checks carried out to ensure the coherence between the trade values prepared in the TIC dataset and trade values coming from aggregated and detailed trade in goods statistics.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The internal coherence of the TIC dataset is ensured by the intra-dataset checks carried out at before transmissio to Euorstat.
TIC tables for 2024 have been prepared in accordance with European bussines statistics compilers' manual for trade by invoicing curencies 2025 edition.
To prepare tables in the latest format, is used access database.
17.1. Data revision - policy
As data are not disseminated at national level, there is no formal revision policy.
17.2. Data revision - practice
No data revisions made.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not available.
18.1. Source data
TIC data are derived from the information collected via customs declarations which includes invoicing currencies.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Collection of trade in goods data and invoicing currency: every month via customs declarations.
18.3. Data collection
The standard source of information on trade transactions is the customs declaration submitted by businesses and, in some cases, by private individuals involved in an international transaction of goods with other countries. The customs declaration — the Single Administrative Document (SAD) — is in electronic format.
18.4. Data validation
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only disseminated by Eurostat.
TIC data disseminated by Eurostat have passed the following quality checks:
Intra-dataset checks: completeness of the dataset and uniqueness of the records, validity of the codes, validity of code combinations across the different dimensions, inter-record consistency checks;
Intra-domain check: check of the coherence between trade values published in the TIC dataset and trade values coming from aggregated and detailed trade in goods data.
18.5. Data compilation
At national level:
Not applicable
At European level:
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of the reporting country is calculated on the basis of the transmitted trade values. Additionally, Eurostat derives TIC data for the EU and the euro area as reporting entities by aggregating the trade values reported by the Member States.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
At national level:
No imputation.
At European level:
No imputation is made by Eurostat.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
International trade in goods statistics (ITGS) published by INSTAT measure the value and quantity of goods traded between Albania. ‘Goods’ means all movable property including electricity. ‘European’ means that the statistics are compiled on the basis of the concepts and definitions set out in INSTAT and EU legislation.
Trade by invoicing currency (TIC) data are part of the information available for extra-EU trade. The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Data by invoicing currency can be used for instance to explore the use of the euro in the EU’s international trade, to compare it with the role of the United States dollar (USD) or to analyse the role of the euro in the euro area and in the EU. These statistics are very useful to central banks, including the European Central Bank, for comparing the euro with other major international currencies. These data are also used by financial market segments or foreign investors.
Statistical data elements:
reporting country;
partner area;
Flow;
product;
invoicing currency;
reference year;
indicator
Metadata:
frequency;
observation status;
confidentiality status;
decimals;
unit multiplier;
unit of mesaure;
embargo time
31 May 2025
Reporting country – Except for some specific goods like vessels and aircraft, ITGS follow the physical movements of the goods. A country should record an import when goods enter its statistical territory and an export when goods leave that territory except if those goods are in simple transit.
Partner country – At detailed level, this is the last known country of destination for exports and the country of origin for imports. However individual partner countries are not kept in the dissemination of data by invoicing currency. They are replaced by the partner area ‘extra-EU’.
Product – Goods are primarily classified by commodity code as set out in the EU Combined Nomenclature. TIC data are compiled on the basis of a correspondence table enabling the transposition of detailed data collected according to the Combined Nomenclature into the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC).
TIC data transmitted to Eusrostat, period 2017-2019
Product groups
total trade: code ‘_T’;
Raw materials without oil (SITC sections 0-4, excluding division 33);
Oil (SITC division 33);
Manufactured products (SITC sections 5-8).
Currency The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
euro;
national currencies of EU Member States not belonging to the euro area;
US dollar;
‘other’ (i.e. aggregated group of currencies of all non-EU countries except the United States).
TIC data transmitted to Eusrostat, period 2020
Product groups
total trade: code ‘_T’;
Raw materials without oil (SITC sections 0-4, excluding division 33);
Oil (SITC division 33);
Manufactured products (SITC sections 5-8).
Currency The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
euro;
national currencies of EU Member States not belonging to the euro area;
US dollar;
‘other’ (i.e. aggregated group of currencies of all non-EU countries except the United States);
unknown'.
Note on ‘unknown’ currency: Trade for which the currency is unknown should be distributed over the individual currencies or groups of currencies proportionally to their relative share except if it is known that such a distribution would skew the data in a too significant extent. In such a case, the code UNK ‘Unknown’ could exceptionally be used.
TIC data transmitted to Eusrostat, period 2021-2022
commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC: code ‘SITC9’;
oil according to SITC division 33: code ‘SITC33’.
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
euro;
UK pound;
national currencies of non- euro area;
US dollar;
brazilian real
Canadian dollar,
Swiss franc
Chinese yuan renminbi
Indian rupee
Japanese yen
South Korean won
Mexican peso
Norwegiankrone
Russian ruble
Singapore dollar
Turkish Lira
Albanian lek
unknown currency
Not specified.
TIC data transmitted to Eusrostat, period 2023-2024
commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC: code ‘SITC9’;
oil according to SITC division 33: code ‘SITC33’.
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
other not specified currencies
unknown currency
euro;
UK pound sterling;
US dollar;
national currencies of non- euro area member states;
brazilian real;
Canadian dollar;
Swiss franc;
Chinese yuan renminbi;
Indian rupee;
Japanese yen;
South Korean won;
Mexican peso;
Norwegiankrone;
Russian ruble;
Singapore dollar;
Turkish Lira;
Albanian lek;
The statistical unit is any natural and legal person lodging a customs declaration in the reporting country on the condition that the customs procedure is of statistical relevance.
The statistical population comprise all the legal or natural persons who lodged a customs declaration with the Custom offices.
External trade statistics in goods cover trade flows entering or living the statistical territory of Albania (country level).
Theoretically, the reference period for the information on international trade in goods transactions should be the calendar month of export or import of the goods. However, in practice the reference period is generally the calendar month during which the customs declaration is accepted by the Sustom offices.
The reference years for which TIC data are disseminated result from the aggregation of monthly figures from January to December.
Accuracy of TIC data depends mainly on the accuracy of customs declarations.
For data transmission to Eurostat – Trade values (in national currency units) by invoicing currency. The value of traded goods is calculated at the national frontier, on a FOB (free on board) basis for exports and a CIF (cost, insurance, freight) basis for imports. Hence, only incidental expenses (freight, insurance) are included and they are incurred for:
exports in the part of the journey located on the territory of the country where the goods are exported from;
imports in the part of the journey located outside the territory of the country where the goods are imported to.
At national level:
Not applicable
At European level:
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of the reporting country is calculated on the basis of the transmitted trade values. Additionally, Eurostat derives TIC data for the EU and the euro area as reporting entities by aggregating the trade values reported by the Member States.
TIC data are derived from the information collected via customs declarations which includes invoicing currencies.
TIC data are not diseeminated in national level, are only pulished and disseminated by Eurostat according to dissemination policy.
See 14.1.1 and 14.1.2
The comparability is ensured by the implementation of the concepts and definitions set up by the EU legislation and by the application of the complementary guidelines provided by the
