Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sector for Economic Statistics - Department for International Trade Statistics

Zelenih beretki 26, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

BiH international trade in goods statistics measure the value and quantity of goods traded between BiH and other countries.
BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency data (TIC data) are part of the information available for BiH international trade in goods statistics. 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, the U. S. dollar and the BiH convertible mark in the BiH's international trade in goods. These statistics are very useful to BiH Central Bank, for comparing the BiH convertible mark with other international currencies. These data are also used by financial market segments or foreign investors.

Statistical dimensions available for TIC data are:
• reference period;
• trade flows;
• product;
• currency.

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".

BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency statistics cover all goods entering (imports) or leaving (exports) the statistical territories of BiH. The statistical territory of BiH corresponds to its customs territory.
TIC data cover all sectors of the economy.

Product – Goods are primarily classified by commodity code as set out in the Customs Tariff of BiH (in line with EU Combined Nomenclature). TIC data are compiled on the basis of a correspondence table enabling the transposition of detailed data collected according to the Customs Tariff of BiH into the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC). Before 2022, Extrastat legislation required the following SITC groups to be disseminated: SITC0T4A (SITC sections 0 to 4), SITC5T8A (SITC sections 5 to 8) and SITC33 (SITC division 33). The new European Business Statistics (EBS) Regulation requires SITC sections 0 to 9, as well as division 33, to be disseminated individually.

Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. The invoicing currencies or groups of invoicing currencies to be transmitted to Eurostat and disseminated are defined by the previous Extrastat legislation and the new EBS legislation. The set of collected currencies/groups of currencies has been evolving over time. Initially, only five currencies/groups of currencies were collected (Euro-EUR, US dollar-USD, National currencies of non-euro area Member States-XU3, Other not specified currencies-_X and Total-_T). Since 2020 reference year, one new currency/group of currencies was added (Unknown currency-_U). Since 2021 reference year, the following currencies/groups of currencies has been collected and disseminated (Euro-EUR, Convertible mark-BAM, US dollar-USD, UK pound sterling-GBP, National currencies of non-euro area Member States-XU3, Other not specified currencies-_X, Unknown currency-_U, Total-_T, Brazlilian real-BRL, Canadian dollar-CAD, Swiss franc-CHF, Chinese yuan renminbi-CNY, Indian rupee-INR, Japanese yen-JPY, South Korean won-KRW, Mexican peso-MXN, Norwegian krone-NOK, Russian rouble-RUB, Singapore dollar-SGD, Turkish lira-TRY). The most important invoicing currencies for BiH international trade in goods are euro, U.S. dolar and the national currency-BAM.

Statistical unit in BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency statistics is any legal or natural person that exports or imports goods i. e. lodges a single administrative document (customs declaration) to the Indirect Taxation Authority (Customs).

The statistical population comprises all the legal and natural persons lodging a single administrative document (customs declaration) to the Indirect Taxation Authority (Customs).

Data refer to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

TIC data disseminated by Eurostat
Since 2017.

TIC data disseminated by Agency for Statistics of BiH
Since 2013.

Not applicable.

For data transmission to Eurostat
Trade values (in national currency unit-BAM) 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.

For data dissemination on Eurostat website
Share of each invoicing currency in world imports and exports for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For data dissemination on website of Agency for Statistics of BiH
• Trade values by invoicing currency
• Share of each invoicing currency in imports and exports

The reference period for BiH international trade in goods statistics is a month when the single administrative document (customs declaration) is accepted by the Indirect Taxation Authority (Customs).
The reference years for which TIC data are disseminated result from the aggregation of monthly figures from January to December.

EU
General statistical legislation
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics

Legislation applicable as of 1 January 2022
Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics
• Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152
• 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

Extra-EU trade legislation (or Extrastat) - legislation applicable up to 1 January 2022
Basic Act: Regulation (EC) No 471/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Implementing Commission Regulation (EC) No 92/2010
• Implementing Commission Regulation (EC) No 113/2010

All regulations relevant for the European statistics on international trade in goods can be found in the publication Legislation on European statistics on international trade in goods or consulted from the Legislation page of the International trade in goods section on Eurostat website. All legal texts of the EU are accessible on Eur-Lex.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Law on Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Multiannual statistical programmes and annual work plans of the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Not applicable.

Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20 (4)) stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for techical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

As a general definition, data used by national and EU authorities for producing statistics are considered confidential if statistical units can be identified, either directly or indirectly, and information about individuals or businesses is disclosed as a result.

Law on Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of BiH 26/04 and 42/04 - Chapter XI - Article 23.-29.) establishes the principle of confidentiality as one of the main principles. 

BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency data are not detailed enough to make it possible to identify a specific trader. Therefore no specific data treatment applies.

Eurostat
No release calendar as such but the practice to publish TIC data at country level once they have passed all the quality checks. If all the validation rules are met, this means within a few days after the data transmission by the reporting country to Eurostat. Note that this practice applies both for a new reference year and for revisions.

Agency for Statistics of BiH
At the end of December every year, the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina announces the Release Calendar with the precise date and time of publication of the statistics for the following year.
TIC data are published in the release "BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency statistics" and Thematic Bulletin "BiH international trade in goods".

Eurostat
The Calendar can be found at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/main/news/release-calendar/

Agency for Statistics of BiH
The Calendar can be found at:
https://bhas.gov.ba/Calendar/

Eurostat
In line with the EU legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.

Agency for Statistics of BiH
In line with the EU legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice the Agency for Statistics of BiH disseminates BiH statistics on its website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably.
Data are distributed to all users through the official web page of the Agency for Statistics of BiH: https://bhas.gov.ba

Eurostat
TIC data are updated every year in April/May with a new reference year.

Agency for Statistics of BiH
BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency data are disseminated every year in February.

Eurostat
News releases on-line.

Agency for Statistics of BiH
Annual release "BiH International Trade in Goods by Invoicing Currency Statistics"
https://bhas.gov.ba/Calendar/Category/11

Eurostat
Statistics Explained is an official Eurostat website presenting all statistical topics in an easily understandable way. Together, the articles make up an encyclopaedia of European statistics, completed by a statistical glossary clarifying all terms used and numerous links to further information and the very latest data and metadata. One of the Statistics Explained articles relating to international trade in goods statistics is dedicated to TIC data. See the article Extra-EU trade by invoicing currency.

Agency for Statistics of BiH
Thematic Bulletin "BiH International Trade in Goods"
https://bhas.gov.ba/Calendar/Category/11

Eurostat
The TIC data can be accessed via the Data Navigation Tree, under the "International trade" theme and the "International trade in goods" branch. Two views are available:
• Trade shares by invoicing currency with additional currency and SITC product group breakdowns (from 2021 onwards) (EXT_TIC02)
• Trade shares by invoicing currency (from 2010 onwards) (EXT_LT_INVCUR)

Agency for Statistics of BiH
Not available.

Not available.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not available.

Eurostat
User Guide on European statistics on international trade in goods – The purpose of this Guide is to explain to a wide range of users how the statistics relating to trade in goods, both between EU Member States and with non-EU countries, are collected, compiled, processed and published at European level. The different issues are tackled in a question and answer format.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-manuals-and-guidelines/w/ks-gq-22-001

European business statistics compilers' manual for international trade in goods statistics – This Guide provides clarifications, often through concrete examples, to help the compilers to better interpret and apply the complex legislation on ITGS.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-manuals-and-guidelines/w/ks-gq-23-007

European business statistics compilers' manual for international trade in goods statistics – trade by invoicing currency – This compilers’ manual is meant to serve as a practical reference document for all National Statistical Authorities involved in the compilation of EU statistics on trade in goods by invoicing currency (TIC). As such, it provides the necessary definitions and practical instructions regarding the preparation and transmission of TIC data to Eurostat.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-manuals-and-guidelines/w/ks-gq-23-004

Agency for Statistics of BiH
BiH International Trade in Goods Statistics - Quick User Guide
https://bhas.gov.ba/data/Publikacije/Metodologije/ETR_00_2017_MD_0_EN.pdf

Metadata completness rate (AC3) for BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency statistics is 100%.

Eurostat
Quality Report on European statistics on international trade in goods — This Report provides users with a tool to assess the quality of the international trade in goods statistics published by Eurostat. The data quality can be assessed against indicators covering the following components: relevance, accuracy, timeliness and punctuality, accessibility and clarity, comparability and coherence.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-statistical-reports/w/ks-ft-22-010

Agency for Statistics of BiH
BiH International Trade in Goods Statistics - Quality Report
http://bhas.gov.ba/Content/Read/92?title=Kvalitet

Eurostat
Quality reporting and assessment
The Extrastat regulation and EBS regulation include standardised quality articles. These articles are in line with the ESS Quality definition, European Statistics Code of Practice and the Regulation of European Statistics. In particular, they require the reporting countries to provide Eurostat with annual quality reports within a fixed deadline. Those reports are used for quality and compliance assessments. The following indicators are compiled for each reference year:
• Statistical information required by the legislation but not or partially provided
• Timeliness and punctuality of TIC data

Data quality checks prior to any dissemination
The prime responsibility for ensuring the data completeness and accuracy rests with the National Statistical Authorities. Further checks are carried out by Eurostat, essentially to ensure that the transmission of the requested data meets the requirements. Datasets must be complete, error-free, and all possible extreme values (outliers) confirmed

Agency for Statistics of BiH
Quality Management Policy as an element of the system of quality management generally is related to the following components: product quality of the process as well as other elements of the system for quality management, such as planning and controls. To assure the quality of processes and products, Agency for Statistics of BiH is the implementation of the Quality management model (TQM) done using the CAF tool. The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a total quality management tool developed by the public sector for the public sector, inspired by the Excellence Model of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). Process of self-assessment identifies and monitors all organization results, provides feedback on organizational capacity and results of policy and planning processes. The scoring tool for self-assessment has 9 key indicators and 28 criteria based on which it is possible to measure management level achieved and determine which are the critical points for improvements in future. It looks at the organization from different angles at the same time: the holistic approach to organization performance analysis. Agency for Statistics of BiH uses „The CAF guidelines for implementation “and a 10-step implementation plan developed to help organizations use it in the most efficient and effective way. Process of self-assessment identifies and monitors all-important organizational results and provides feedback on organizational capacities and results of policy and planning processes. This model of quality monitoring requires the development of a standardized questionnaire that includes all principles in the model. Agency for statistics of BiH is committed to quality assurance in the production of official statistics based on Article 19, Paragraph (1) “Law of Statistics BIH, Official Gazette of BiH 26/04; 42/04”. In order to ensure the quality of statistics Agency developed a documented Policy and programme for quality management which is available on web site: https://bhas.gov.ba/data/Dokumenti/Kvalitet/QM_Policy_and_Programme_BHAS.pdf

Eurostat
TIC data are derived from monthly detailed trade in goods data combined with additional information on invoicing currencies. Therefore their quality primarily depends on the quality of these two data sources.

Agency for Statistics of BiH
The quality of official statistics’ products (main indicators/statistics) are regularly assessed in quality reports through the calculation of quality indicators. On other hand, processes included in statistical production are assessed by specific process quality indicators in quality reports and additionally through Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) documentation.

Data by invoicing currency can be used for instance to explore the use of the euro, the U. S. dollar and the BiH convertible mark in the BiH's international trade in goods. These statistics are very useful to BiH Central Bank, for comparing the BiH convertible mark with other international currencies. These data are also used by financial market segments or foreign investors.

One of the key elements in securing the quality of statistical data is monitoring the users’ satisfaction.
Agency for Statistics of BiH does not carry out a specific User Satisfaction Survey focused solely on BiH international trade in goods  by invoicing currency statistics.
The results of the User Satisfaction Survey regarding all statistical domains together are available on the web page:
https://bhas.gov.ba

Data completness rate (R1) for users is 100%. All key indicators, required by EU legislation and international standards for international trade in goods by invoicing currency statistics, are disseminated.

Data completness rate (R1) for producers is 100%. All key indicators, required by EU legislation and international standards for international trade in goods by invoicing currency statistics, are produced.

TIC data accuracy depends mainly on the accuracy of single administrative documents (customs declarations). Data accuracy is at a satisfactory level. Since the basic data consist of a large number of single administrative documents (customs declarations), it is difficult to achieve the absolute accuracy of disseminated data.

BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency statistics are not collected via samples and so are not impacted by sampling errors. BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency data are obtained from administrative source (Indirect Taxation Authority - Customs).

Not applicable.

The accuracy of TIC data is primarily impacted by issues in the collection and production of international trade in goods statistics combined with issues in the reporting of the invoicing currency by the legal or natural person when lodging a single administrative document (customs declaration).

Coverage errors do not exist. All single adiministrative documents (customs declarations) i.e. transactions are processed.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Mesurement errors can arise while inputing data i.e. inputing and submitting single administrative documents (customs declarations).
Regarding the measures taken to reduce the number of measurement errors, data checks and corrections are carried out by the Indirect Taxation Authority (Customs).

BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency data are not collected via survey, so non-response errors do not exist.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

During the data processing, the Agency for Statistics of BiH performs validity checks on data from single administrative documents (customs declarations). A data validity error is detected when a data entry is not correct, therefore data cannot be included in the statistical analysis and so they must be removed or corrected. Examples of such errors are incorrect or missing codes, missing values in the single administrative documents (customs declarations), character data in numeric field and vice versa. Also, some data passing the validity checks can still be incorrect. Residual errors can be found by looking for variable inconsistencies. For example, the single administrative document (customs declaration) is internally inconsistent when comparing different variables, or it is not consistent with the data submitted in the previous months.

A model is not used for production of BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency statistics.

See concepts 14.1.1 and 14.1.2.

Eurostat
See document "TIC Quality indicators"
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/6842948/10374150/TIC+quality+indicators/

Agency for Statistics of BiH
Time lag of first results is T+58 days. Annual TIC data are disseminated 58 days after the end of reference year.

Not applicable.

Eurostat
TIC data are transmitted to Eurostat within the legal deadline.

Agency for Statistics of BiH
Punctuality of delivery and publication for users is 100%. Publication is delivered on time, in accordance with scheduled release date.

Eurostat
See document "TIC Quality indicators"
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/6842948/10374150/TIC+quality+indicators/

Agency for Statistics of BiH
Punctuality of delivery and publication for producers is T+0 days (there was no gap between the scheduled release date from the Calender of publication and the actual release date).

BiH international trade in goods statistics and BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency statistics follow EU legislation and Eurostat's recommendations regarding concepts and definitions. From a methodological point of view, this ensures the comparability across countries.

Not applicable.

Changes due to definitions, classifications, coverage or methods will have an impact on the continuity of the time series. The most significant change came with the recent Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics.

Not applicable.

Apart from the TIC dataset, information on trade flows can be found in the detailed BiH international trade in goods statistics. The intra-domain checks carried out before any data dissemination ensure the coherence between the trade values published in the TIC dataset and trade values coming from detailed international trade in goods statistics.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The internal coherence of the TIC dataset is ensured by the intra-dataset checks carried out before any data dissemination.

Regarding the costs of production of BiH international trade in goods statistics, BiH international trade in goods by enterprise characteristics statistics, BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency statistics and BiH export and import unit value indices, two persons work full time in the Department for International Trade Statistics. Help from IT sector is also necessary.
Regarding the reporting units burden, administrative data are used, so no specific data collection is necessary. Data source is the Indirect Taxation Authority (Customs) and data from single administrative documents (customs declarations) are used.

Agency for Statistics of BiH does not have an official revision policy document. Eurostat accepts any data revisions insofar as they comply with all validation rules.

BiH international trade in goods by invoicing currency data are only exceptionally revised. Eurostat revises data whenever data have been revised at country level.

Not available.

TIC data are derived from the combination of two types of information:
• BiH international trade in goods transactions collected via single administrative documents (customs declarations)
• Invoicing currencies collected via single administrative documents (customs declarations)

Collection of BiH international trade in goods data: every month via single administrative documents (customs declarations).

Collection of the invoicing currency: every month via single administrative documents (customs declarations).

Collection of BiH international trade in goods data
The source of information on BiH international trade in goods transactions is the single administrative document (customs declaration) submitted by businesses and, in some cases, by private individuals involved in an international trade in goods transaction.

Collection of the invoicing currency
The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. It is mandatory information to be collected by the Indirect Taxation Authority (Customs).

Eurostat
TIC data disseminated by Eurostat have passed the following quality checks:
• Consistency with the expected IT structural requirements: validity of format and codes, integrity of the file
• Consistency within the dataset: completeness of the file, consistency with EDAMIS metadata, intra-record checks on values, inter-record consistency checks, consistency checks on derived values
• Consistency with other datasets within the same domain and the same data source - size of revisions, variation over previous reference years
• Consistency within the same domain and a different data source: check of the coherence between trade values published in the TIC dataset and trade values coming from detailed BiH international trade in goods data.

Agency for Statistics of BiH
The Indirect Taxation Authority (Customs) carries out primary checks of single administrative documents (customs declarations). For example, a check whether all the necessary fields in single administrative documents (customs declarations) are filled in.
The Agency for Statistics of BiH carries out data validity checks. A data validity error is detected when a data entry is not correct, therefore data cannot be included in the statistical analysis and so they must be removed or corrected. Examples of such errors are incorrect or missing codes, missing values in the single administrative documents (customs declarations), character data in numeric field and vice versa. Also, some data passing the validity checks can still be incorrect. Residual errors can be found by looking for variable inconsistencies. Foe example, the single administrative document (customs declaration) is internally inconsistent when comparing different variables, or it is not consistent with the data submitted in the previous months.

Eurostat
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of Bosnia and Herzegovina is calculated on the basis of the transmitted trade values.

Agency for Statistics of BiH
Trade values (in the national currency-BAM, euro and U.S. dollar) by invoicing currency are calculated.
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of Bosnia and Herzegovina is calculated on the basis of the trade values.

No imputation is applied. So, the rate of imputed data is 0%.

No data adjustment is applied (for example, seasonal adjustment of data).

Not available.

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