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 Eurostat measure the value and quantity of goods traded between the EU Member States (intra-EU trade) and goods traded by the EU Member States with non-EU countries (extra-EU trade). ‘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 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 dimensions available for TIC data:
reporting country;
partner country;
reference period;
trade flows;
product; and
currency.
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 ‘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 collect detailed statistics on exchanges of goods. TIC data are only disseminated 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 Methodology - International trade in goods - Eurostat
3.3. Coverage - sector
The scope of TIC data is the same as for monthly detailed data on extra-EU trade in goods. They cover all goods entering (imports) or leaving (exports) the national statistical territory and for which the trading partner is a non-EU country. Note that the statistical territory of Croatia 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).
For reference period 2014-2020 TIC data were available by three product groups: Raw materials without oil (SITC sections 0-4, excluding division 33), Oil (SITC division 33) and Manufactured products (SITC sections 5-8).
From reference period 2022 onwards TIC data are available in this way: Total trade covers SITC sections 0 to 9. Division 33 is to be reported separately under SITC33, and should also be included in SITC3.
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation.
For reference period 2014-2020 only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies were considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
euro
HRK
US dollar;
‘other’ (i.e. aggregated group of currencies of all non-EU countries except the United States).
unknown (only since 2020)
From reference period 2022 onwards only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
Euro
HRK
UK pound sterling
US dollar
Brazilian real
Canadian dollar
Swiss franc
Chinese renminbi-yuan
Indian rupee
Japanese yen
South Korean won
Mexican peso
Norwegian krone
Russian rouble
Singapore dollar
Turkish lira
Other not specified currencies
National currencies of non-euro area Member States
Unknown currency
The full set mentioned above has been collected only since 2021 reference year.
The set of collected currencies has been evolving over time. Initially, only 5 currencies were collected (EUR, USD, _X, XU3 and _T). Since 2020 reference year, "unknown" currency was added.
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.
The whole trade with the UK in 2020 was included in the 2020 TIC data.
Since 1 January 2023, a new currency, the euro, has been introduced in the Republic of Croatia, starting with the day of the entry of the Republic of Croatia into the eurozone. HRK is no longer reported.
For reference year 2024 three new country-codes together with corresponding currency codes have been introduced:
GE (Georgia) - GEL (Georgian lari)
MD (Moldova) - MDL (Moldovan leu)
and UA (Ukraine) - UAH (Ukraine hryvnia).
These three currencies are optional, therefore CBS does not report them in HR TIC data.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit is any natural or legal person lodging a customs declaration in Croatia on the condition that the customs procedure is of statistical relevance.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population comprises all the legal or natural persons who have lodged a customs declaration with the Customs Administration of Croatia within a year.
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.
For data dissemination on Eurostat website – Share of each invoicing currency in extra-EU imports and exports for EU Member States.
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 Customs Administration of Croatia.
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
General statistical legislation
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics
Extra-EU trade legislation (or Extrastat)
Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2020/1197 and 2021/1225 and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1704
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/234 of 7 December 2020 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 as regards common data requirements, and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/341 as regards the codes to be used in certain forms (OJ L 63, 23 February 2021)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/235 of 8 February 2021 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 as regards formats and codes of common data requirements, certain rules on surveillance and the competent customs office for placing goods under a customs procedure (OJ L 63, 23 February 2021)
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.
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.
Under the Official Statistics Act (NN, Nos 25/20 and 155/23), the CBS can not publish, or otherwise make available to any individual or organisation, statistics that would enable the identification of data for any individual person or legal entity. Individual data are strictly confidential and must not be published or reported. Statistics of foreign trade in goods generally applies passive confidentiality, except in survey Trade by enterprise characteristics - TEC, where is applied active confidentiality.
Based on the Ordinance on Rules and Methods for the Protection of Statistically Confidential Data, Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics Department has established the Rules and Methods for the Protection of Statistically Confidential Data on Foreign Trade Statistics to prevent the identification of the reporting unit to which the data relate. Established rules and methods relate to the protection of all statistical products produced under the jurisdiction of the Department.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
TIC data are the results of the aggregation of real trade without implementation of confidentiality rules. Data by invoicing currency are however not detailed enough to make it possible to identify a specific trader. Therefore no specific data treatment applies.
8.1. Release calendar
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 8.1 ‘Release calendar’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency (TIC)’ for more details.
8.2. Release calendar access
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 8.2 ‘Release calendar access’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
8.3. Release policy - user access
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 8.3 ‘Release policy - user access’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 9 ‘Frequency of dissemination’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 10.1 ‘Dissemination format - News release’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 10.2 ‘Dissemination format - Publications’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 10.3 ‘Dissemination format - online database’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 10.6 ‘Documentation on methodology' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
100%
10.7. Quality management - documentation
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 10.7 ‘Quality management - documentation’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
11.1. Quality assurance
In order to establish a comprehensive system of quality, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics applies the model of Total Quality Management, which also contains the Code of Practice of European Statistics. This model offers a possibility of continuous improvement for each business process. It focuses not only on products and services, but also on users and their satisfaction, the active participation of employees, long-term business success and social benefit. The communication is recognized as a key element of all statistical processes that affect the business success.
See item 11.2 ‘Quality management - assessment' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 12.1 ‘Relevance - User Needs’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 12.2 ‘Relevance - User Satisfaction’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
12.3. Completeness
See item 12.3 ‘Completeness’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
See item 15.1 ‘Comparability - geographical' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Data are comparable since 2014 when TIC data for Croatia was submitted for the first time.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Data are comparable since 2014 when TIC data for Croatia was submitted for the first time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
See item 15.3 ‘Coherence - cross domain' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
See item 15.4 ‘Coherence - internal' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
The Customs Administration of the Republic of Croatia collects Extrastat data, while the CBS is assigned for data processing and dissemination of statistical data. No additional burden on respondents because customs declaration is an administrative data source.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Croatian Bureau of Statistics has no formal revision policy for TIC data.
The users of statistical data are informed about revisions on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, on the link – General Revision Policy of the CBS.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data are not revised.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not available.
18.1. Source data
The data source for statistics on TIC with third countries (Extrastat) are customs declarations on export and import of goods.
TIC data are derived from the combination of two types of information collected via CD:
Trade in goods transactions; and
The invoicing currency associated to these transactions.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Collection of trade in goods data: every month via customs declarations
Collection of the invoicing currency: every month via customs declarations
18.3. Data collection
Extrastat data – Customs Administration System of the Republic of Croatia (HRAIS 2 and ECS/AES systems)
The Croatian Bureau of Statistics receives the reviewed customs declarations from the Customs Administration of the Republic of Croatia in the form of data records.
18.4. Data validation
Data obtained on customs declarations are subject to controls every month:
Control of the nature of transaction in terms of exclusion of repairs from data processing;
Monitoring and control of goods with strategic importance and highest value (ships and aircraft, petroleum oils, medicaments, motor vehicles, electrical energy, wood, etc.);
Check of the coherence between the TIC dataset trade values and trade values aggregated and detailed trade in goods data;
Checks and data control are obtained directly from business entities.
Croatian 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:
All operations to derive TIC data are performed through Extrastat application (importing data, data validation, data processing), and through new IT TIC application.
At European level:
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of Croatia is calculated on the basis of the transmitted trade values.
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.
No further comments.
International trade in goods statistics (ITGS) published by Eurostat measure the value and quantity of goods traded between the EU Member States (intra-EU trade) and goods traded by the EU Member States with non-EU countries (extra-EU trade). ‘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 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 dimensions available for TIC data:
reporting country;
partner country;
reference period;
trade flows;
product; and
currency.
19 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).
For reference period 2014-2020 TIC data were available by three product groups: Raw materials without oil (SITC sections 0-4, excluding division 33), Oil (SITC division 33) and Manufactured products (SITC sections 5-8).
From reference period 2022 onwards TIC data are available in this way: Total trade covers SITC sections 0 to 9. Division 33 is to be reported separately under SITC33, and should also be included in SITC3.
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation.
For reference period 2014-2020 only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies were considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
euro
HRK
US dollar;
‘other’ (i.e. aggregated group of currencies of all non-EU countries except the United States).
unknown (only since 2020)
From reference period 2022 onwards only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
Euro
HRK
UK pound sterling
US dollar
Brazilian real
Canadian dollar
Swiss franc
Chinese renminbi-yuan
Indian rupee
Japanese yen
South Korean won
Mexican peso
Norwegian krone
Russian rouble
Singapore dollar
Turkish lira
Other not specified currencies
National currencies of non-euro area Member States
Unknown currency
The full set mentioned above has been collected only since 2021 reference year.
The set of collected currencies has been evolving over time. Initially, only 5 currencies were collected (EUR, USD, _X, XU3 and _T). Since 2020 reference year, "unknown" currency was added.
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.
The whole trade with the UK in 2020 was included in the 2020 TIC data.
Since 1 January 2023, a new currency, the euro, has been introduced in the Republic of Croatia, starting with the day of the entry of the Republic of Croatia into the eurozone. HRK is no longer reported.
For reference year 2024 three new country-codes together with corresponding currency codes have been introduced:
GE (Georgia) - GEL (Georgian lari)
MD (Moldova) - MDL (Moldovan leu)
and UA (Ukraine) - UAH (Ukraine hryvnia).
These three currencies are optional, therefore CBS does not report them in HR TIC data.
The statistical unit is any natural or legal person lodging a customs declaration in Croatia on the condition that the customs procedure is of statistical relevance.
The statistical population comprises all the legal or natural persons who have lodged a customs declaration with the Customs Administration of Croatia within a year.
Croatia
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 Customs Administration of Croatia.
The reference years for which TIC data are disseminated result from the aggregation of monthly figures from January to December.
See item 13.1 ‘Accuracy - overall' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
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.
For data dissemination on Eurostat website – Share of each invoicing currency in extra-EU imports and exports for EU Member States.
At national level:
All operations to derive TIC data are performed through Extrastat application (importing data, data validation, data processing), and through new IT TIC application.
At European level:
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of Croatia is calculated on the basis of the transmitted trade values.
The data source for statistics on TIC with third countries (Extrastat) are customs declarations on export and import of goods.
TIC data are derived from the combination of two types of information collected via CD:
Trade in goods transactions; and
The invoicing currency associated to these transactions.
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 9 ‘Frequency of dissemination’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
See concepts 14.1.1 and 14.1.2.
See item 15.1 ‘Comparability - geographical' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
Data are comparable since 2014 when TIC data for Croatia was submitted for the first time.
