Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia

Business Statistics Division\International Trade Section

Litostrojska cesta 54, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

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.

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 (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/international-trade-in-goods/publications#methotherpub).

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 Slovenia corresponds to its customs territory.

As ITGS in general, TIC data cover all sectors of the economy.

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 are 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). Additionally, since 2022 reference period (voluntarily since 2021), TIC data are available also by 10 individual SITC sections.

Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. The following invoicing currencies or groups of currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:

Common currencies to be reported whatever the data source used:

• Euro (‘EUR’)
• UK pound sterling (‘GBP’)
• US dollar (‘USD’)
• National currencies of non-euro area Member States (‘XU3’)
• Other not specified currencies (‘_X’)
• Unknown currency (‘_U’)
• Total ‘_T’

Additional invoicing currency breakdown if the data source is the customs declaration was added

        I.            in 2021:

• Brazilian 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’)

      II.            in 2022:

• Albanian lek (‘ALL’)
• Bosnia-Hezergovinian convertible mark (‘BAM’)
• Bulgarian lev (‘BGN’)
• Czech koruna (‘CZK’)
• Danish krone (‘DKK’)
• Croatian kuna (‘HRK’)
• Hungarian forint (‘HUF’)
• Iceland krona (‘ISK’)
• Macedonian denar (‘MKD’)
• Polish zloty (‘PLN’)
• Romanian leu (‘RON’)
• Serbian Dinar (‘RSD’)
• Swedish krona (‘SEK’)

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 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, _U currency was added. The full set mentioned above has been collected only since 2022 reference year (voluntarily since 2021). Croatian kuna ('HRK') has been abolished in 2023.

The statistical unit is any natural or legal person lodging a customs declaration in Slovenia 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 Slovenian National Customs Authority within the year.

Slovenia

TIC data disseminated by Eurostat

TIC data must be compiled once every two years starting with 2010 as reference year (2014 for Croatia and 2012 for EFTA countries). Data relating to in-between years are optional, which leads to incomplete geographical coverage. 2017 is the first in-between year for which optional TIC data are available. Note that Liechtenstein is exempted from providing TIC data.

See document TIC Quality indicators for more informatin on time periods covered by the data.

TIC data disseminated at national level

From 2023.

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.

For data dissemination on Eurostat website – Share of each invoicing currency in extra-EU imports and exports.

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 Slovenian National Customs Authority.

The reference years for which TIC data are disseminated result from the aggregation of monthly figures from January to December.

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.

Not applicable.

The Confidentiality Policy of SURS is available at the following link: https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/FundamentalPrinciples/StatConf

Regulation (EC) No 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council 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 technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society. National legislations related to statistical confidentiality determine National Statistics Act (OJ RS, No. 45/95 and 9/01).

In accordance with European legislation for international trade in goods statistics, information provided is treated as confidential via a special principle, i.e. 'Passive confidentiality' (Regulation (EC) No 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Article 19). Within the principle of "passive confidentiality" in the process of dissemination appropriate measures can be taken to protect data at the request of respondents who believe that their personal interests might be harmed by data dissemination at the level of the 8-digit code of the Combined Nomenclature (CN). Accordingly, the value of the goods, the net weight and/or the quantity in supplementary unit may be confidential. Data can be classified as confidential for one flow of goods or for both flows of goods (dispatches, arrivals) for all partner countries or for each partner country. A written request to SURS should be addressed with arguments for confidentiality. It is mandatory to specify arguments for confidentiality in external trade statistics, the period for which confidentiality is required, the CN code and/or the partner country, and the flow of goods that is subject to confidentiality.

TIC data are results of the aggregation of data as collected in SADs, before the implementation of confidentiality. Data by invoicing currency are not detailed enough to make it possible to identify a specific trader. Therefore no specific data treatment applies.

TIC data disseminated by 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.

TIC data relating to the EU and EA (euro area) aggregates are compiled and disseminate once all the Member State have transmitted their data to Eurostat. 

TIC data disseminated at national level

The release calendar at national level for the TEC data exists. This calendar is publicly accessible.

TIC data disseminated by Eurostat

International trade release calendar

TIC data disseminated at national level

http://www.stat.si/StatWeb/en/releasecal (Theme ‑ ‘Foreign Economic Relations’, Sub-theme ‑ ‘Exports and Imports of Goods’)

TIC data disseminated by 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.

TIC data disseminated at national level

In line with the national framework, SURS disseminates statistics on its website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equally. The detailed arrangements are governed by the protocol on impartial access to data for users.

TIC data disseminated by Eurostat

TIC data are updated every year in April/May with a new reference year. However it should be noted that only TIC data relating to even years (e.g. 2020, 2022) are to be mandatorily provided to Eurostat. The geographical coverage might thus be incomplete for reference periods corresponding to odd years (e.g. 2021).

Revisions of historical data may occur at any time but remain exceptional.

TIC data disseminated at national level

TIC data are updated every year in April with a new reference year. Historical data are exceptionally revised.

TIC data disseminated by Eurostat

News releases on-line

TIC data disseminated at national level

First Release (Foreign Economic Relations, Exports and Imports of Goods): “Trade in goods by invoicing currency”, Slovenia, annually

TIC data disseminated by 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.

TIC data disseminated at national level

No publications disseminated so far.

TIC data disseminated by 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)

TIC data disseminated at national level

SI-STAT data portal: Economy – External trade – Trade in goods by invoicing currency. Data can be viewed by invoicing currency and SITC product breakdowns.

Not available.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not available.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

The Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia operates on the basis of the National Statistics Act and Regulation (EC) No. 223/2009 on European statistics; in performing its tasks it follows the general principles of quality management, the European Statistics Code of Practice and the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics. In line with the stated, SURS declares that it takes into account the following principles: professional independence, process orientation, quality of products and services, planning of improvements, stimulating working environment for employees, data providers-friendly official statistics, user-oriented official statistics. The principles are more in detail presented in the Quality Statement of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia.
The Quality Policy of SURS is available at the following link: https://www.stat.si/statweb/en/FundamentalPrinciples/QualityInStat

See item 11.2 ‘Quality management - assessment' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.

See item 12.1 ‘Relevance - User Needs’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.

General user satisfaction survey for all type of statistics is made by the SURS' information center on a yearly basis. No user survey on TIC data was carried out so far but direct feedback from main users like the European Central Bank indicates a good level of satisfaction as regards the data coverage and timeliness.

See item 12.3 ‘Completeness’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.

See document TIC Quality indicators.

See item 13.1 ‘Accuracy - overall' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.

See item 13.2 ‘Sampling error' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.

Not applicable.

The accuracy of TIC data is primarily impacted by issues in the collection and compilation of detailed trade in goods statistics (e.g. thresholds, delayed declarations, estimated trade value) combined with issues in the reporting of the invoicing currency by the trader.

Errors often arise when trying to capture movements of goods or trade activities about which little information is available or which are inherently complex to measure, such as:
• Goods that by their nature are difficult to classify — Errors may arise in the product code allocated due to the complexity of the classification (around 9 500 subheadings in the CN), for instance for chemical or pharmaceutical products.
• Processing trade valuation — Errors arise when the processing costs are reported rather than the trade value corresponding to the total amount which would be invoiced if the goods were sold or bought.
• Product with embedded services — Errors arise when the total amount of the contract (transaction including the supply of goods and services) is reported rather than the value of the goods alone.
• Repairs versus processing — Repairs should be excluded from trade in goods statistics but processing should be included. Errors may arise when the distinction between repairs and processing is difficult to make.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See concepts 14.1.1 and 14.1.2.

See document TIC Quality indicators.

Not applicable.

See concept 14.2.1 for the time lag between the actual delivery of the TIC data and the target date when it should have been delivered.

See document TIC Quality indicators.

See item 15.1 ‘Comparability - geographical' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.

Not applicable.

Changes due to definitions, classifications, coverage or methods will have an impact on the continuity of the time series. No methodological change occurred in recent years. The only change relates to the definition of the intra- versus extra-EU areas following Croatia's adhesion to the EU in 2013.

From 2010 onwards

See item 15.3 ‘Coherence - cross domain' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See item 15.4 ‘Coherence - internal' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.

No specific cost and burden for production of TIC data.

No formal revision policy is needed for TIC data.

Until now, there were no revisions of TIC data.

Not available.

TIC data are derived from the combination of two types of information collected via customs declarations:

• Trade in goods transactions; and
• The invoicing currency associated to these transactions.

Collection of trade in goods data: every month via customs declarations

Collection of the invoicing currency: every month via customs declarations

Collection of trade in goods data

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 a non-EU country. The customs declaration is in electronic format.

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 Slovenian Customs National Authorities for imported and exported goods.

According to national customs "Rules for completing the customs declaration" the SAD box for invoicing currency is mandatory to fulfil for all customs procedures that go into the statistical coverage. Nevertheless, SURS checks the completeness of that field, and in case of missing invoicing currency should occur, customs declaration would be sent back to customs into verification.

Other Controls made at national level:

• checks of the validity of all codes (commodity, currency, container, mode of transport,  …), partner country codes and other characteristics; checks of the correspondence between traded goods and partner country.

• credibility checks are based on predefined statistical parameters that are calculated on CN8/partner country level on a basis of reported Extrastat data. Three kinds of ratios are used for credibility checks: value/net mass, value/quantity in supplementary unit and net mass/quantity in supplementary unit; other checks of the ratios of values and quantities; anomalies; inter-inconsistency checks; external consistency checks; implausible combinations.

Slovenian 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.

At national level:

TIC data are based on ITGS Extra-EU detailed data which are collected by customs declaration. Data are then derived by grouping the trade values by flow, SITC product group and invoicing currency group. 

At European level:

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

At national level:

No imputation is made by SURS

At European level:

No imputation is made by Eurostat.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.