Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT)

Business Statistics Division (B3)

Manufacture - Construction Indices and Industrial Products Section (B33)

Pireos 46 & Eponiton str. 18510 Piraeus, Greece

The statistical outputs for each industrial product are:

• The physical volume of total production manufactured (in units of measurement as defined in the PRODCOM list) - for the reference year.
• The physical volume of production sold (in units of measurement as defined in the PRODCOM list) - for the reference year, regardless the time of production.
• The value of production sold (in euros) for the reference year.

Within the PRODCOM framework the following are also recorded:

• Production under sub-contracted operations, per PRODCOM heading (only quantity of production and contractor’s payment).
• Industrial services (treatment, repairs and maintenance and assembly work).

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection, processing and calculation of the preliminary results for 2022 have not been significantly affected compared to previous reference years.

The classification of industrial products is based on each year’s PRODCOM list. More specifically, the classification of the 2020 PRODCOM survey was based on the PRODCOM list for 2020, as well as on the annex with the new codes for personal protection products.

The basic building blocks of the PRODCOM list are the European Classification of Economic Activities (NACE Rev. 2), as well as the European Classification of Products by Activity (CPA). More specifically, the 8-digit PRODCOM headings correspond to NACE Rev.2 at 4-digit level and to CPA at 6-digit level. In other words, each heading takes its first 4 digits from NACE Rev.2 and digits 5 and 6 from CPA. An example of the hierarchy of the Prodcom list is depicted  below:

• NACE Code: 10.32 – Manufacture of fruit and vegetable juice
  • CPA Code: 10.32.12 – Orange juice

                    -  PRODCOM Code: 10.32.12.10 – Frozen unconcentrated orange juice

                    -  PRODCOM Code: 10.32.12.20 – Unconcentrated orange juice (excluding frozen)

                    -  PRODCOM Code: 10.32.12.30 – Orange juice n.e.c.

The PRODCOM list was revised annually until 2017. Since then, the PRODCOM List is revised every 2 or 3 years.

Revisions could include:

• improving the descriptions of some product codes,
• merging or splitting of some product codes into new codes,
• deletion of some product codes,
• creation of new codes or introduction of headings to cover new product types,
• change in the Prodcom code structure as a result of changes in an industry.

The survey covers the divisions of the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev. 2) under sections B (Mining and Quarrying) and C (Manufacturing), as they are presented in Table 1, "Divisions of economic activity covered by the PRODCOM survey", which can be found in the attached file.

The purpose of the statistics is to report, for each product in the Prodcom List, how much has been produced in Greece during the reference year. This means that Prodcom statistics relate to products (not to activities) and are therefore not strictly comparable with activity-based statistics such as Structural Business Statistics. The NACE codes on which Prodcom codes are based merely serve to identify the enterprises that should be surveyed in order to determine the amount of production of the product.

The basic variables recorded for each industrial product are:

Quantity of production, which is the physical volume of actual production during the survey period, including any production which is incorporated into the manufacture of other products by the same undertaking. The surveyed production is only the production actually carried out on the Greek territory. The production carried out outside Greece’s territory on behalf of some of its enterprises is not included.  

Quantity of sales, which is the physical volume of production sold during the survey period, regardless the time of production.

Value of sales, which is the value of production sold during the survey period. The value of production sold should be calculated on the basis of the ex-works selling price obtained during the reporting period. Packaging and freight costs that are made by the enterprise’s own means, should be included.

However, the following are not included:

• any consumer tax charged and Value Added Tax (V.A.T.)
• separately charged freight costs
• any discounts granted to customers and refunds

The value of service (i.e. the fee paid) rather than the value of any associated physical goods is recorded for industrial services.

The business unit to which the PRODCOM questionnaires are sent is called the reporting unit. The response from the reporting unit can cover the enterprise as a whole, or parts of the enterprise identified by lists of local units. Other than for a minority of larger businesses which have a complex structure, the reporting unit is usually the same as the enterprise. For these larger businesses, the reporting unit is the relevant part of the enterprise that reports on the manufacturing of the product.

More specifically, in the 2022 PRODCOM survey, 5,761 local units or 5,341 enterprises were surveyed.

In accordance with article 3, paragraph 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) 3924/91, all enterprises employing at least 20 persons are surveyed. This threshold is reviewed in the light of the requirement of representativeness, referred to in paragraph 2 of the same article, according to which 90% of national production per NACE class should be covered.

In the PRODCOM survey, carried out in Greece, the surveyed population are all the active enterprises whose principal is listed in sections B (mining) and C (manufacturing) of NACE Rev.2, with an average annual employment of 10 persons and more. Moreover, the surveyed population includes active enterprises whose secondary activities (at least the most significant ones) are classified in sections B and C irrespective of their principal activity.  In some cases, depending on the representativeness of the product and of the turnover, enterprises that employ less than 10 persons are surveyed as well.

The frame used for determining the surveyed units is based on the Statistical Business Register of ELSTAT. Data for the business register of ELSTAT are mainly derived from administrative sources. The main sources are the Independent Authority of Public Revenues (IAPR) and the Social Insurance Institute (EFKA). More specifically, the IAPR is the data source of registry and financial data on the enterprises which are obliged by law to submit an annual VAT return statement. Data regarding employees are obtained from both IAPR and EFKA. Finally, the business register of ELSTAT is updated through the results of the Structural Business Surveys and Short-term Surveys conducted by ELSTAT, as well as other sources.

The survey covers the whole country.

The survey is conducted since 1993.

Not applicable.

The quantity of production and the quantity of sales is recorded in physical units (kg, g, m², number of items etc.), according to the Prodcom headings of the PRODCOM list for 2020.

The value of sales is reported in euros.

The reference period is the calendar year. Latest data refer to year 2022.

The legal framework concerning the organization and operation of ELSTAT is as follows:

• Law 3832/2010 (Government Gazette No 38, Issue Α): "Hellenic Statistical System Establishment of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) as an Independent Authority", as amended and in force
• Regulation on the Operation and Administration of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), 2012, (Government Gazette No 2390, Issue B, 28-8-2012)
• Regulation on the Statistical Obligations of the agencies of the Hellenic Statistical System (Government Gazette 4083 Β, 20.12.2016)
• Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, on the European statistics (Official Journal of the European Union L 87/164).
• European Statistics Code of Practice, adopted by the Statistical Programme Committee on 24 February 2005 and promulgated in the Commission Recommendation of 25 May 2005 on the independence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical Authorities, after its revision, which was adopted on November 2017 by the European Statistical System Committee.
• Regulation (EU) 679/2016of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR)
• Presidential Decree 73/2019 (Government Gazette No 114, Issue Α,04.07.2019): “Organization of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT)” (Available only in Greek)
• Law 4624/2019 (Government Gazette Α΄137 / 29.08.2019) “ Hellenic Data Protection Authority, measures implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 for the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and transposition (into national law) Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 and other provisions " (Available only in Greek)

The Legal Framework is detailed in the following link: http://www.statistics.gr/en/legal-framework

Legal framework for PRODCOM statistics consists of the following Regulations:

• Regulation (EU) 2152/2019 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics.
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 1197/2020 of 30 July 2020 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics.
• Commission Regulation (EC) No 912/2004 of 29 April 2004 implementing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3924/91 on the establishment of a Community survey of industrial production.
• Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006 of the European Parliament and the Council of 20 December 2006, establishing the statistical classification of economic activities NACE Revision 2 and amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3037/90 as well as certain EC Regulation on specific statistical domains.
• Commission Regulation No 1933/2019 of 6 November 2019 establishing for 2019 the “PRODCOM list” of industrial products.

None.

The issues concerning the observance of statistical confidentiality by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) are arranged by articles 7, 8 and 9 of the Law 3832/2010 as in force, by Articles 8, 10 and 11(2) of the Regulation on Statistical Obligations of the agencies of the Hellenic Statistical System and by Articles 10 and 15 of the Regulation on the Operation and Administration of ELSTAT.

More precisely:

ELSTAT disseminates the statistics in compliance with the statistical principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice and in particular with the principle of statistical confidentiality.

http://www.statistics.gr/en/statistical-confidentiality?inheritRedirect=true

• ELSTAT protects and does not disseminate data it has obtained or it has access to, which enable the direct or indirect identification of the statistical units that have provided them by the disclosure of individual information directly received for statistical purposes or indirectly supplied from administrative or other sources. ELSTAT takes all appropriate preventive measures so as to render impossible the identification of individual statistical units by technical or other means that might reasonably be used by a third party. Statistical data that could potentially enable the identification of the statistical unit are disseminated by ELSTAT if and only if:

a)      these data have been treated, as it is specifically set out in the Regulation on Statistical Obligations of the agencies of the Hellenic Statistical System (ELSS), in such a way that their dissemination does not prejudice statistical confidentiality or

b)      the statistical unit has given its consent, without any reservations, for the disclosure of data.

• The confidential data that are transmitted by ELSS agencies to ELSTAT are used exclusively for statistical purposes and the only persons who have the right to have access to these data are the personnel engaged in this task and appointed by an act of the President of ELSTAT.
• ELSTAT may grant researchers conducting statistical analyses for scientific purposes access to data that enable the indirect identification of the statistical units concerned. The access is granted provided the following conditions are satisfied:

a)      an appropriate request together with a detailed research proposal in conformity with current scientific standards have been submitted;

b)      the research proposal indicates insufficient detail the set of data to be accessed, the methods of analyzing them, and the time needed for the research;

c)      a contract specifying the conditions for access, the obligations of the researchers, the measures for respecting the confidentiality of statistical data and the sanctions in case of breach of these obligations has been signed by the individual researcher, by his/her institution, or by the organization commissioning the research, as the case may be, and by ELSTAT.

• Issues referring to the observance of statistical confidentiality are examined by the Statistical Confidentiality Committee (SCC) operating in ELSTAT. The responsibilities of this Committee are to make recommendations to the President of ELSTAT on:

a) the level of detail at which statistical data can be disseminated, so as the identification, either directly or indirectly, of the surveyed statistical unit is not possible;

b) the anonymization criteria for the microdata provided to users;

c) the granting to researchers access to confidential data for scientific purposes.

• The staff of ELSTAT, under any employment status, as well as the temporary survey workers who are employed for the collection of statistical data in statistical surveys conducted by ELSTAT, who acquire access by any means to confidential data, are bound by the principle of confidentiality and must use these data exclusively for the statistical purposes of ELSTAT. After the termination of their term of office, they are not allowed to use these data for any purpose.
• Violation of data confidentiality and/or statistical confidentiality by any civil servant or employee of ELSTAT constitutes the disciplinary offence of violation of duty and may be punished with the penalty of final dismissal.
• ELSTAT, by its decision, may impose a penalty amounting from ten thousand (10,000) up to two hundred thousand (200,000) euros to anyone who violates the confidentiality of data and/or statistical confidentiality. The penalty is always imposed after the hearing of the defense of the person liable for the breach, depending on the gravity and the repercussions of the violation. Any relapse constitutes an aggravating factor for the assessment of the administrative sanction.

Confidentiality rules for PRODCOM statistics

Before publishing or transmitting the PRODCOM statistics to Eurostat, the data of a heading that derive from one to two enterprises are flagged as confidential. Eurostat is legally bound to suppress such data from publication.

The rules on data confidentiality of ELSTAT also apply when providing statistical data to users.

Εach year ELSTAT publishes a release calendar with the exact release dates of statistics for the following year.

The calendar is distributed to the press and is available to all interested parties free of charge.

This calendar is also posted on ELSTAT’s website (http://www.statistics.gr/en/home/) under the item “Release Calendar”.

In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, ELSTAT disseminates national statistics on ELSTAT’s website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably.

In this content, data are released simultaneously to all interested parties and users through the Announcement on PRODCOM statistics, which is posted on the website of ELSTAT (http://www.statistics.gr/en/home/) according to the release calendar. Data are transmitted to Eurostat on a predefined date, concomitantly with their national publication. In addition, preliminary results of the survey are transmitted to Eurostat at t+6 months (until 30 June) according to the requirements of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3924/91.

Neither users nor the government have access to the data prior to their publication.

PRODCOM statistics are accessible through ELSTAT’s website (http://www.statistics.gr/en/home/), as well as through Eurostat’s database at: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/prodcom/data/excel-files-nace-rev.2.

Annually.

The Press Release for the 2021 PRODCOM survey which was published on March 3^rd 2023, is available on ELSTAT’s website (http://www.statistics.gr/en/home/) in the section in the section “Industry, Trade, Services, Transport", subsection "Manufacturing Products", "Manufacturing products (PRODCOM survey): Production and sales".

The Announcement for the 2022 PRODCOM survey is scheduled for March 1^st 2024.

Production and Sales of Industrial Goods, which is available at the following link: (http://dlib.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/categoryyears?p_cat=10007992&p_topic=10007992)

There is no database for PRODCOM survey.

10.3.1 Data tables –consultations

The consultations of 2022 data tables reached 6,140 views.

Micro-data are made available to users after submitting a request to the:

Statistical Information and Publications Division

46, Pireos & Eponiton Str, PO Box 80847

18510 Piraeus

Tel: +30 213 135 2022

e-mail: data.dissem@statistics.gr

For confidential reasons, access to micro-data is granted to users only under strict conditions and by always adhering to the relevant procedure.

Data or further analysis can be provided to users, usually by e-mail after submitting a request, describing the requested data, at the following link:

http://www.statistics.gr/en/statistical-data-request.

Users can also contact the Data Dissemination Section, at the following e-mail address:

data.dissem@statistics.gr and data.supply@statistics.gr.

The main methodological issues of the PRODCOM survey are determined by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3924/91 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 912/2004 on the establishment of a Community survey of industrial production.

More details on methodological issues are available on the Methodological Introduction of the PRODCOM list 2019.

After having been transmitted to Eurostat, PRODCOM statistics are checked via specialized software, which incorporates quality checks. Eurostat proceeds to the validation and publication of PRODCOM statistics only after having clarified and discussed with the relevant Member State any inconsistencies, which might have been indentified during the validation process.

Quality checks and validation of data are carried out during the whole process of PRODCOM survey, from the data collection stage to the final compilation of the results per PRODCOM code.

More specifically:

1. Well-trained and experienced staff is utilized for all stages of the PRODCOM survey, that is:

a) data collection, either through the web application or paper questionnaire, including communication with enterprises,

b) initial checks of data regarding their accuracy – correctness,

c) coding of products,

d) data entry and

e) final checks on product code level.

This way, the personnel have a comprehensive knowledge of the enterprises under their responsibility.

2. Data are validated by means of logical and quality checks. More specifically:

a)  Basic quality checks have been integrated in the web application and are applied during the submission of data.

b) Both web and paper questionnaires are checked in terms of every product that is manufactured by the enterprise and in terms of the changes in production in comparison with the previous year. If differences either in volume or in value are rather big (outside of a pre-established range), the enterprise is contacted in order to confirm whether this is an erroneous value or an outlier, before approving the questionnaire.

c) Once imported in ELSTAT’s database, the data undergo aggregated checks at the level of the product, in order to avoid any errors in the values or codes of the basic variables.

d) The final aggregated PRODCOM data are compared with the Turnover Price Index in Industry and the Industrial Production Index.

After the completion of all the aforementioned checks, any processing errors are minimized.

ELSTAT aims to ensure and further improve the quality of statistics produced and maintain the confidence of users in them. This is achieved through the Quality Policy of ELSTAT.

PRODCOM statistics are considered to be of high quality because:

• Quality checks and validation of data are carried out during the whole process of the PRODCOM survey.
• Its concepts and the definitions of variables, as well as the methodology applied follow European Standards.

PRODCOM statistics are necessary in order to monitor industry and markets and develop a corresponding policy both at national and European level.

The main national users of PRODCOM statistics are:

• Central Government and public entities
• Enterprises and chambers
• Scientific community
• Press and other Media
• Individual users

At international level, the main user is EUROSTAT and other international organizations, such as the United Nations.

ELSTAT conducts a user satisfaction survey every six months. Comments on media are also positive. More information about the results of the survey is available at the following link:

http://www.statistics.gr/en/user-satisfaction-survey.

Furthermore, ELSTAT organises a Users Conference, on an annual basis, in which representatives of private and public sector, educational and research institutions participate. The conferences provide a significant opportunity for ELSTAT to collect comments and suggestions from users relative to the dissemination and the accessibility of the statistical data and the gaps in the production of statistics. The users conferences help significantly ELSTAT to draw useful conclusions on the areas where the statistical products and services can be improved in order to meet the increasing users needs. These conclusions are incorporated in the annual and medium term statistical programs of ELSTAT. The most recent Users Conference was held in 20 December 2022. More information on the conference is available at the link:

https://www.statistics.gr/en/user-conference-2022. 

According to Eurostat’s Regulation, completeness is 100%. Nevertheless, users satisfaction is not fully achieved, due to the relatively high percentage of PRODCOM headings being characterized as confidential.

The overall accuracy of PRODCOM statistics is considered satisfactory, with main source of errors, the non-sampling errors.

Sampling errors result from the fact that not all units of the population are enumerated, but only a sample of them. As the PRODCOM survey is conducted at a census basis with a cut-off threshold, there are no sampling errors.

Non-sampling errors involve coverage errors, measurements errors, non-response errors, processing errors and model errors.

Non response error

Non response is the failure of a survey to collect data either for all variables or from all population units.

There are two kinds of non-response errors:

1. errors on account of the refusal of the enterprise to fill in the questionnaire

2. errors on account of incomplete filling in of the questionnaire

The difference between the statistics compiled on the basis of the collected data and those that would be compiled if there were no missing values is the non-response error.

a. Unit non-response

Unit non-response rate for the 2022 PRODCOM survey, as depicted in Table 2, amounts to 11.7%. In order to minimize non-response rate, a reminder letter was sent to all the surveyed units, outlining the scope and the legal basis of the survey, as well as the obligation of the units to respond.

In case an enterprise refuses to respond, the missing data are estimated on the basis of:

1. the trend of production of other enterprises manufacturing this product,

2. the data of the previous years on the specific enterprise,

3. the data from the enterprise’s balance sheet or other administrative data and

4. the results of the survey for Industrial Production Index and Turnover Index in Industry.

b. Item non-response

Item non-response rate for the 2022 PRODCOM survey amounts to 0.7% for quantity of production, 0.4% for quantity of sales and 0.3% for value of sales.

Similar practices as in the estimation of non-responded units are implemented in cases of incomplete filling in of questionnaires as regards one product or one variable. In these cases, efforts are made to calculate and estimate data on the basis of:

1. the turnover of the unit,

2. the unit product value,

3. the monthly data of the Industrial Production Index and the Turnover Index in Industry.

It is clear that these practices cannot be implemented for enterprises which are surveyed for the first time.

Coverage error

It is not possible to estimate the coverage of the PRODCOM survey because it is not possible to identify all enterprises which manufacture goods included in the PRODCOM list. Consequently, since the Business Register of ELSTAT does not provide information on products but only on economic activities, the coverage of the PRODCOM survey is generally assessed by using as a reference point the turnover of the enterprises. This method ensures a general assessment of coverage and it has to be treated with caution.

Over-coverage

When an enterprise is found to be out of the scope of the survey, e.g. it has no productive activity, then the enterprise is no longer surveyed under the PRODCOM survey.

Measurement error

Measurement errors by the surveyed units

The main reason of these errors is the erroneous completion of the questionnaire by the surveyed units and may concern reporting of:

1. wrong industrial product codes

2. different volume unit of measure

3. wrong quantities produced or sold.

In order to minimize the measurement errors by the surveyed units, guidelines are included both in the web application and in the paper questionnaire. Moreover, pre-filled web or paper questionnaires, already including the products known to be produced by the surveyed unit, are used.

Measurement errors by interviewers

The main reason of these errors is the lack of experience of statistical interviewers (inability to track down the surveyed units, not completion of all fields, etc.) or their inability to understand questions and answers resulting to erroneous data entries.

In order to minimize the measurement errors by interviewers, written instructions are given to the statistical interviewers and a seminar takes place in order to enable the interviewers to:

1. fully understand the definitions of the survey characteristics

2. correctly fill in the questionnaire

3. efficiently check for errors by applying logical and completeness checks.

Processing error

Processing errors refer to errors that may occur from the data collection stage to the finalization of the data. Processing errors include errors during data codification or during data entry.

Aiming at minimizing such errors, the collected data undergo three sets of checks:

• During the first stage, every collected web or paper questionnaire is checked in terms of every product that is manufactured by the enterprise and in terms of the changes in production in comparison with the previous year. If the changes either in volume or in value are bigger than the expected average changes, the enterprise is contacted in order to confirm whether this is due to an erroneous value or an outlier value.
• During the second stage, once imported, the data undergo aggregated checks at the level of the product, in order to avoid any errors in the values or codes during data entry.
• During the third stage, the percentage change of the deflated value of production between the reference and the previous year at 2-digit level of NACE Rev. 2, occurring from PRODCOM survey, is compared with the respective percentage change of the Industrial Production Index. Moreover, the percentage change of the sales value between the reference and the previous year at 2-digit level of NACE Rev. 2 is compared with the respective change of the Turnover Index in Industry. 

 After the completion of all the aforementioned checks, any processing errors are minimized. 

Model assumption error       

Not relevant

PRODCOM statistics are transmitted to EUROSTAT within 6 months after the end of the reference year (t+6) (Council Regulation (EEC) 3924/91 – article 7).

The transmission of data to EUROSTAT is in accordance with the transmission program laid down in article 7 of Council Regulation (EEC) 3924/91.

For the reference year 2022, the provisional data were transmitted on June 30^th 2023.

The data are comparable at the level of the Region (NUTS 2), since a common methodology is implemented throughout Greece. Moreover, data are comparable among EU Member States, since the statistics are produced following a common methodology.

PRODCOM statistics from 1993, which is the launching year of the survey, until 2007 were comparable since they were classified in compliance with the hitherto European Classification of Economic Activities (NACE Rev.1.1). From 2008 onwards, the data are compared on the basis of the new version of NACE (NACE Rev.2) which is currently implemented.

Business statistics are under a lot of changes due to the changes in the surveyed population (new or closed enterprises, enterprises currently not active, etc.) and due to changes in product classification, and as a result comparability over time is reduced. More specifically, since the 2013 PRODCOM survey, the number of surveyed units increased significantly due to the revision of the Business Register of ELSTAT, leading to the revision of the population of the surveyed units of the PRODCOM survey.

Coherence – sub annual and annual statistics

Comparability with the Industrial Production Index

The percentage change of the deflated value of production between the reference and the previous year at 2-digit level of NACE Rev. 2, occurring from PRODCOM survey, is compared with the respective percentage change of the Industrial Production Index.

Overall, the coherence between PRODCOM and IPI is considered satisfying. The differences between the two sources leading to some degree of incoherency, especially in certain divisions, are the following:

• The PRODCOM survey is conducted on a census basis, collecting data on production for all products and for all statistical units, whereas IPI is compiled on the basis of a sample survey (sample of both units and products).
• IPI is compiled on the basis of a common sample of enterprises used for every month, which is updated only when the index is revised with the introduction of a new base year (every five years), while PRODCOM’s register is updated annually, except for very big enterprises, but without revision of data for the previous years.
• The survey of the IPI is conducted just after the reference month, whereas the PRODCOM survey is conducted at a later stage, after the end of the reference year.
• For the compilation of the higher-level aggregates of IPI, the lower-level indices are weighted by value added at factor cost taken from the SBS survey for the base year (for instance, 2-digit level indices are calculated as the weighted average of the corresponding 4-digit level indices), whereas PRODCOM data are not in any way weighted.
• Data collected from the PRODCOM survey are limited to products for civil uses only. Products for military use are omitted. The same does not apply for the Industrial Production Index.

Comparability with the Turnover Index in Industry

The percentage change of the sales value between the reference and the previous year at 2-digit level of NACE Rev. 2 is compared with the respective change of the Turnover Index in Industry. 

In some cases differences occur that are due to the following:

• The PRODCOM survey is conducted on a census basis, whereas the Turnover Index in Industry is compiled on the basis of a sample survey.
• The different timelines of the two surveys: PRODCOM collects data after the end of the reference year, whereas the Turnover Index in Industry collects data during the reference year.
• The total value of sold products per NACE division, as derived from PRODCOM, is not always equal to the turnover per division, as the units may be active in several economic sectors that are also included in the turnover. Moreover, enterprises that are not classified as manufacturing units may be producing goods that are included in PRODCOM headings, a fact that makes the comparison difficult.

• For the compilation of the higher-level aggregates of Turnover Index in Industry, the lower-level indices are weighted by the turnover obtained by the SBS survey for the base year (for instance, 2-digit level indices are calculated as the weighted average of the corresponding 4-digit level indices), whereas PRODCOM data are not in any way weighted.
• Data collected from the PRODCOM survey are limited to products for civil uses only. Products for military use are omitted. The same does not apply for the Industrial Production Index.

Hence, comparisons between PRODCOM and the aforementioned indices are just an indication for the trend of the production over time.

Coherence – National Accounts

The National Accounts Division is one of the main users of PRODCOM statistics, therefore the PRODCOM statistics are coherent with National Accounts.

PRODCOM statistics are internally coherent. Data per PRODCOM code derive by aggregating the data from all enterprises that have produced the specific PRODCOM code.

The compilation method is analytically presented under section 18.5.

PRODCOM statistics are compiled through the filling in of questionnaires, as there are no administrative sources that can supply these data. As the conduct of surveys imposes an administrative burden on the respondents, Eurostat has already made efforts to narrow down the level of detail recorded for the manufactured products. More specifically, the number of headings has been reduced from nearly 7,000 to less than 4,000 in recent years.

Moreover, the survey is now conducted annually and not quarterly, as it used to.

Finally, in order to reduce the administrative burden of enterprises, ELSTAT has developed a web application, which was put in force for the first time for reference year 2016. Moreover, pre-filled web or paper questionnaires, already including the products known to be produced by the surveyed unit, are used.

The Revision Policy of ELSTAT lays down standard rules and principles for data revisions, in accordance with the European Statistics Code of Practice and the principles for a common revision policy for European Statistics contained in the Annex of the European Statistical System (ESS) guidelines on revision policy.

Eurostat allows for the transmission of revised data at any time and republishes data in the middle of any month when new data have been received since the last publication.

For the reference year 2022, provisional data were transmitted to Eurostat on June 30^th 2023. Data are expected to be revised and transmitted again in their final form on March 1^st 2024.

The primary data of the PRODCOM survey refer to the basic variables of the survey (quantity of production, quantity of sales, value of sales), as described in section 3.4, per PRODCOM code and per surveyed enterprise.

PRODCOM data are collected annually.

The surveyed enterprises are informed for the opening of the PRODCOM survey:

   1. via a personalized e-mail automatically generated through the web-application.

   2. via mail, including an informative letter and the pre-filled paper questionnaire. 

In both cases, analytical information outlining the scope and the legal basis of the survey, as well as the obligation of the units to respond are given. Furthermore, a deadline for the submission of the PRODCOM data is set. After the above mentioned deadline, statistical interviewers are appointed, in order to communicate with the enterprises that have not yet responded and collect the PRODCOM data.

ELSTAT staff undertakes to collect the questionnaires that were not collected by the statistical interviewers, putting emphasis on the statistically significant enterprises (e.g. enterprises with 50 or more employees, enterprises which are the sole producing specific PRODCOM codes, enterprises which produce more than 90% of the total sales value of the PRODCOM code). 

Finally, in order to further increase the response rate of the PRODCOM survey, reminder e-mails or letters are send out to the enterprises that have not submitted their data.

Data are validated by means of logical and quality checks, as these are described in section 11.1.

Eurostat also carries out validation checks on the national PRODCOM statistics it receives, via specialized software, which incorporates quality checks. Eurostat proceeds to the validation and publication of PRODCOM statistics only after having clarified and discussed with the relevant Member State any inconsistencies that might have been identified during the validation process.

The data for each surveyed variable from all enterprises producing a PRODCOM code are aggregated in order to obtain data per PRODCOM code.

Analytical information about the aggregation formulas, as well as the imputation methods applied for the estimation of unit and item non-response is presented in the attached file.

Not applicable.

No comment.