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 based on 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 (Eurostat - publications).
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 Germany does not correspond to its customs territory: the statistical territory but not the customs territory of Germany includes Heligoland.
As ITGS in general, TIC data cover all sectors of the economy.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Valid up to and including 2020
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, data by invoicing currency are not broken down by individual partner countries. 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).
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat: - euro; - national currencies of EU Member States not belonging to the euro area; - US dollar; ‘other’ (i.e. aggregated group of currencies of all non-EU countries except the United States); and 'unknown' (only in 2020).
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.
Valid up to and including 2023
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, data by invoicing currency are not broken down by individual partner countries. 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 the following groops: food and live animals (SITC0), beverages and tobacco (SITC1), crude materials, inedible, except fuels (SITC2), mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (SITC3), animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes (SITC4), chemicals and related products, n.e.s. (SITC5), manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (SITC6), machinery and transport equipment (SITC7), miscellaneous manufactured articles (SITC8), commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC (SITC9) and oil according to SITC division 33 (SITC33).
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
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 _U ‘Unknown currency’ could exceptionally be used.
Valid from 2024
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, data by invoicing currency are not broken down by individual partner countries. 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 the following groops: food and live animals (SITC0), beverages and tobacco (SITC1), crude materials, inedible, except fuels (SITC2), mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (SITC3), animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes (SITC4), chemicals and related products, n.e.s. (SITC5), manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (SITC6), machinery and transport equipment (SITC7), miscellaneous manufactured articles (SITC8), commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC (SITC9) and oil according to SITC division 33 (SITC33).
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
+ country national currency in {BGN, CZK, DKK, HUF, PLN, RON, SEK, ALL, BAM, ISK, MKD, RSD}
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 _U ‘Unknown currency’ could exceptionally be used.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit is any natural or legal person lodging a customs declaration in Germany 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 German National Customs Authority within the 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.
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 National Customs Authority.
The reference years for which TIC data are disseminated result from the aggregation of monthly figures from January to December.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1225 specifying the arrangements for the data exchanges and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197, as regards the Member State of extra-Union export and the obligations of reporting units;
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1704 further specifying the details for the statistical information to be provided by tax and customs authorities and amending Annexes V and VI of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152.
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 legislation page of the International trade in goods section on Eurostat website. All legal texts of the EU are accessible on Eur-Lex.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council
fidential if statistical units can be identified, either directly or indirectly, and information about individuals or businesses is disclosed as a result.
For the Confidentiality policy of German ITGS see Eurostat ext_go_agg_esms.. It does not apply to TIC however (see 7.2).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
TIC data are the results of the aggregation of real trade data. The SITC-1 digit codes are not accurate enough to disclose confidential information. There are no national confidentiality rules on SITC-1 digit codes.
8.1. Release calendar
TIC data disseminated at national level
TIC data are released on an annual basis (press release only). There is no specific release calendar for TIC data.
TIC data 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 disseminated at national level
There is no specific release calendar for TIC data.
TIC data 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 disseminated at national level
Users can access the press release on TIC data through the DESTATIS website.
TIC data 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 disseminated at national level
TIC data are disseminated each year in May by press release.
TIC data 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 disseminated at national level
Annual press release on the DESTATIS website.
TIC data 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 disseminated at national level
There is no national publication on TIC data.
TIC data 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 disseminated at national level
To date there are no TIC data on the GENESIS online database available.
TIC data 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.
For PSIs, there is an Intrastat general guide and an information bulletin from German Customs.
The Intrastat general guide (for PSIs) is available in German on our homepage under.
Information bulletins from German Customs are available at the homepage of German Customs under.
TIC data 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 disseminated at national level
There is a national quality report covering all relevant aspects of ITGS data.
Our national quality report is available (for 2018) on our homepage and retrievable under following website.
TIC data 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
National quality assurance activities comprise mainly bi- and multilateral asymmetry studies and improvements in data deliveries to Eurostat arising from Eurostat error reports.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
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 disseminated at national level
Our main users are the federal ministries, business federations and companies, the national bank, regional statistical offices, BOP and NA statistics and the public.
TIC data 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 disseminated at national level
There are bi-annual user conferences with our main users on new topics and current developments in ITGS statistics and the users are asked for feedback and views.
TIC data 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
Reasons for breaks in time series in Germany are: different raises in the exemption thresholds (1999, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016), changes in the statistical territory (1959 incorporation of the Saarland, 1990 German reunification) as well as annual commodity code changes affecting comparability at detailed level.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
The time series is available since 2014 on a bi-annual basis, since 2017 annually (see concept 15.2).
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.
TIC data are derived from information collected via customs declarations. No specific data collection is necessary, which means that there is no burden for the respondents, i.e. for the traders and businesses. The cost of TIC data only relates to the compilation step carried out by the National Statistical Authorities, which is considered as minor given the small number of records.
17.1. Data revision - policy
There are no revisions for TIC data.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not available.
18.1. Source data
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.
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
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 declarations are transmitted in DatML / RAW format and converted into xml files.
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 Customs National Authorities for imported goods. On exports, this data element is also collected by the Customs National Authorities.
18.4. Data validation
At national level, same quality checks are conducted as for regular ITGS statistics, i.e. for data completeness, validity and credibility.
German 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:
There are no specific data compilation operations carried out for TIC data.
At European level:
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of Germany 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.
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 based on 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.
8 May 2025
Valid up to and including 2020
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, data by invoicing currency are not broken down by individual partner countries. 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).
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat: - euro; - national currencies of EU Member States not belonging to the euro area; - US dollar; ‘other’ (i.e. aggregated group of currencies of all non-EU countries except the United States); and 'unknown' (only in 2020).
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.
Valid up to and including 2023
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, data by invoicing currency are not broken down by individual partner countries. 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 the following groops: food and live animals (SITC0), beverages and tobacco (SITC1), crude materials, inedible, except fuels (SITC2), mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (SITC3), animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes (SITC4), chemicals and related products, n.e.s. (SITC5), manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (SITC6), machinery and transport equipment (SITC7), miscellaneous manufactured articles (SITC8), commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC (SITC9) and oil according to SITC division 33 (SITC33).
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
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 _U ‘Unknown currency’ could exceptionally be used.
Valid from 2024
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, data by invoicing currency are not broken down by individual partner countries. 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 the following groops: food and live animals (SITC0), beverages and tobacco (SITC1), crude materials, inedible, except fuels (SITC2), mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (SITC3), animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes (SITC4), chemicals and related products, n.e.s. (SITC5), manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (SITC6), machinery and transport equipment (SITC7), miscellaneous manufactured articles (SITC8), commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC (SITC9) and oil according to SITC division 33 (SITC33).
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Only the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
+ country national currency in {BGN, CZK, DKK, HUF, PLN, RON, SEK, ALL, BAM, ISK, MKD, RSD}
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 _U ‘Unknown currency’ could exceptionally be used.
The statistical unit is any natural or legal person lodging a customs declaration in Germany 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 German National Customs Authority within the year.
German Extra EU trade
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 National Customs Authority.
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.
At national level:
There are no specific data compilation operations carried out for TIC data.
At European level:
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of Germany is calculated on the basis of the transmitted trade values.
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.
TIC data disseminated at national level
TIC data are disseminated each year in May by press release.
TIC data 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.
Reasons for breaks in time series in Germany are: different raises in the exemption thresholds (1999, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016), changes in the statistical territory (1959 incorporation of the Saarland, 1990 German reunification) as well as annual commodity code changes affecting comparability at detailed level.
