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For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support |
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1.1. Contact organisation | Hellenic Statistical Authority, ELSTAT |
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1.2. Contact organisation unit | Section of International Transactions Statistics |
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1.5. Contact mail address | 46 Pireos and Eponiton str., 18510 Piraeus |
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2.1. Metadata last certified | 27/01/2021 | ||
2.2. Metadata last posted | 27/01/2021 | ||
2.3. Metadata last update | 31/08/2023 |
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3.1. Data description | |||
International trade in goods statistics (ITGS) published by Eurostat and Greece 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:
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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 (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/international-trade-in-goods/publications#methotherpub). |
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3.3. Coverage - sector | |||
The scope of TIC data coincides with the scope of 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 Greece corresponds to its customs territory. Due to Brexit, the extra-EU trade area includes the United Kingdom as partner country. This change applies since 2020 as reference year. As ITGS in general, TIC data cover all sectors of the economy. |
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3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions | |||
Reporting country – Except for some specific goods like vessels and aircraft, ITGS follow the physical movements of the goods. A country should record an import when goods enter its statistical territory and an export when goods leave that territory except if those goods are in simple transit. Partner country – At detailed level, this is the last known country of destination for exports and the country of origin for imports. However individual partner countries are not kept in the dissemination of data by invoicing currency. They are replaced by the partner area ‘extra-EU’. Due to Brexit, the extra-EU trade area includes the United Kingdom as partner country. This change applies since 2020 as reference year. 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). Under the European Business Statistics Regulation ( (EU) 2019/2152), from reference year 2022, the sections SITC0 to SITC9, as well as Division 33, are reported to Eurostat seperately. Division SITC33 and total trade (covering SITC0 to SITC9) are provided as well. Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. EL compiles TIC data since reference year 2016 on a annual basis. From reference year 2022 onwards trade flows are broken down into the following invoicing currency breakdown given that the customs declarations are used as data source: |
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3.5. Statistical unit | |||
The statistical unit is any natural or legal person lodging a customs declaration in Greece on the condition that the customs procedure is of statistical relevance. |
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3.6. Statistical population | |||
The statistical population comprises all the legal or natural persons who have lodged a customs declaration with the National Customs Authority of Greece within the year. |
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3.7. Reference area | |||
Greece |
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3.8. Coverage - Time | |||
TIC data must be compiled once every two years starting with 2010 as reference year. 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. TIC data disseminated by Eurostat See document TIC Quality indicators.
TIC data disseminated at national level 2016-2019 |
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3.9. Base period | |||
Not applicable. |
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For data transmission to Eurostat and data disseminated at national level – 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:
For data dissemination on Eurostat website – Share of each invoicing currency in extra-EU imports and exports. For data dissemination on ELSTAT website - Share of each invoicing currency in extra-EU imports and exports. |
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Theoretically, the reference period for the information on international trade in goods transactions should be the calendar month of export or import of the goods. However, in practice the reference period is generally the calendar month during which the customs declaration is accepted by the Customs Authorities of Greece. The reference years for which TIC data are disseminated result from the aggregation of monthly figures from January to December. |
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6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements | |||
General statistical legislation Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics 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. |
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6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing | |||
Not applicable. |
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7.1. Confidentiality - policy | |||
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), 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. As a general definition, data used by national and EU authorities for producing statistics are considered confidential if statistical units can be identified, either directly or indirectly, and information about individuals or businesses is disclosed as a result.
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 relevant link: The Statistical Confidentiality Policy of ELSTAT includes the rules and principles implemented by ELSTAT for the observance of statistical confidentiality and is available at the following link: Passive confidentiality: The European Regulation of International Trade in Goods Statistics (ITGS) requires the application of passive confidentiality. Passive confidentiality means that the NSA will suppress the disseminated data only upon request of the provider of statistical information (PSI) whose individual data might be indirectly revealed from published results. In accordance with the Article 11 of Regulation (ΕC) 638/2004 of the European Parliament and the Council, where the parties who have provided information so request, the national authorities decide whether statistical results which make it possible indirectly to identify the said provider(s) are to be disseminated or are to be amended in such a way that their dissemination does not prejudice statistical confidentiality. Furthermore, in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (ΕC) 471/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council, only where an importer or exporter so requests will the national authorities of a given Member State decide whether the external trade statistics of that Member State which may make it possible to identify that importer or exporter are to be disseminated or are to be amended in such a way that their dissemination does not prejudice statistical confidentiality. |
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7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment | |||
Data by invoicing currency are compiled at aggregated levels, therefore they are not detailed enough to make it possible to identify a specific trader. Subsequently, no specific data treatment is applied. TIC data are the result of the aggregation of public trade data. |
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8.1. Release calendar | |||
TIC data disseminated at national level The Press Releases Calendar which is posted on the website of ELSTAT announces, approximately, 4 months before the beginning of the calendar year the exact release dates of the data, that will take place during the year. Since reference year 2016 ELSTAT disseminates an annual press release at T+4 months.
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. |
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8.2. Release calendar access | |||
TIC data disseminated at national level The Press Releases Calendar is distributed to the press and is available to all interested parties free of charge. It is also available on the ELSTAT’s website at the following link: https://www.statistics.gr/en/calendar#12021
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. |
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8.3. Release policy - user access | |||
TIC data disseminated at national level The data are included in the Press Release “Statistics on International Trade in Goods with third countries by invoicing currency” which is published on ELSTAT’s website, at 12:00 of the specific date announced in the Press Release Calendar, at the following link: https://www.statistics.gr/en/statistics/-/publication/SFC10/2019
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. |
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TIC data disseminated at national level Yearly with a new reference year.
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. |
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10.1. Dissemination format - News release | |||
TIC data disseminated at national level Press Release “International Trade in Goods with third countries by invoicing currency” is available at the following link https://www.statistics.gr/en/statistics/-/publication/SFC10/-
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. |
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10.2. Dissemination format - Publications | |||
TIC data disseminated at national level Press Release “International Trade in Goods with third countries by invoicing currency” is available at the following link: https://www.statistics.gr/en/statistics/-/publication/SFC10/- The means of dissemination used so that the TIC data is made available to public, is ELSTAT’s website and the procedure for the provision of TIC data to users after they submit requests through ELSTAT portal.
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. |
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10.3. Dissemination format - online database | |||
TIC data disseminated at national level TIC data are disseminated at national level through a Press Release “International Trade in Goods with third countries by invoicing currency” which is available at the following link: https://www.statistics.gr/en/statistics/-/publication/SFC10/-
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. |
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10.3.1. Data tables - consultations | |||
See document TIC Quality indicators. Data tables are available to users upon request through ELSTAT portal. |
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10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access | |||
Micro-data can be supplied, upon request, and only following the approval of the Statistical Confidentiality Committee. |
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10.5. Dissemination format - other | |||
Not applicable. |
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10.5.1. Metadata - consultations | |||
See document TIC Quality indicators. |
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10.6. Documentation on methodology | |||
TIC data disseminated at national level See "Explanatory Notes" in the Press Release “International Trade in Goods with third countries by invoicing currency” available at the following link: https://www.statistics.gr/en/statistics/-/publication/SFC10/-
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. |
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10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate | |||
100% |
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10.7. Quality management - documentation | |||
TIC data disseminated at national level See "Explanatory Notes" in the Press Release “International Trade in Goods with third countries by invoicing currency”.
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. |
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11.1. Quality assurance | |||
The reliability of the data source and the exhaustiveness of data collection (close to 100%) ensures data completeness and accuracy of TIC statistics. Detailed validity and credibility quality controls are carried out at record level. Datasets are complete. The quality policy of ELSTAT is available at the following link: |
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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. |
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12.1. Relevance - User Needs | |||
TIC data disseminated at national level The main users are Enterprises, Ministries, Universities, Embassies etc. User requests are monitored on a daily basis.
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. |
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12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction | |||
TIC data disseminated at national level The degree of satisfaction of users is assessed by their comments and remarks expressed: a) at the annual Users’ Conferences organized by ELSTAT, b) at the meetings of the Advisory Committee of the Hellenic Statistical System (SYEPELSS), in which participate representatives of bodies using statistics and c) through the User Satisfaction Survey conducted by the competent Statistical Data Dissemination Section of ELSTAT.
The conclusions of the user conferences are available at the link: http://www.statistics.gr/en/user-conference.
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. |
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12.3. Completeness | |||
TIC data are based on the EU legislation which is directly applicable in the EU Member States. In particular, the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics includes a clear and precise description of the characteristics of the TIC dataset to be transmitted to Eurostat. All characteristics are provided to Eurostat. See item 12.3 ‘Completeness’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details. |
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12.3.1. Data completeness - rate | |||
100% for all years 2010-2022 See document TIC Quality indicators. |
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13.1. Accuracy - overall | |||
The Customs Authorities are competent for the collection of data on trade with third countries, while the compilation of the relevant statistics is under the responsibilities of ELSTAT. The statistical data on imports and exports with Third Countries are compiled on the basis of the monthly data from the Customs Authorities. In order to ensure completeness, data from the incomplete customs declarations are integrated, concerning mostly oil products. The data from the incomplete customs declarations, after having been completed, are replaced by the respective final data. TIC statistics, as ITGS with Third Countries, is mainly a census survey (99.9% of the data regarding the currency indication is collected by Customs Authorities and less than 0.01% of the total of exports is estimated to ensure 100% coverage). A wide range of quality checks are carried out during the whole process of the compilation of ITGS in order to fully meet the requirements of European regulations. These checks aim at ensuring completeness, reliability and validity of statistics, thus resulting to high quality data, fully harmonized with international standards. TIC data are considered of high accuracy as they are compiled on the basis of Customs Authorities data, which is a reliable source, as well as on the account of the quality checks applied. |
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13.2. Sampling error | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3. Non-sampling error | |||
See item 13.3 ‘Non-sampling error' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details. |
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13.3.1. Coverage error | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.2. Measurement error | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.3. Non response error | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.4. Processing error | |||
Not applicable. |
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13.3.5. Model assumption error | |||
Not applicable. |
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14.1. Timeliness | |||
See concepts 14.1.1 and 14.1.2. |
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14.1.1. Time lag - first result | |||
See document TIC Quality indicators. |
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14.1.2. Time lag - final result | |||
Not applicable. |
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14.2. Punctuality | |||
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. |
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14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication | |||
ELSTAT meets the TIC data transmission deadline. See document TIC Quality indicators. |
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15.1. Comparability - geographical | |||
From a methodological point of view, the comparability across countries is ensured by the implementation of the concepts and definitions set in the EU legislation and by the application of the complementary guidelines provided by the Compilers guide on European statistics on international trade in goods.The only change relates to Croatia's adhesion to the EU in 2013.
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15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient | |||
Not applicable. |
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15.2. Comparability - over time | |||
Changes due to definitions, classifications, coverage or methods will have an impact on the continuity of the time series. The most significant change came with the recent Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 on European business statistics. |
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15.2.1. Length of comparable time series | |||
See 15.2 Comparability over time |
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15.3. Coherence - cross domain | |||
The internal coherence among ITGS statistics and TIC statistics is 100% and evaluated as very satisfactory. |
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15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics | |||
Not applicable. |
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15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts | |||
Not applicable. |
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15.4. Coherence - internal | |||
TIC data are internally coherent because their compilation system is based on comprehensive, systematic and harmonized data collection methods, and quality checks.The internal coherence of the TIC dataset is ensured by the intra-dataset checks carried out before any data dissemination.
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The data are transmitted by administrative data sources. Additionally, the compilation of TIC statistics is mainly based on web applications and IT tools and there is no additional cost and burden for the their compilation. |
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17.1. Data revision - policy | |||
Data revision, if needed, is based on the Revision Policy of ELSTAT, available at the link: |
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17.2. Data revision - practice | |||
• The users are timely informed on any major discrepancies that are identified in published data resulting to non-scheduled revisions. The revised results are published without any delay in a transparent and open procedure. Furthermore, the reasons for the non-scheduled revisions are also made public.
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17.2.1. Data revision - average size | |||
Not available. |
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18.1. Source data | |||
TIC data are derived from:
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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 |
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18.3. Data collection | |||
Collection of trade in goods data The Customs Authorities transmit to ELSTAT, on a monthly basis, an electronic file with all imports and exports on a record level, on the basis of the custom declarations lodged with them, pursuant to Article 2 of Regulation 92/2010. For specific goods and movements additional, mainly, administrative data sources are used. Collection of the invoicing currency Through the customs declarations via the fields of the Single Administrative Document all the required information is collected, including the currency and amount on invoice, which is in almost all cases available. |
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18.4. Data validation | |||
A wide range of quality checks are carried out during the whole process of the compilation of ITGS in order to fully meet the requirements of European regulations. These checks aim at ensuring completeness, reliability and validity of statistics, thus resulting to high quality data, fully harmonized with international standards. The results of the TIC statistics ensure high quality as all variables are collected, in compliance with the requirements of the European institutional framework. TIC data from Greecedisseminated by Eurostat have been subject to the following quality checks:
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18.5. Data compilation | |||
At national level: The Customs Authorities are competent for the collection of data on trade with third countries, while the compilation of the relevant statistics is under the responsibilities of ELSTAT. The statistical data on imports and exports of goods with the Third Countries, are derived from the data transmitted by the Customs Authorities to ELSTAT and incorporate the provisional data from the “incomplete customs declarations" - which concern mainly petroleum products. In the monthly data on trade with third countries; the “incomplete customs declarations” data after having been completed are replaced by the final data. International Trade in Goods by Invoicing Currency data are aggregated by currency categories depending on the currency of the commercial transaction invoice and by product group, depending on the product category. The statistical value is expressed in euro (€), irrespective of the currency indicated. EL compiles TIC data since reference year 2016 on a annual basis. 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. Due to Brexit, the extra-EU trade area includes the United Kingdom as partner country. This change applies since 2020 as reference year. 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). Under the European Business Statistics Regulation ( (EU) 2019/2152), from reference year 2022, the sections SITC0 to SITC9, as well as Division 33, are reported to Eurostat seperately. Division SITC33 and total trade (covering SITC0 to SITC9) are provided as well. Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is issued, and it is recorded in accordance with the ISO alpha-3 currency code (ISO 4217). The primary data source for the compilation of these statistics is the Customs Authorities. From reference year 2022 onwards trade flows are broken down into the following invoicing currency breakdown given that the customs declarations are used as data source: At European level: The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of Greece is calculated on the basis of the transmitted trade values. |
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18.5.1. Imputation - rate | |||
At national level: No imputation is made at national level.
At European level: No imputation is made by Eurostat. |
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18.6. Adjustment | |||
Not applicable. |
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18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment | |||
Not applicable. |
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