Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
International trade in goods statistics (ITGS) published by Eurostat measure the value and quantity of goods traded between the EU Member States (intra-EU trade) and goods traded by the EU Member States with non-EU countries (extra-EU trade). ‘Goods’ means all movable property including electricity. ‘European’ means that the statistics are compiled on the basis of the concepts and definitions set out in EU legislation.
Trade by invoicing currency (TIC) data are part of the information available for extra-EU trade. The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Data by invoicing currency can be used for instance to explore the use of the euro in the EU’s international trade, to compare it with the role of the United States dollar (USD) or to analyse the role of the euro in the euro area and in the EU. These statistics are very useful to central banks, including the European Central Bank, for comparing the euro with other major international currencies. These data are also used by financial market segments or foreign investors.
Statistical dimensions available for TIC data:
reporting country;
partner country;
reference period;
trade flows;
product; and
currency.
3.2. Classification system
Product classification
The Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) is managed by the United Nations and correlated with the subheadings of the Harmonised System. SITC Rev. 4 comprises 2 970 basing headings which are aggregated into 262 groups, 67 divisions and 10 sections. TIC data are based on the section level complemented by the division 33 ‘oil”.
Country classification
The ‘Nomenclature of countries and territories for the external trade statistics of the Union and statistics of trade between Member States’, known as the ‘Geonomenclature’, is used to collect detailed statistics on exchanges of goods. TIC data are only disseminated at an aggregated partner level: partner ‘extra-EU’ for TIC data reported by the EU Member States and partner ‘world’ for the TIC data reported by the EFTA and enlargement countries. See the publication Geonomenclature applicable to European statistics on international trade in goods for more information (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 the Finland corresponds to its customs territory.
As ITGS in general, TIC data cover all sectors of the economy.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Reporting country – Except for some specific goods like vessels and aircraft, ITGS follow the physical movements of the goods. A country should record an import when goods enter its statistical territory and an export when goods leave that territory except if those goods are in simple transit.
Partner country – At detailed level, this is the last known country of destination for exports and the country of origin for imports. However individual partner countries are not kept in the dissemination of data by invoicing currency. They are replaced by the partner area ‘extra-EU’.
Product – Goods are primarily classified by commodity code as set out in the EU Combined Nomenclature. TIC data are compiled on the basis of a correspondence table enabling the transposition of detailed data collected according to the Combined Nomenclature into the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC). Until reference year 2020 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).
Since reference year 2022 TIC data are available by ten product groups: Food and live animals (SITC section 0), Beverages and tobacco (SITC section 1), Crude materials, inedible, except fuels (SITC section 2), Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (SITC section 3, excluding division 33), Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (SITC division 33), Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes (SITC section 4), Chemicals and related products, n.e.s. (SITC section 5), Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (SITC section 6), Machinery and transport equipment (SITC section 7), Miscellaneous manufactured articles (SITC section 8) and Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere (SITC section 9).
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Until 2020 reference year 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' (since 2020 reference year).
Since 2022 reference year, the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
euro;
Albanian lek;
Bosnia-Herzegovinian convertible mark;
Brazilian real;
Canadian dollar;
Chinese yuan renminbi;
Iceland krona;
Indian rupee;
Japanese yen;
Macedonian denar;
Mexican peso;
Norwegian krone;
Russian rouble;
Singapore dollar;
Serbian dinar;
South Korean won;
Swiss franc;
UK pound sterling;
Turkish lira;
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'.
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.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit is any natural or legal person lodging a customs declaration in Finland 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 Finnish Customs 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 Finnish Customs.
The reference years for which TIC data are disseminated result from the aggregation of monthly figures from January to December.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
General statistical legislation
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics
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.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
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.
Regulation (EC) No 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Data used by Finnish Customs 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.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The Finnish Customs has issued an instruction on the processing of sensitive statistical data on economy. All the persons participating in the production and publication of the statistics will sign a confidentiality commitment. All data collected for statistical purposes are confidential.
The TIC data are the results of the aggregation of real trade data (i.e. data as collected in SADs) considering that SITC-1 digit codes are not accurate enough to disclose confidential information.
There is no confidential data in TIC data.
8.1. Release calendar
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 8.1 ‘Release calendar’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency (TIC)’ for more details.
8.2. Release calendar access
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 8.2 ‘Release calendar access’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
8.3. Release policy - user access
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 8.3 ‘Release policy - user access’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 9 ‘Frequency of dissemination’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 10.1 ‘Dissemination format - News release’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 10.2 ‘Dissemination format - Publications’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 10.3 ‘Dissemination format - online database’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 10.6 ‘Documentation on methodology' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
100%
10.7. Quality management - documentation
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 10.7 ‘Quality management - documentation’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
11.1. Quality assurance
Finland provides Eurostat with annual quality reports within a fixed deadline. Those reports are used for quality and compliance assessments. The following indicators are compiled for each reference year: • Statistical information required by the legislation but not or partially provided • Timeliness and punctuality of TIC data
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 are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 12.1 ‘Relevance - User Needs’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
TIC data are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 12.2 ‘Relevance - User Satisfaction’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
12.3. Completeness
See item 12.3 ‘Completeness’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
See item 15.1 ‘Comparability - geographical' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
No methodological change occurred in recent years
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Years 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Apart from the TIC dataset, information on trade flows can be found in the aggregated and detailed trade in goods statistics. Data checks carried out by Finnish Customs ensure the coherence between the trade values published in the TIC dataset and trade values coming from aggregated and detailed trade in goods statistics concerning Finnish data.
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 then necessary, which means that the burden is null for the respondents, i.e. for the traders and businesses. The cost of TIC data only relates to the compilation step carried out by Finnish Customs.
17.1. Data revision - policy
No revision policy for TIC data.
17.2. Data revision - practice
TIC data are not revised.
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 Customs declarations submitted by businesses and, in some cases, by private individuals involved in an international transaction of goods with a non-EU country.
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 Finnish Customs for imported goods. On exports, this data element is optional, but Finnish Customs collect it as mandatory.
18.4. Data validation
The currency code is validated in customs declaration system and used in calculation of customs value. TIC data is checked against aggregated data from statistical data base. The value of imports and exports for the reference year must correspond to the sum of the monthly statistics including the latest revisions.
Finnish 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:
Customs declarations are the source data for TIC data. Trade values and currencies are reported.
At European level:
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of Finland is calculated on the basis of the transmitted trade values.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
At national level:
No imputation is made by Finnish Customs. No missing trade in extra trade.
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 on the basis of the concepts and definitions set out in EU legislation.
Trade by invoicing currency (TIC) data are part of the information available for extra-EU trade. The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Data by invoicing currency can be used for instance to explore the use of the euro in the EU’s international trade, to compare it with the role of the United States dollar (USD) or to analyse the role of the euro in the euro area and in the EU. These statistics are very useful to central banks, including the European Central Bank, for comparing the euro with other major international currencies. These data are also used by financial market segments or foreign investors.
Statistical dimensions available for TIC data:
reporting country;
partner country;
reference period;
trade flows;
product; and
currency.
28 May 2025
Reporting country – Except for some specific goods like vessels and aircraft, ITGS follow the physical movements of the goods. A country should record an import when goods enter its statistical territory and an export when goods leave that territory except if those goods are in simple transit.
Partner country – At detailed level, this is the last known country of destination for exports and the country of origin for imports. However individual partner countries are not kept in the dissemination of data by invoicing currency. They are replaced by the partner area ‘extra-EU’.
Product – Goods are primarily classified by commodity code as set out in the EU Combined Nomenclature. TIC data are compiled on the basis of a correspondence table enabling the transposition of detailed data collected according to the Combined Nomenclature into the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC). Until reference year 2020 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).
Since reference year 2022 TIC data are available by ten product groups: Food and live animals (SITC section 0), Beverages and tobacco (SITC section 1), Crude materials, inedible, except fuels (SITC section 2), Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (SITC section 3, excluding division 33), Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (SITC division 33), Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes (SITC section 4), Chemicals and related products, n.e.s. (SITC section 5), Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material (SITC section 6), Machinery and transport equipment (SITC section 7), Miscellaneous manufactured articles (SITC section 8) and Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere (SITC section 9).
Currency – The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. Its definition is provided by the customs legislation. Until 2020 reference year 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' (since 2020 reference year).
Since 2022 reference year, the following currencies or groups of invoicing currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat:
euro;
Albanian lek;
Bosnia-Herzegovinian convertible mark;
Brazilian real;
Canadian dollar;
Chinese yuan renminbi;
Iceland krona;
Indian rupee;
Japanese yen;
Macedonian denar;
Mexican peso;
Norwegian krone;
Russian rouble;
Singapore dollar;
Serbian dinar;
South Korean won;
Swiss franc;
UK pound sterling;
Turkish lira;
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'.
Note on ‘unknown’ currency: Trade for which the currency is unknown should be distributed over the individual currencies or groups of currencies proportionally to their relative share except if it is known that such a distribution would skew the data in a too significant extent. In such a case, the code UNK ‘Unknown’ could exceptionally be used.
The statistical unit is any natural or legal person lodging a customs declaration in Finland 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 Finnish Customs within the year.
Finland.
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 Finnish Customs.
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:
Customs declarations are the source data for TIC data. Trade values and currencies are reported.
At European level:
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of Finland 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 are only disseminated by Eurostat. See item 9 ‘Frequency of dissemination’ of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
See concepts 14.1.1 and 14.1.2.
See item 15.1 ‘Comparability - geographical' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
