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 Italy 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).
For 2022 onwards, TIC data are available by these product groups:
SITC0 Food and live animals SITC1 Beverages and tobacco SITC2 Crude materials, inedible, except fuels SITC3 Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials SITC33 Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials SITC4 Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes SITC5 Chemicals and related products, n.e.s. SITC6 Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material SITC7 Machinery and transport equipment SITC8 Miscellaneous manufactured articles SITC9 Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere _T Total
Until 2021, TIC data was 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. The following currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat for 2022 onwards:
BRL Brazilian real CAD Canadian dollar CHF Swiss franc CNY Chinese yuan renminb EUR Euro GBP UK pound sterling INR Indian rupee JPY Japanese yen KRW South Korean won MXN Mexican peso NOK Norwegian krone RUB Russian rouble SGD Singapore dollar TRY Turkish lira USD US dollar XU3 National currencies of non-euro area Member States _T All currencies
_U unknown currency
_X Other not specified currencies
Until 2021, the following groups of invoicing currencies was 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 since 2020)
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit is any natural and legal person lodging a customs declaration in Italy on the condition that the customs procedure is of statistical relevance.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population comprise all the legal or natural persons who lodged a customs declaration with the Italian National Customs Authority.
3.7. Reference area
Italy. Data cover Extra-UE countries defined according to the Geonomenclature.
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 Italian 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
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 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
There is no confidential data in TIC data, as data are aggregated. In general, for ITGS detailed data passive confidentiality is applied. Traders request to apply confidentiality constraints for specific commodities (CN8) and flow. Confidentiality is granted in any of the following conditions: A. Less than 3 PSIs for CN8/Flow B. Trader dominance for CN8/flow C. Trader dominance for CN8/flow, net of the second leader. Every year the conditions for which the confidentiality is granted are verified in order to mantain or remove constraints.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
TIC data are the result of the aggregation of real trade data without confidentiality treatment. Data by invoicing currency are not detailed enough to make it possible to identify a specific trader. Therefore, no specific data treatment is applied.
8.1. Release calendar
TIC data disseminated at national level
Data by invoicing currency, are nationally disseminated in the yearly Foreign Trade Statistics Yearbook: Annuario Istat website. (tables for major international currencies and countries).
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.
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
To ask for data, publications, microdata files, cartographies, historical researchers and customized elaborations as well as information on harmonized European data, a request must be submitted by filling out the online form available on the contact center page. The service is free and offers each user personalized assistance and advice, thanks to the staff who answers as soon as possible, identifying the most suitable channel for a simple use of the provided information. Each application is handled in an appropriate and exhaustive in order to ensure data and information suitable to the request (Istat webiste - Users)
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 updated once a year 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.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
TIC data disseminated at national level
Not available.
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
Data by invoicing currency, are nationally disseminated in the yearly Foreign Trade Statistics Yearbook.
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
Data by invoicing currency, are nationally disseminated in Jujy on website: Annuario Istatice website. (tables for major international currencies and countries).
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.
To ask for microdata files a request must be submitted by filling out the online form available on the contact center page. The service is free and offers each user personalized assistance and advice, thanks to the staff who answers as soon as possible, identifying the most suitable channel for a simple use of the provided information. Each application is handled in an appropriate and exhaustive in order to ensure data and information suitable to the request (Istat website - users).
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
Not available
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
TIC quality indicators are annually compiled in terms of relevance, accuracy and timeliness.
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
Policy makers: Central Bank
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
Not available.
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
Changes due to definitions, classifications, coverage or methods will have an impact on the continuity of the time series. Data are comparable over time, there is no break in series.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
2010-2024
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
Validation rules are implemented in order to assure coherence within a given dataset.
See also item 15.4 ‘Coherence - internal' of the related metadata ‘ext_tic - International trade in goods – trade by invoicing currency’ for more details.
The burden is null for the respondents.
17.1. Data revision - policy
TIC data are not revised.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not available.
18.1. Source data
TIC data are mainly 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
Collection of the invoicing currency: every month
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. (website of National Customs Agency, section Online Services).
Collection of the invoicing currency
The invoicing currency is the currency in which the commercial invoice is drawn up. This information is collected by the Customs National Authorities.
18.4. Data validation
Validation rules are implemented in order to assure coherence within a given data set and coherence with trade values coming from aggregated and detailed trade in goods statistics.
Italian 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:
TIC data are derived on the basis of trade values and invoice currency provided in SAD data.
At European level:
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of Italy is calculated on the basis of the transmitted trade values.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
At national level:
No imputation is made by Istat
At European level:
No imputation is made by Eurostat.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
No further comments.
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.
31 January 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).
For 2022 onwards, TIC data are available by these product groups:
SITC0 Food and live animals SITC1 Beverages and tobacco SITC2 Crude materials, inedible, except fuels SITC3 Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials SITC33 Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials SITC4 Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes SITC5 Chemicals and related products, n.e.s. SITC6 Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material SITC7 Machinery and transport equipment SITC8 Miscellaneous manufactured articles SITC9 Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere _T Total
Until 2021, TIC data was 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. The following currencies are considered for data transmission to Eurostat for 2022 onwards:
BRL Brazilian real CAD Canadian dollar CHF Swiss franc CNY Chinese yuan renminb EUR Euro GBP UK pound sterling INR Indian rupee JPY Japanese yen KRW South Korean won MXN Mexican peso NOK Norwegian krone RUB Russian rouble SGD Singapore dollar TRY Turkish lira USD US dollar XU3 National currencies of non-euro area Member States _T All currencies
_U unknown currency
_X Other not specified currencies
Until 2021, the following groups of invoicing currencies was 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 since 2020)
The statistical unit is any natural and legal person lodging a customs declaration in Italy on the condition that the customs procedure is of statistical relevance.
The statistical population comprise all the legal or natural persons who lodged a customs declaration with the Italian National Customs Authority.
Italy. Data cover Extra-UE countries defined according to the Geonomenclature.
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 Italian 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:
TIC data are derived on the basis of trade values and invoice currency provided in SAD data.
At European level:
The share of each invoicing currency in the imports and exports of Italy is calculated on the basis of the transmitted trade values.
TIC data are mainly 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 updated once a year 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.
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.
Changes due to definitions, classifications, coverage or methods will have an impact on the continuity of the time series. Data are comparable over time, there is no break in series.
