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.
The industrial import price index measures the monthly development of prices of goods imported by domestic enterprises.
3.2. Classification system
NACE rev 2 and CPA 2008.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The scope of the data fall under the European Sample Scheme regulations.
The current CPAs are 26.11 (manufacture of electronic components) and 19.20 (manufacture of refined petroleum products)
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Import prices are calculated on the basis of CPA products and according Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197.
The formal definition for import prices is the below:
It is the objective of the import price indices to measure the monthly transaction price development of goods purchased by residents from non-residents. All the related services are initially excluded from the scope except for those covered by CIF (cost, insurance, freight) trade agreement. The price indices should track the price movements of comparable items over time. It is essential that all price-determining characteristics of the products are taken into account, including quantity of units sold, transport provided, rebates, service conditions, guarantee conditions origin and destination. The specification must be such that in subsequent reference periods, the observation unit is able uniquely to identify the product and to provide the appropriate price per unit.
3.5. Statistical unit
Observation Unit: Kind of Activity Unit (KAU) and in its absence, Enterprise (ENT)
Reporting Unit: Legal
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population includes units falling under the relevant CPA. The population is maintained by the Business Registers unit.
3.7. Reference area
The indicator covers the national territory of the Maltese Islands.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The data are available from the year 2005.
3.9. Base period
Base year (year on which weights are based): 2021
Reference year (year when the index equals 100): 2021
The data are provided in index form.
The data are collected on a monthly basis.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The related European legislation is the European Business Statistics Regulation 2019/2152 and Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data Sharing matters are governed by the Malta Statistics Authority Act XXIV of 2000.
Data is sent to Eurostat.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Apart from the established legislative framework, the NSO is also guided by an internal general confidentiality policy. Data tagged as confidential are not available for publication.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Confidentiality matters are regulated by the Malta Statistics Authority Act XXIV of 2000. Such data are marked as such.
8.1. Release calendar
There is no news release on the import prices data.
8.2. Release calendar access
There is no news release on the import prices data.
8.3. Release policy - user access
No national releases are issued by the Short-term Business Statistics Unit relating to import prices. Data are transmitted to Eurostat according to the European Business Statistics (EBS) Regulation.
Eurostat transmissions for this index are carried out on a monthly basis and sent 45 days after the end of the reference period.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The main dissemination channel for official statistics is the NSO website.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not available.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
The NSO website offers an online statistical database (StatDB) that provides a more in-depth analysis for the more expert statistical user or researcher. The StatDB requires registration as only registered users can extract data from the database. Registration is free-of-charge. This index does not feature in this database.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
In general, index results made available to Eurostat ensure a sufficient degree of representativeness of data. More detailed data than that published locally and internationally are available on request but are subject to the confidentiality clauses.
In such cases, data are provided in index form. Micro data are not provided to users.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data are transmitted to Eurostat on a monthly basis
10.6. Documentation on methodology
A Laspeyres type index is used. This index is part of the European Sampling Scheme.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not available.
11.1. Quality assurance
The NSO quality assurance principles are developed according to the ESS Handbook for Quality Reports (2014).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Aspects of quality are divided into several steps. These are specifying needs, designing and building data instruments and collecting, processing, analysing, disseminating, archiving and evaluating data. The main guiding principles in quality management are found in the:
Overall, the quality of this index is of good quality.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Currently, the main user of these data are Eurostat.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
Data are compliant with relevant European and local regulations and requirements are fully fulfilled.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The overall accuracy of the indicator is considered to be good.
However, CPA 12 was phased out and new CPAs (26.11 and 19.20) were introduced.
13.2. Sampling error
Sampling error is not calculated for this indicator. These NACE categories are relatively small.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-sampling errors due to non-response are negligible.
14.1. Timeliness
The index is disseminated 45 days after the end of the reference period.
14.2. Punctuality
All deadlines are respected during the course of the year.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
To ensure geographical comparability across member states the index is compiled according to the EBS Regulations and STS Methodological Guidelines. The same concepts are applied to the whole national territory of the Maltese Islands.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data series has been compiled since the year 2005. There is no break in series.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Import prices are not compared with any other sources.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not available.
Burden is currently considered to be very low for this indicator.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The same revision policy is applied to both data released nationally and that sent to Eurostat.
No major revisions occur in this indicator.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The same revision practice is used for all the data in the short-term statistics unit. Data marked as provisional are revised when actual data are received and estimates are replaced.
For this indicator, no revisions are done.
18.1. Source data
Import price data are provided from the largest business units for NACE 26.11. For NACE 19.20 data is gathered from the NSO's International Trade Statistics Unit.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Monthly.
18.3. Data collection
The data are collected from business units and from the NSO's International Trade Statistics Unit.
18.4. Data validation
Validations of format and file structure checks and intra-dataset checks are checked with the use of in-house excel sheets and access databases.
Revisions analysis is also carried out for every data transmission sent to Eurostat using in-house access queries. When data revisions are significantly large, a short explanation is also given to Eurostat.
18.5. Data compilation
A Laspeyres type index is used for compilation.
Until 2018, the GESMES/TS conversion tool was used. From 2019 onwards, the SDMX-ML tool is used.
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustments are done.
No other comments to add.
The industrial import price index measures the monthly development of prices of goods imported by domestic enterprises.
13 June 2025
Import prices are calculated on the basis of CPA products and according Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1197.
The formal definition for import prices is the below:
It is the objective of the import price indices to measure the monthly transaction price development of goods purchased by residents from non-residents. All the related services are initially excluded from the scope except for those covered by CIF (cost, insurance, freight) trade agreement. The price indices should track the price movements of comparable items over time. It is essential that all price-determining characteristics of the products are taken into account, including quantity of units sold, transport provided, rebates, service conditions, guarantee conditions origin and destination. The specification must be such that in subsequent reference periods, the observation unit is able uniquely to identify the product and to provide the appropriate price per unit.
Observation Unit: Kind of Activity Unit (KAU) and in its absence, Enterprise (ENT)
Reporting Unit: Legal
The statistical population includes units falling under the relevant CPA. The population is maintained by the Business Registers unit.
The indicator covers the national territory of the Maltese Islands.
The data are collected on a monthly basis.
The overall accuracy of the indicator is considered to be good.
However, CPA 12 was phased out and new CPAs (26.11 and 19.20) were introduced.
The data are provided in index form.
A Laspeyres type index is used for compilation.
Until 2018, the GESMES/TS conversion tool was used. From 2019 onwards, the SDMX-ML tool is used.
Import price data are provided from the largest business units for NACE 26.11. For NACE 19.20 data is gathered from the NSO's International Trade Statistics Unit.
Eurostat transmissions for this index are carried out on a monthly basis and sent 45 days after the end of the reference period.
The index is disseminated 45 days after the end of the reference period.
To ensure geographical comparability across member states the index is compiled according to the EBS Regulations and STS Methodological Guidelines. The same concepts are applied to the whole national territory of the Maltese Islands.
The data series has been compiled since the year 2005. There is no break in series.
