Product description: Monthly Preliminary Statistics

Purpose of use and statutory basis

Foreign Trade Statistics describes the trade of goods between Finland and other Member States of the European Union (EU) and between Finland and Third Countries i.e. intra and extra EU trade. Foreign Trade Statistics is the official information source on the importation, exportation, and balance of trade of Finland. Foreign Trade Statistics is an instrument of importance for decision makers, planners, and researchers in the public and private sectors, as well as in the operations of EU and many international organisations.

Foreign Trade Statistics is based on the legislation of the European Community and on the national Customs Act of Finland (1466/94). The compilation of the statistics is guided by the Council's Basic Regulation on intra EU trade statistics (EEC) No 3330/91, and the Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/95 which lays down provisions for statistics on extra EU trade, as well as the regulations on their implementation.

Collection of data

Statistical data for the intra EU trade is collected from actors responsible for provision of information using a system of documentation of intra EU trade (Intrastat).

The statistical data for extra EU trade are collected through the customs clearance system.

Concepts, definitions, and classifications used

The compilation of statistics on goods is based on the Combined Nomenclature (CN). The Statistics on exportation is compiled according to country of destination using the FOB (free on board) value and the statistics on importation according to the Country of Origin and the CIF (cost, insurance, freight) value. The Preliminary Statistics includes monthly preliminary total values for purchase and sale between Finland and the EU-region, as well as between Finland and Third Countries. In addition, preliminary information is published on purchase and sale in the Euro region.

Reliability and timing of the statistics

Because the Preliminary Statistics is published at an early stage, the figures published in it include estimates. Therefore, the figures are preliminary and they will be changed when the shortcomings in the basic material are adjusted in the final control. Preliminary Statistics is published about six weeks after the statistical month concerned.

More detailed information on foreign trade is published about nine weeks from the statistical month concerned. Simultaneously, a monthly survey is published.

Detailed information on how the figures on foreign trade are controlled and when the statistics are published is available for example in the Foreign Trade Annual Reports under the heading Quality Reports or on the internet pages of the Board of Customs (http://www.tulli.fi). The information for the calendar year is confirmed before the end of April in the following year.



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