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Uljas - System for distribution of Foreign Trade Statistics

The detailed foreign trade statistics of Finnish Customs can be obtained from the Uljas database (distribution system for foreign trade statistics).

Uljas was opened 3 April 2008. In November 2008, more than 3,000 searches/month were performed, and the popularity of the database keeps rising. Especially the businesses are widely using the Uljas database. Uljas is also suitable as an instrument for research and journalistic work. In the Uljas data, there are a number of news items waiting to be found.

The database can be accessed at the website: http://uljas.tulli.fi

The database can be used free of charge and it doesn't require registration. The foreign trade statistics are available in the database as soon as they are published. Uljas is updated on the same schedule as the monthly survey on the foreign trade published by the National Board of Customs. The database can be used in Finnish, Swedish and English.

Uljas is versatile

The database contains three goods classifications:

• The Combined Nomenclature, CN: The CN is a goods classification used in the customs administration and the foreign trade statistics of the EU. At 8-digit level, which is the most precise one, the CN has about 10,000 commodity subheadings. The CN is useful for following the foreign trade of a single, clearly defined commodity. The 6-digit level of the CN is equivalent to the HS classification (Harmonised System), which is widely used for customs statistics also outside the EU.

• The Standard International Trade Classification, SITC: The SITC is a classification issued by the UN. With the SITC, it is easier to get an overall picture of the trade e.g. when comparing trade relations between countries or other larger entities. The SITC extends to the 5-digit level, with more than 3,000 subheadings.

• The Classification of Products by Activity, CPA: The CPA is a classification system applied by the EU, where the goods are classified according to the activity where the goods are typically produced. The CPA is often applied to studies by activity, although the classification describes goods, not businesses. The CPA extends to the 6-digit level, with about 1,400 subheadings.

In the database you can get data by trading partner. In addition to separate countries, the database contains various country classifications, such as the EU area, the Euro area, the UN classification of the developing countries, and the continents. The area classifications are up-to-date, so it is convenient to construct time series backwards.

How to utilise the Uljas database?

The Uljas database has been made so easy that one can learn to use it by experimenting. The database can be used free of charge, so one can study and analyse the material as much as one wants. For instance, by sorting data in ascending or descending order, one may find interesting and surprising details.

The graphs generated by the database give an overall picture of the prevailing trends. The database contains data starting from the late 1980's, so it's also possible to construct long time series. The years when the subheadings were valid are shown in the menus, which makes it easier to collect historical data. Statistical graphics can also be produced in Uljas.

The produced statistics can be saved on one's own computer e.g. as XLS or CSV files for further processing and then transfer the files to other programmes, such as cartography programmes.

The data can be used freely, but the National Board of Customs shall be acknowledged as the source.

For advice on using the Uljas database, please contact: Statistics Service, tilastot@tulli.fi or tel. +358 (0) 20 690 603

Additional information

Published: 4/27/09 © Finnish Customs 2010 Print page