External trade in goods
The external trade in goods statistics, compiled by Eurostat, summarise on a monthly basis the exchange of goods across international borders. Exports and imports of goods for the 28 individual EU Member States, as well as the euro area and the European Union as a whole, are presented by product group and main trading partners, and measured both in terms of value and as indices of volume and unit value. External trade statistics are not directly comparable with the exports and imports recorded in the national accounts, as the latter combine goods and services. Owing to differences in definitions, classification, coverage and time of recording, external trade data, in particular for imports, are not fully comparable with the goods item in the balance of payments statistics.
The trade weights statistics are based on bilateral data on trade in manufactured goods, as defined in Sections 5 to 8 of the Standard International Trade Classification (i.e. excluding agricultural, raw material and energy products), and trade in services (Total EBOPS Services) for the periods 1995-97, 1998-2000, 2001-03, 2004-06, 2007-09, 2010-12, 2013-15 and 2016-18. Trade weights are used to calculate the effective exchange rates and harmonised competitiveness indicators.
The AMECO database is compiled by the DG-ECFIN in the European Commission. It contains annual macro-economic time series submitted by the Member States and “filtered” by the Commission. These data are used in the forecast exercises done two times per year (Spring and Autumn). It is the official source for some variables, especially those related to public finances.
Since 2018 there is only a limited interim forecast concerning GDP growth and inflation and as coincidence the Winter forecast data will not be introduced in AMECO anymore.
Current vintage: Spring 2022; more information can be found on DG-ECFIN website:
External trade in goods statistics is compiled by Eurostat on a monthly basis following a harmonised methodology set out in European regulations (known as the Community concept; and using data collection systems based on both extra-EU and intra-EU (Intrastat) data. According to these regulations, Member States should supply detailed extra-EU trade data to Eurostat six weeks after, aggregated intra-EU data eight weeks after and detailed intra-EU data ten weeks after the end of the reporting month. Eurostat publishes total extra-euro area trade results 50-55 days after the end of the reporting month, while detailed results, broken down by partner and product, become available one month later. It should be noted that extra-euro area results are not as timely as extra-EU data, because the data for the three (four before 2001) EU Member States not participating in the Economic and Monetary Union (namely Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom) become available later. An advanced release calendar for Press releases on External Trade can be found on the Eurostat-website (Euro-indicators). The ECB databank includes series upon agreement with ECB data users. Data required for ad hoc purposes can be downloaded from Comext by the users.
Detailed documentation on trade can be found on the ECB website
The trade weights are used for the calculation of the effective exchange rates (EERs) of the euro and the harmonised competitiveness indicators (HCIs) of the euro area countries.
Documentation in Section: "Publications on the effective exchange rates"