International transport and trade statistics

Jasper Roos

CBS / Statistics Netherlands

Unit International trade

2

Motive

In the Netherlands the international trade is complex due to:

- Different definitions of between Eurostat and National Accounts

- Rotterdam Harbor and Schiphol Airport- The number of distribution centres- Globalisation

Effect: A lot of confusion

But: not only in the Netherlands

3

The cross-border good flows

Good flow:

–Import and export– Exports from domestic production– Re-exports

–Quasi-transit (“Rotterdam effect”)

–Transit via customs warehouse–‘Real’ transit

4

The cross-border good flows

Good flow: Belongs to intern.

trade in goods:–Import and export Yes

– Exports from domestic production– Re-exports

–Quasi-transit (“Rotterdam effect”) Only community

concept–Transit via customs warehouse No–‘Real’ transit No

5

Difference re-exports and quasi-transit

Ownership:

Re-exports – A resident is owner of the goods

Quasi-transit – Owner is always a non-resident

Effect: Trade margin does not apply to reporting country any longer (in theory)

6

Difference re-exports / quasi-transit and transit through customs warehouse

Customs Status:

Re-exports / - Goods in free circulation of

Quasi-transit European Union

Transit through - Not yet cleared goods

customs warehouse

Effect: By definition transit through customs warehouse not in the concept of international trade in goods

7

Difference re-exports / quasi-transit and ‘real’ transit

Classified as re-exports or quasi-transit if:– Either: Clearing– Or: Storing (in case of goods in free

circulation of European Union)– Or: Trading (in case of goods in free

circulation of European Union)

Otherwise: Transit

Effect: Transit does not belong to the concept of the international trade in goods

8

Difference theory and practice

International trade in goods statistics should monitor all relevant cross-border good flows, but:

– Choice between clearing or not clearing → Included or excluded from international trade

in goods statistics– Ownership by a foreign resident (quasi-transit) →

Excluded from national concept

Do our definitions still reflect the real world ???

Questions ?