Data are compiled according to the system of special trade. Exports are reported f.o.b., imports are reported c.i.f. Exports refer to national or nationalised merchandise dispatched abroad, merchandise temporarily exported for repair and re-exports temporarily imported. Imports refer to merchandise entering Italy for immediate sale by importers, merchandise temporarily imported for transformation and repair, and re-imports of goods temporarily exported.

Since the abolition of customs frontiers in January 1993, intra-EU data are compiled using the INTRASTAT system which is based on the administration and collection of VAT.


The figures for imports and exports for the months of March, June, September and December are not consistent with the corresponding figures for other months since they exclude the specific items in the Intra-EU foreign trade which are declared in the quarterly and annual questionnaires.

Data presented in US dollars are obtained by converting the monthly figures expressed in national currency using the monthly average exchange rate. Data prior to entry into EMU (prior to 1999) have been converted from the former national currency using the appropriate irrevocable conversion rate. The presentation facilitates comparisons within a country over time and ensures the historical evolution (i.e. growth rates) is preserved. However, pre-EMU euro are a notional unit and are not normally suitable to form area aggregates or to carry out cross-country comparisons.

Generally, national statistical institutes are the source for data. It should be noted that for euro area EU member states, the source is Eurostat.

When not provided by countries, annual and quarterly data are sum of monthly values.

The published international trade data show seasonally adjusted imports and exports data in billions of US dollars. Imports consist of: (i) imports for direct domestic consumption; (ii) withdrawals from bonded warehouses and free zones for domestic consumption (special trade only); and (iii) imports into bonded warehouses and free zones (general trade only).
Exports consist of: (i) exports of national products; (ii) exports without transformation of goods which had already been counted as special imports; and (iii) exports from bonded warehouses or free zones of goods which have not been transformed since import (general trade only).

In all OECD countries statistics on imports and exports of goods (merchandise trade) are regarded as among the most important economic statistics. The primary uses of short-term merchandise trade statistics are:
• as a short-term economic indicator;
• as an input to the compilation of import or export components of various price indices; and
• as an input to the compilation of balance of payments statistics and national accounts.
In addition to the above, merchandise trade statistics are an important input to the development of trade policy, including fiscal, monetary, structural and sectoral issues.

For instance,
• Customs duties collected on imports are a major source of government revenue.
• Foreign trade statistics provide important market information for the business sector. At the detailed level, they can be used to identify the types of products that are presently being imported but which could be produced domestically; to help importers identify sources of supply; and to help exporters find new foreign markets.
• Foreign demand for a country's exports may have a significant impact on domestic incomes. Levels and changes in exports are thus an important indicator of earnings, tax revenues and living standards.
• To operate their exchange rate policies, governments need to know the levels and trends of imports and exports because exchange rates are determined by the demand for different currencies, a large part of which comes from the demand for exports and imports.

OECD countries in the main follow the United Nations "International Merchandise Trade Statistics Manual 2010" quite closely. As their economies are closely linked through trade flows, it is in their interests to use the same definitions and standards for trade statistics. However, there may be practical difficulties relating to the recording of trade in military goods and the valuation of trade between related enterprises.

Data are compiled according to the system of special trade. Exports are reported f.o.b., imports are reported c.i.f. Exports refer to national or nationalised merchandise dispatched abroad, merchandise temporarily exported for repair and re-exports temporarily imported. Imports refer to merchandise entering Italy for immediate sale by importers, merchandise temporarily imported for transformation and repair, and re-imports of goods temporarily exported.

Since the abolition of customs frontiers in January 1993, intra-EU data are compiled using the INTRASTAT system which is based on the administration and collection of VAT.


The figures for imports and exports for the months of March, June, September and December are not consistent with the corresponding figures for other months since they exclude the specific items in the Intra-EU foreign trade which are declared in the quarterly and annual questionnaires.

Data presented in US dollars are obtained by converting the monthly figures expressed in national currency using the monthly average exchange rate. Data prior to entry into EMU (prior to 1999) have been converted from the former national currency using the appropriate irrevocable conversion rate. The presentation facilitates comparisons within a country over time and ensures the historical evolution (i.e. growth rates) is preserved. However, pre-EMU euro are a notional unit and are not normally suitable to form area aggregates or to carry out cross-country comparisons.