Background
The General Department of Customs and Excise is the official statistical unit of the Ministry of Economy and Finance responsible for compiling international merchandise trade statistics. Official international merchandise trade statistics are produced on monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual cycles to support economic analysis and policy planning.
On 29 September 2026 the department held a one-day workshop titled “Procedures for Collecting Data and Compiling International Merchandise Trade Statistics” for technical staff from 15 ministries and institutions, with about 40 participants. The event aimed to raise awareness of data collection procedures, verification practices, classification standards and production methods for trade statistics to ensure data quality and appropriate use by government agencies.
Scope of Application
The procedural guidance discussed during the workshop targets ministries and institutions that supply or use customs trade data and the General Department of Customs and Excise as the national compiler. The content addressed stages of trade-statistics production from data collection and verification to classification and dissemination.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Topics covered included standardized procedures for collecting customs declarations, methods for checking and reconciling source data, application of classification standards, and steps in producing international merchandise trade statistics and related indicators. Presenters emphasised alignment with United Nations guidelines and recognized international standards for statistical compilation.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Improved procedural clarity and data verification practices increase the reliability of official trade time series that businesses and analysts use for market assessment. Clear compilation procedures also help public agencies produce consistent statistical releases for policy formulation and economic monitoring.
Official Source
Event details were published by the General Department of Customs and Excise on its official social media channel: source post.
