This quarterly issue of Direction of Trade Statistics provides, for about 160 countries, tables with current data (or estimates) on the value of imports from and exports to their most important trading partners. In addition, similar summary tables for the world, industrial countries, and developing countries are included. The information on exports and imports by trading partners that countries report to the IMF varies in terms of frequency and currentness. Estimation occurs if a reporting country does not report trade with its partners for a specific period. Data are estimated for all partners and not for some of the partners. Country pages include lines for all partner countries that have been reported, estimated, or extrapolated. Summary tables for the world and areas are calculated from the data shown on the country page. They show the trade by a group of countries to and from the individual countries listed in the table.

Direction of Trade Statistics - September 2016

This December 2016 quarterly issue of Direction of Trade Statistics (DOTS) provides, for about 160 countries, tables with current data (or estimates) on the value of imports from and exports to their most important trading partners. In addition, similar summary tables for the world, industrial countries, and developing countries are included. The availability of partner data makes it possible to include in direction of trade statistics (DOTS) estimates for current months not only for countries less current or frequent in their reporting but also for countries for which data are not obtainable from other sources. Country pages include lines for all partner countries that have been reported, estimated, or extrapolated. As a result of reporting and processing lags, trade data for a given period are often released before all customs documents for the period have been processed.

Direction of Trade Statistics - March 2016

The 2016 yearbook issue of Direction of Trade Statistics provides, for about 160 countries, tables with current data (or estimates) on the value of imports from and exports to their most important trading partners. In addition, similar summary tables for the world, industrial countries, and developing countries are included. Reported data are supplemented by estimates whenever such data are not current or are not available in monthly frequency. Country pages include lines for all partner countries that have been reported, estimated, or extrapolated. It is sometimes assumed that corresponding export and import data between partner countries should be consistent. As a result of reporting and processing lags, trade data for a given period are often released before all customs documents for the period have been processed. These data are sometimes not revised, or, if data are revised, errors are nevertheless made in assigning the date on which goods are shipped or received and the late data are assigned to the wrong month, quarter, and/or year.

This quarterly issue of Direction of Trade Statistics provides, for about 160 countries, tables with current data (or estimates) on the value of imports from and exports to their most important trading partners. In addition, similar summary tables for the world, industrial countries, and developing countries are included. The information on exports and imports by trading partners that countries report to the IMF varies in terms of frequency and currentness. Estimation occurs if a reporting country does not report trade with its partners for a specific period. Data are estimated for all partners and not for some of the partners. Country pages include lines for all partner countries that have been reported, estimated, or extrapolated. Summary tables for the world and areas are calculated from the data shown on the country page. They show the trade by a group of countries to and from the individual countries listed in the table.

This paper discusses the coverage of Direction of Trade Statistics (DOTS) is augmented by using trade statistics available from other international organizations. Monthly data for all European Union member countries are sourced from the COMEXT database maintained by EUROSTAT. Annual data reported to the United Nations COMTRADE database are incorporated in DOTS for countries that do not report to the IMF. Furthermore, the availability of partner data makes it possible to calculate estimates of countries for which data are not obtainable from other sources. Estimation occurs if a reporting country does not report trade with its partners for a specific period. Data are estimated for all partners. In the absence of some or all of the monthly DOTS, quarterly or annual reported DOTS are used. Because imports are valued on a cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) basis and exports on a free on board (FOB) basis, the data are adjusted for the cost of freight and insurance.