Information last updated: 27.04.2009	Definitions Methodology Periodicity and release calendar Dissemination Contact person on methodology Links to this theme
	Definitions			To the top of the document
Total exports	Merchandise exports are shown in current FOB values (price of commodity including transportation and insurance costs up to the border of the exporting country), according to the special trade system (without commodity flows from customs warehouses and free economic zones) and indicating the country of ultimate destination. Data are compiled in compliance with so-called National principle, which unlike so-called Community principle does not include information on exports of goods, which certain EU Member State sells in certain third country (which is not EU member state) through Latvia, but starting from 2008 it does not include also data on commodity dispatches to certain EU Member State, which through Latvia imports goods from other third country, although in all mentioned cases customs declarations are lodged in Latvia. Total volume of foreign trade exports includes the following flows of goods: - goods which were exported for sale abroad, - goods which were exported for processing abroad, undertaking liabilities regarding reimportation, - imported goods which were exported abroad after processing, - reexports, i.e. goods imported to Latvia for consumption which were exported back abroad.
Total imports	Merchandise imports are shown in current CIF values (price of commodity including transportation and insurance costs up to the border of the importing country) according to the special trade system (without commodity flows to customs warehouses and free economic zones) and indicating the country of origin. From 2004 the arrival of goods from the Member States of the European Union is classified to the indicated country of consignment. Data are compiled in compliance with so-called National principle, which unlike so-called Community principle does not include information on imports of goods, which certain EU Member State carries out in certain third country (which is not EU member state) through Latvia, but starting from 2008 it does not include also data on commodity arrivals from certain EU Member State, which through Latvia exports goods to other third country, although in all mentioned cases customs declarations are lodged in Latvia. Total volume of foreign trade imports includes the following flows of goods: - goods which are declared for consumption in Latvia, - goods which are imported for processing, undertaking liabilities regarding reexportation, - exported goods which were imported after processing abroad.
	Methodology			To the top of the document
Source of data	- INTRASTAT monthly surveys of enterprises engaged in trade with EU Member States; - Customs declarations on trade with third countries.
Coverage	The whole territory of Latvia.
Sample size	Full-scope survey on trade with third countries; sample survey on trade with EU Member States according to a specified parameter; calculations.
Description of data	Merchandise exports and imports by countries and commodity.
Methods of calculation	Mathematical imputation to INTRASTAT data for enterprise non-response and for those enterprises that are not subject to INTRASTAT reporting due to the small size of trade volume.
Classification	EU Combined Nomenclature.
Data adjustment	Preliminary data are adjusted monthly.
	Periodicity and release calendar		To the top of the document
Annual data	Annual data are published in August.
Quarterly data	Quarterly data are published once a quarter on the 40^th day after the end of the reference period.
Monthly data	Monthly data are published once a month, on the 40^th day after the end of the reference period.
	Dissemination		To the top of the document
On the Internet	In the database	Key indicators
	Ö		Annual data
	Ö		Quarterly data
	Ö	Ö	Monthly data
Press releases	A press release “On the Foreign Trade of Latvia” is published monthly; on quarterly basis - “Foreign trade of Latvia” for a specified period from the beginning of the year.–. Press release calendar
Publications	An informative description (in Latvian only) “Latvia’s Foreign Trade. Main Commodities and Partners” is published quarterly. This publication includes text, tables and graphs of aggregated data on exports and imports broken down by main commodities and partner countries for a specified period from the beginning of the year. Total exports and imports is also provided in constant prices and broken down by main end-use groups of goods (BEC classification). You can receive your free copy of the publication at the Information centre. More information on CSB publications.
	Tailor made data sets		To the top of the document
	If you cannot find the necessary information on the Internet or in the publications, the CSB will prepare tailor made data set according to your request using the databases at its disposal. More information on how to prepare a request for tailor made information. Pricelist
	Contact person on methodology		To the top of the document
Foreign trade	Lilita Laganovska, Deputy Head of the Foreign Trade Statistics Section, tel. (+317) 67366604, lilita.laganovska@csb.gov.lv
	Links to this theme		To the top of the document
Eurostat	The Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat) on its homepage publishes information on foreign trade (short-term, annual) in EU-27 and in each individual country. This information can be found in the section Statistics/ External trade http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat