Quick Links
Database
Events and Workshops
Ongoing Event
E-learning Course on Integrating Business and Trade Statistics
The Handbook on Integrating Business and Trade Statistics (HIBTS), endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission in 2025, supports National Statistical Offices in linking business and trade data through a self-paced, six-lesson e-learning course developed by UNSD and UNITAR, aimed at enhancing skills for producing integrated, policy-relevant statistics, with lessons covering policy drivers, frameworks, data quality, methods, confidentiality, and innovation..
Upcoming or Recent Event
West Africa Regional Workshop on the Implementation of the IMTS 2026
The workshop aims to support countries in the West Africa in implementing the IMTS 2026 by enhancing capacity for national statistical offices and relevant agencies. The workshop will present the updates and new topics of the IMTS 2026, provide practical strategies for data compilation and dissemination, and exchange country practices in compiling international merchandise trade statistics.
Recent Event
TrainForTrade E-Learning Course on International Merchandise Trade Statistics
The main goals of the course are to enhance statisticians' ability to apply the recommendations on IMTS, define best possible data sources, set up adequate (or enforce existing) collection systems, and enhance statistics compilation and production processes. This annual course focuses on the following topics: Conceptual Framework, Institutional Arrangement, Production and Compilation, Metadata and Quality, Dissemination and Analysis and New Areas of Work.
Recent Event
Training on the use of Trade Data Tools (TDT)
TDT is intended to compile IMTS that are generated from administrative sources such as customs declarations, aircraft/ship registers, and ministry records. The existing data tools, like Eurotrace and PC Trade, process and verify raw data. However, as technology evolves, Eurostat and UNSD are working on developing a new generation tool, named Trade Data Tools (TDT), that will be ready for testing at the end of 2025. This mission aims to deploy and configure the current version of TDT for training purposes, utilizing as many of the country's datasets as possible.
Publications
International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Concepts and Definitions 2010 (IMTS2010)
International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Concepts and Definitions 2010 (IMTS2010) is intended to provide recommendations that are globally applicable and operational. The conceptual framework of IMTS 2010 reflects both the multipurpose nature of these statistics and concern for availability of the adequate data sources and data-compilation procedures. IMTS 2010 follows an integrated approach to economic statistics, including the use, as applicable,of common concepts, definitions, classifications and data-compilation strategies.
IMTS2010 Compilers Manual
The IMTS2010 Compilers Manual contains detailed explanation of certain recommendations and provides practical guidance for compilers by describing good or best practices applicable under different circumstances. The Manual promotes the adherence to good practices and recommends specific solutions to compilation issues related to international merchandise trade statistics.
Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 (MSITS 2010)
The Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 (MSITS 2010) addresses the needs of a variety of producers and users of such statistics. While it is primarily a guide for statistical compilers, it is also a useful tool for governments and international organizations that use statistical information in connection with international negotiations on trade in services. Furthermore, it can aid enterprises and others that need to monitor developments in international services markets.
Compilers Guide for the Manual on International Trade in Services 2010
The Compilers Guide serves the purpose of harmonizing and improving the ways in which statisticians at the national level collect, compile and disseminate trade in services statistics. The Guide provides the international statistical community with guidelines, best practices, case studies, and practical advice on the compilation of the trade in services statistics.