International transport and trade statistics Jasper Roos CBS

International transport and trade statistics Jasper Roos CBS / Statistics Netherlands Unit International trade

Motive In the Netherlands the international trade is complex due to: - Different definitions of between Eurostat and National Accounts - Rotterdam Harbor and Schiphol Airport - The number of distribution centres - Globalisation Effect: A lot of confusion But: not only in the Netherlands 2

The cross-border good flows Good flow: –Import and export – Exports from domestic production – Re-exports –Quasi-transit (“Rotterdam effect”) –Transit via customs warehouse –‘Real’ transit 3

The cross-border good flows Good flow: –Import and export – Exports from domestic production – Re-exports –Quasi-transit (“Rotterdam effect”) –Transit via customs warehouse –‘Real’ transit Belongs to intern. trade in goods: Yes Only community concept No No 4

Difference re-exports and quasitransit Ownership: Re-exports – A resident is owner of the goods Quasi-transit – Owner is always a non-resident Effect: Trade margin does not apply to reporting country any longer (in theory) 5

Difference re-exports / quasitransit and transit through customs warehouse Customs Status: Re-exports / Quasi-transit - Goods in free circulation of European Union Transit through - Not yet cleared goods customs warehouse Effect: By definition transit through customs warehouse not in the concept of international trade in goods 6

Difference re-exports / quasitransit and ‘real’ transit Classified as re-exports or quasi-transit if: – Either: Clearing – Or: Storing (in case of goods in free circulation of European Union) – Or: Trading (in case of goods in free circulation of European Union) Otherwise: Transit Effect: Transit does not belong to the concept of the international trade in goods 7

Difference theory and practice International trade in goods statistics should monitor all relevant cross-border good flows, but: – Choice between clearing or not clearing → Included or excluded from international trade in goods statistics – Ownership by a foreign resident (quasi-transit) → Excluded from national concept Do our definitions still reflect the real world ? ? ? 8

Questions ?