Methodology and Quality Update

Latest Update on Methodology and Quality 

 26/03/2025

Statistical Presentation

Data description  

The international trade in goods report presents data on export and import statistics in Saudi Arabia.
The international trade in goods report consists of administrative data that is collected, processed, and classified based on the following key characteristics:
•    Goods code and goods description.
•    Value of goods and the quantity and weight of goods.
•    Country of origin in imports and country of destination in exports.
Data is also used to display: 
•    Exports of the Kingdom.
•    Imports of the Kingdom.
•    Trade exchange between the Kingdom and its partners.
•    Trade size and trade balance.
•    Re-export.
•    The most important countries to which goods are exported and from which goods are imported.
•    The most important goods exported and received.

Classification system

Classification is defined as an ordered set of relevant categories used to compile data based on similarity. It serves as the foundation for data collection and dissemination across various statistical areas, such as: The classification of data and information allows for organizing it into meaningful categories to produce useful statistics. Data collection requires a precise and systematic arrangement based on common characteristics to ensure that statistics are reliable and comparable. Saudi Arabia’s commodity export and import statistics adhere to international standards in data collection and classification. These statistics are classified according to the Harmonized System (HS 2022) issued by the World Customs Organization (WCO). The Harmonized System is a framework for describing and categorizing goods, including subheadings, numerical codes, sections, and chapters, in accordance with the Harmonized System Convention signed in Brussels.
Other classifications: 
Standard International Trade Classification (SITC): It is a classification of goods used to classify exports and imports in a country in order to compare different countries and years. It is currently in the fourth revision, issued in 2006, and is issued by the United Nations.
Broad Economic Categories Classification (BEC): It is a three-house classification, which groups transported goods according to their main end use. It is often used in the general economic analysis of international merchandise trade data, as well as the Standard International Trade Classification. The original version was published in 1971, revised in 1976 and 1986, and most recently in 1988. 
(ISIC4) International Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities, Fourth Revision: It is the international reference classification of productive activities issued by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The main purpose of this classification is to provide a structured set of sections, groups, branches, and categories of activities that can be used for collecting and publishing statistics by economic activity.
Classification of countries: 
The countries are classified into groups of countries by continents or by common elements as follows: 
•    GCC Countries.
•    Arab countries except the GCC countries.
•    Islamic countries except Arab.
•    Asian countries except Arab and Islamic countries.
•    African countries except Arab and Islamic countries.
•    Countries of Australia and the Pacific part.
•    Countries of North America.
•    Countries of South America.
•    Countries of the European Union.
•    Countries of Europe except countries of the European Union.

Sector coverage

The report on international trade in goods covers all economic activities.

Statistical concepts and definitions

Terminologies and concepts of international trade in goods statistics:
•    Exports (Total):
Exports consist of exports of domestic goods (national exports) and exports of foreign goods (re-exports), and the valuation is based on the basis of delivery on board (FOB).
•    National exports:
According to the international trade in goods system, it refers to all goods intended for export outside the Kingdom, which have been entirely produced or manufactured locally, or have undergone an industrial process that changed their form and value.
•    Re-export:
These are goods that were previously imported and were subjected to all customs procedures and were re-exported without a clear modification being made to them.
•    Oil exports:
These are exports of goods classified under Chapter 27 (Mineral fuels, mineral oils, and their products, bituminous substances, mineral waxes) of the Harmonized System (HS). 
•    Non-oil exports:
Total exports minus exports of goods classified under Chapter 27 (mineral fuels, mineral oils, and their distillation products, bituminous substances, mineral waxes) of the Harmonized System (HS).
•    Imports of goods:
 Refers to all goods entering the country to meet its local needs after undergoing customs procedures, with valuation based on cost, insurance, and freight (CIF).
•    Trade volume:
It is the sum of the value of exports and imports over a given period of time.
•    Trade balance:
It is the difference between the value of exports and imports during a certain period of time.
•    Countries:
It is the origin of goods for import statistics and the final destination for export statistics.
•    Country groups:
Countries are classified geographically according to continents or according to international organizations, federations and associations.
•    Partner country:
It is the country that engages in economic transactions with the Kingdom, from which exports are made, and imports are received. Based on these transactions, the value of exports and imports, the volume of trade between the two countries, the trade balance, and the most important exported and imported goods are estimated.
•    Port of Entry:
It refers to the port through which goods and commodities pass for customs clearance.
•    Means of transportation:
This means the inference of a pattern or means of determining whether transport has taken place by air, land or sea.
•    Country of origin of goods:
It refers to the country of origin for agricultural and animal products, the country where the final stage of production occurred for manufactured goods, and for raw materials, the country that extracted these materials from its mines.
•    Year of comparison:
The year or period in which prices are attributed to the prices of the base year for the purpose of price change, the comparison year is called the major year.
•    Net weight:
Means the full weight of the goods excluding the weight of the packaging materials.
•    The existing weight:
Means the full weight of the goods including the weight of the packaging materials.
•    Monthly change:
Change from the previous month.
•    Quarterly change:
Change from the previous quarter.
•    Annual change:
Change from the previous year.

Statistical unit

Not applicable.

Statistical population

Not applicable.

Reference area

The data covers exports and imports of Saudi Arabia.

Time coverage

The international trade in goods data is obtained from administrative records on a monthly basis, according to the Gregorian calendar. It is available from the year 2000 to the current month of 2025.

Base period

Not applicable.

Unit of measure

Any quantity of a commodity is expressed in net weight. In addition, there are some commodities and items whose quantities are expressed in numbers, as the nature of some commodities requires their numbers to be stated: (Such as sheep, cars, watches, and the like) in addition to their weight in kilograms, and the value is in Saudi riyals.

Reference period

The data obtained are assigned to the Gregorian month of the reporting period.

Confidentiality 

Confidentiality - policy

According to the Royal Decree No. 23 dated 07-12-1397, data must always be kept confidential and must be used by GASTAT only for statistical purposes.
Therefore, the data are protected in the data servers of the Authority.

Confidentiality - data treatment

Data were displayed in appropriate tables to facilitate its summarization, comprehension, and results extraction. Also, to compare data with other data and extract statistical meanings for the study community. It is also easier to check tables without the need to see any sensitive or confidential data, which violates data confidentiality of statistical data.

Release policy

Release calendar

The report on international trade in goods has been included in the statistical calendar.

Release calendar access

The release calendar is available at: 

https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/statistical-calendar-releases

User access

One of GASTAT’s objectives is to better meet its clients' needs, so it immediately provides them with the publication's results once the International Trade in goods Publication is published.
It also receives questions and inquiries of the clients about the Publication and its results through various communication channels, such as:
•    GASTAT official website:   www.stats.gov.sa
•    GASTAT official e-mail address:  info@stats.gov.sa
•    Client support e-mail address:  info@stats.gov.sa
•    Official visits to GASTAT’s official head office in Riyadh or one of its branches in Saudi Arabia.
•    Official letters.
•    Statistical telephone: (199009).

Frequency of dissemination

Monthly. 

Accessibility and clarity

News release

The announcements of each publication are available on release calendar as mentioned in 7.2. Release calendar access. The news release can be viewed on the website of GASTAT through the following link:
https://www.stats.gov.sa/en/news

Publications

GASTAT issues International Trade in goods publications and reports regularly within a pre-prepared dissemination plan and is published on GASTAT’s website. GASTAT is keen to publish its publications in a way that serves all users of different types, including publications in different formats that contain (publication tables, data graphs, indicators, metadata, methodology, and questionnaires) in both English and Arabic.
The results of the international trade in goods report are available on:
https://www.stats.gov.sa/statistics

On-line database

The data is published on the statistical database:
GASTAT (stats.gov.sa)

Micro-data access 

Not available.

Other

Not available.

Documentation on methodology

The concepts, definitions, and classifications are based on international standards for calculating international trade in goods statistics, and they rely on and align with:
•    The Harmonized System (HS) for goods description and coding, adopted by the World Customs Organization (WCO).
•    The Standard International Trade Classification (SITC), Revision 4, 2006, by the United Nations Statistics Division.
•    The Broad Economic Categories (BEC) classification issued by the United Nations Statistics Division.
•    The International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC 4), issued by the United Nations Statistics Division and approved by the United Nations General Assembly.
The international trade in goods statistics data is processed according to a methodology approved by international organizations, where the statistical product goes through eight main stages, in addition to a ninth stage representing comprehensive management. These stages are as follows:
•    Scope.
•    Design.
•    Organization.
•    Collection.
•    Tubulation.
•    Reviewed by.
•    Publication.
•    Assessment.
•    Administrative.
The first three stages (Scope, Design, and Organization) are a collaborative process between GASTAT and its clients, represented by data users from developmental entities. The fourth stage (Data Collection) is a collaborative effort between GASTAT and the statistical community, such as businesses and establishments, to complete data and information. The remaining stages are statistical stages in which data is classified, reviewed, and published. Then, The Eighth stage (Evaluation) is carried out in cooperation with the clients. The Management stage is an administrative and organizational process that applies to all stages. These stages have been applied to international trade in goods statistics as follows:
First stage: Scope:
This is the starting point for producing international trade in goods statistics. It is also the first collaborative stage between the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) and its partners from government entities related to international trade in goods in the Kingdom, represented by the Ministry of Energy, Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, as the official data source, the Ministry of Economy and Planning, and the Saudi Central Bank, who are the primary beneficiaries of export and import statistics. In addition, the National Accounts Statistics Department at GASTAT benefits from the results of international trade in goods statistics. During this stage, communication, workshops, and meetings were held between GASTAT and these entities to understand their needs and identify their requirements as data users. And the opinions of these entities were taken into consideration to ensure the achievement of all the objectives of international trade in goods, which are summarized as follows:
•    Supporting decision-makers, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders with updated and comprehensive statistics and indicators related to international trade in goods.
•    Monitoring changes in the movement of exports and imports between Saudi Arabia and key countries over two different time periods
•    Identifying the amount of surplus or deficit in the trade balance between Saudi Arabia and other countries
•    Identifying the main goods imported and exported to and from each country.
•    Building important economic indicators for the components of national accounts and the balance of payments.
•    Contributing to shaping trade policy to protect and encourage local goods and industries from competing imported goods.
Second stage: Design
This is the stage of designing the statistical work as a comprehensive product. In this stage, clients are involved, and their feedback is utilized to meet all requirements and ensure data collection. Throughout these procedures, the data is included within the statistical product. The key outputs of this stage are:
•    Statistics Sources:
-   International trade in goods statistics rely on administrative record data from relevant government entities, which provide the authority with the necessary information to calculate indicators and issue the international trade in goods report.
-   administrative records refer to data and information recorded and updated with the relevant entities for international trade in goods, generated through the electronic official registration and documentation processes followed by these entities.
•    determining the required data from administrative records:
The General Authority for Statistics has collected the essential basic data related to international trade in goods statistics from government entities as follows:
-   Updated data from the Ministry of Energy: It is a primary source of oil exports.
-    The data collected from the zakat, tax, and customs authority: It is a primary source for exports and imports of non-oil goods.
•    Terms and concepts related to international trade in goods:
-   Exports (Total):
Exports consist of domestic goods (national exports) and foreign goods (re-exports).
-   National exports:
It refers to all goods prepared for export outside the Kingdom.
-    Re-export:
These are goods that were previously imported, underwent all customs procedures, and were re-exported without any significant modifications made to them.
-    Non-oil exports:
The total exports minus the exports of goods classified under Chapter 27 (mineral fuels, mineral oils and their distillation products, bituminous substances, and mineral waxes) of the Harmonized System (H.S.).
-    Imports of goods:
It refers to all goods entering the country to meet its local needs after undergoing customs procedures, with valuation based on cost, insurance, and freight (CIF).
•    Indicators
-   Trade volume:
It is the total sum of exports and imports.
-    Trade balance:
The total exports minus imports.
-   Monthly change:
Change from the previous month.
-    Quarterly change:
Change from the previous quarter.
-    Annual change:
The change from the same month of the previous year.
•    Statistical classifications used:
International trade in goods statistics adhere to international standards for data collection and classification. Exports and imports of the Kingdom are classified according to the Harmonized System for the description and coding of goods (2022), also known as the Harmonized System (H.S.), which is maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO). The Harmonized System allows countries to classify traded products in a globally standardized system of product names and codes
•    Coverage:
-   Spatial Coverage:
International trade in goods statistics cover all imported and exported goods (petroleum exports, non-petroleum exports, and goods imports) through all customs outlets in the Kingdom.
-   Time coverage:
International trade in goods data is obtained from administrative records on a monthly basis according to the Gregorian calendar.
Third stage: Organization.
This is the final stage of preparation that precedes the data collection process. In this stage, the required workflow procedures for preparing the statistics were established. These procedures will start from the next stage, 'the collection stage,' and end with the 'evaluation stage.' This stage also involves organizing and compiling these procedures and determining the most suitable sequence to achieve a methodology that meets the objectives of international trade in goods statistics. During this stage, the procedures taken in preparing the previous report were reviewed to enhance the procedures for this release. These procedures were described and documented to facilitate updates in future cycles. Additionally, statistical workflow procedures were tested to ensure they met the requirements for preparing the final form of international trade in goods statistics, and a road map for implementation was established.
Fourth stage: Collection.
The General Authority for Statistics coordinated with the relevant government entities involved in international trade in goods to obtain data for the international trade in goods report. This included data on petroleum exports, as well as non-petroleum goods exports and imports, based on administrative record data from import and export declarations at all customs outlets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These data were stored in the Authority's databases, and the data were audited and reviewed following scientific statistical methods and quality standards, in coordination with the data source entity.
Fifth stage: Tabulation
The process of categorizing raw data for the exports and imports report relied on the classification and coding inputs made during the data collection process. The data were categorized based on the Harmonized System for the classification and coding of goods (H.S. 2022), issued by the World Customs Organization (WCO). The data for the international trade in goods report were then presented in appropriate tables to facilitate summarizing, understanding, interpreting, and drawing conclusions from them, as well as comparing them with other data. This also makes it easier to refer to them in clear tabular form. In this stage, data are processed through a number of steps, the most important of which are:
•    Verification of the comprehensiveness and consistency of the data:
The data were reviewed and matched to ensure their accuracy and precision in a manner appropriate to the nature of the data. This was done to enhance the quality and accuracy of the report's statistics. The data for the current reporting stage were compared with data from the previous stage to verify the accuracy of the report's statistics, ensuring the integrity and consistency of the data in preparation for the processing stage. The results were then reviewed in the subsequent stages following the categorization stage.
•    Data Confidentiality:
The data is kept confidential at the General Authority for Statistics and is used solely for statistical purposes. What is prepared for publication consists of aggregated statistical tables for a number of variables related to international trade in goods.
Sixth stage: Revision
•    Validating Data Outputs:
Following the review and verification of the recorded data in the fourth stage, GASTAT carried out calculations, extracted the results, uploaded the outputs, and stored them in the database. Final reviews were conducted by specialists in international trade in goods statistics using modern techniques and software designed for review and auditing purposes.
•    Dealing with confidential data:
According to Royal Decree No. 23, dated 07/12/1397, data must always be kept confidential and used by GASTAT for statistical purposes only. Therefore, the data is protected on GASTAT's data servers.
Seventh stage: Publication.
•    Preparing and Processing Results Designed for Publication:
In this stage, GASTAT coordinated, organized, and reviewed the administrative record data included in the report. Then, it prepared and finalized the publication tables and charts for the data and indicators, adding the descriptive data and methodology as presented in this report, which was prepared in both Arabic and English.
•    Preparing Media Materials and Announcing the Publication Date:
"GASTAT announced the publication date on its official website at the beginning of the year. In this stage, GASTAT prepares media materials to announce the release through various media outlets, including its social media platforms. The publication is then made available on the specified release date, initially on the website, in different formats such as open data in Excel files. This ensures broad dissemination and accessibility for all clients and those interested in international trade in goods. The publication is also added to the statistics library on the website.
•    Communicating with Clients and Providing them with the Publication:
Believing in the importance of communication with data users, GASTAT promptly reaches out to clients upon the release of the international trade in goods report and provides them with the publication. It also receives questions and inquiries from clients regarding the report and its results through various communication channels made available by the Authority, ensuring ongoing interaction with its clients.
Eighth stage: Evaluation:
After the publication is released and received by all of GASTAT’s clients, they are contacted again in this stage to evaluate the entire statistical process that was carried out, with the goal of continuous improvement to obtain high-quality data. Proposed improvements may include methodologies, processes, systems, the skills of statisticians, and statistical frameworks. This stage is conducted in collaboration with data users and GASTAT’s clients through a number of steps.
•    Collecting measurable assessment inputs:
In this step, the most important comments and feedback from all stages are collected and documented from their sources. This includes notes made by specialists responsible for reviewing, auditing, and analyzing the data collected from administrative records. Comments and feedback from data users after the publication are also gathered and documented. Additionally, observations from the media and client feedback received through GASTAT's main communication channels are included.
•    Assessment:
The evaluation inputs that have been collected are analyzed and compared with the expected results. Based on this, a number of possible improvements and solutions are identified and discussed with specialists and experts, involving the relevant authorities. Additionally, in this step, the performance of clients in using the results of the international trade in goods report is measured, along with their level of satisfaction. Based on this, recommendations are agreed upon for obtaining high-quality data in future reports and for the upcoming procedures for the international trade in goods report.
Ninth stage: Management.
It is a comprehensive stage required for carrying out each phase of the SMEs survey production. During this stage, the overall plan was established, which includes the feasibility study, risk management, financing methods, and expenditure mechanisms. The plan also covers the development of performance indicators, quality criteria, and a workforce plan required for production. Through this plan, the implementation of tasks assigned to different departments at each stage will be monitored and reported to ensure that GASTAT meets its clients' requirements.
International Trade Statistics Methodology in Goods

Quality documentation

Quality documentation covers documentation on methods and standards for assessing, measuring, and monitoring the quality of statistical process and output. It is based on standard quality criteria such as relevance, accuracy and reliability, timeliness and punctuality, accessibility and clarity, comparability, and coherence.

Quality management

Quality assurance

GASTAT declares that it considers the following principles: impartiality, user orientated, quality of processes and output, effectiveness of statistical processes, reducing the workload for respondents. 
Quality controls and validation of data are actions carried out throughout the process in different stages such as the data input and data collection and other final controls.

Quality assessment

GASTAT performs all statistical activities according to a national model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process. This information is used to prepare the evaluation report which outlines all the quality issues related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.

Relevance 

User needs 

Internal users in the GASTAT for International Trade in goods data:
•    National accounts.
•    Prices.
Some several external users and beneficiaries greatly benefit from the International Trade in goods, including:
•    Government entities.
•    Regional and international organizations.
•    Research institutions.
•    Media.
•    Individuals.

The disseminated key variables used by external users:

User satisfaction

Not available.

Completeness 

The international trade data in goods rely on two main sources to obtain the essential data related to export and import statistics from government entities, as follows: 
•    Updated data from the Ministry of Energy: It is a major source of oil exports. 
•    Updated data from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority: It is a major source of exports and imports of non-oil goods.
•    Data status is complete.

Accuracy and reliability 

Overall accuracy

•    International merchandise trade data is periodically reviewed to ensure comprehensive coverage and relevance.
•    The main and sub-number totals are reviewed and matched to ensure that the totals are consistent.
•    The indicators are calculated in accordance with the recommendations outlined in the International Guide to International Trade in Goods, including the use of standardized concepts and classifications in international trade that are consistent with global practices.

Timeliness and punctuality 

Timeliness 

GASTAT uses the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) issued by the International Monetary Fund. According to this Standard, all statistics agencies are required to publish data on a monthly basis, and with a delay of no more than 6 weeks (42 days) after the end of the reference period. If the data are from different source, they may be published in a different frequency.

Punctuality

The publication is made according to the publication dates in the statistical calendar for International Trade, which is published on the General Authority for Statistics' website. Data will be available on time as scheduled in the statistical release calendar.

Coherence and comparability

Comparability - geographical

The data is geographically comparable.

Comparability - over time 

The indicators are comparable over time, and the reference year for the data is updated monthly according to what is received from the main data sources to ensure comparability with previous years. 

Coherence- cross domain 

International trade in goods statistics is consistent as they are based on international standards for international trade statistics.

Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics 

Export and import data are consistent as they apply international standards in international trade statistics.

Coherence- National Accounts

 The data on exports and imports are consistent and come as an input within the variables and indicators of national accounts in the balance of payments.

Coherence - internal 

Export and import statistics for goods have complete internal consistency as they are based on the standards of the World Trade Organization and customs and are calculated using internationally approved methods.

Data revision

Data revision - policy

Not applicable, only final results will be published.

data revision- practice

Not applicable, only final results will be published.

Statistical processing

Source data

Source of administrative records for the International Trade Report in goods:
•    General Authority for Zakat, Tax and Customs: Exports and imports of goods.
•    Ministry of Energy: Oil exports.

Frequency of data collection 

Monthly.

Data collection

Data collection from administrative records:
The data for the International Trade in Goods Report publication are obtained from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, which includes the values and weights of non-oil exports and imports, and from the Ministry of Energy for oil export data. 
The data is stored in the authority's databases after undergoing auditing and review processes following approved statistical methods and recognized quality standards. If errors or discrepancies are discovered, the data is cross-referenced with the data source for correction or clarification.

Data validation

Data are reviewed and matched to ensure their accuracy and precision in a way that suits their nature with the aim of giving the presented statistics quality and accuracy. 
The data for the current month's publication are compared with the data from the same month of the previous year to ensure their integrity and consistency in preparation for data processing, result extraction, and review.
In addition to the data processing and tabulation to check their accuracy, all the outputs are stored and uploaded to the database after being calculated by GASTAT to be reviewed and processed by specialists in International Trade Statistics through modern technologies and software designed for this purpose.

Data compilation

Data Coding:
In the International Trade in Goods Report, this information is internally coded through an automated process, which is reviewed by a dedicated team of coding experts using a series of consistency checks.
Data Editing:
The specialists in the International Trade Department processed and analyzed the data in this stage, and this step was based on the following measures:
•    Sorting and arranging data in groups or different categories in a serial order.
•    Summarizing detailed data into key points or data.
•    Combining many data segments and ensuring their interconnection.
•    Processing incomplete or missing data.
•    Processing illogical data.
•    Converting data into statistically significant data.
•    Arranging, presenting, and interpreting data.

Adjustment

Not applicable, only final results will be published.