Statistics on international trade of goods result from the compilation of information on intra-EU and extra-EU transactions (imports and exports), the physical movement of goods (at the border) being recorded.
With regard to extra-EU trade, the information results from the compilation of data collected through Portuguese customs, namely the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority, within the scope of the customs control of transactions of goods with third countries.
As regards intra-EU trade, since 1993, with the entry into force of the single market and the consequent elimination of customs control across European Union countries, each country’s statistical authorities collect statistical data on transactions between Portugal and the other Member States through the Intrastat system.
With a view to reducing the statistical burden on enterprises, within the Intrastat system assimilation thresholds are established annually for each flow - import/export – below which enterprises are exempt from reporting information to Statistics Portugal on their intra-EU transactions of goods.
Transactions conducted by enterprises that do not reach on an annual basis (annual sum of transactions conducted enterprise by enterprise) the assimilation threshold established by Statistics Portugal are subject to estimates (the so-called estimates below the assimilation threshold).
Non-response estimates are also made.
