1.3 Basic statistical concepts

In general, the statistics of intra-EU trade in goods record all goods that increase or decrease the stock of material resources of a Member State by entering (arrivals from another Member State) or leaving (dispatches to another Member State) its economic territory.

Therefore, Luxembourg intra-Community trade statistics in principle list only the goods physically crossing the Luxembourg border (including electric power and gas) to or from another Member State.

Transfer of ownership is not a determining factor for foreign trade statistics, except for three categories of goods:

• Vessels assigned to maritime navigation,
• Aircraft operated by an airline,
• Space vehicles such as satellites.

These categories of goods abandon the principle of the physical movement of goods. For these goods the principle of change of ownership between a resident and a non-resident is relevant.

Regarding the basic concept, the following is excluded from the foreign trade statistics:

• Goods in simple circulation (goods in transit), ie.that cross the country directly or stop there for reasons exclusively related to transport;
• Goods admitted or shipped temporarily (with the exception of goods intended for conversion work or repair) if the expected duration of temporary use does not exceed 4 months. This includes, for example, the rental, loan or operational leasing of a car for a period of less than 24 months;
• Triangular transactions (with the exception of those concerning maritime vessels, aircraft and space vehicles) where only financial or other transactions take place between a resident and a non-resident without the goods physically passing the Luxembourg border;
• Costs linked to the service provision (with the exception of costs linked to conversion work or the repair of goods crossing the border) such as the acquisition or sale of licenses, the carrying out of studies, workforce costs …

Additional information about specific goods and movements or goods excluded from the Intrastat system is presented in chapter 5 of the Explanatory Note (Pdf, 1.13 Mb) (Pdf, 1.71 Mb)